Independence starts young!

Here at Braeburn, we are always trying to nurture learners enjoying success, responsible citizens and confident individuals - the 3 overarching principles of the Braeburn circles. One of the specific characteristics of learners enjoying success is INDEPENDENCE.

If we look at independence in a broader sense, it includes children becoming independent learners.

Anyone who has worked in or visited an early years setting where children make decisions about what they are doing, where and with whom, cannot fail to be impressed with the competence and responsible autonomy shown. It becomes clear that when children are supported and encouraged to think for themselves, they show themselves to be very capable. However, this does not just happen. Some of the most important attributes of independent learning include children being able to use the environment for themselves, to make choices and decisions and to start to develop their own thoughts and views. Young children need to be introduced to these attributes and then encouraged to practise them.

Independence looks different at different ages, however, even our youngest learners in crèche class have the opportunity to model independence.

In crèche independence might be a student taking out their snack boxes from their bag, hanging up their own backpack, or feeding themselves with a spoon.

In FS1, an independent learner might attempt to take off their sweaters with minimum support, feed themselves using a fork at lunch time, pack their own healthy snack boxes or put their books bags in the designated place.

In FS2, we see independence when a student figures out how to pack and zip closed their own backpack or puts on/takes off their own sweater. Students also show independence when they look at the picture/word routines posted around the classroom showing the morning jobs and they complete the jobs by referring to picture guide rather than ask the teacher “what’s next?”