Organic child-led learning in the great outdoors has always been very firmly at the heart of the Broadheath nursery, with the care providers committed to delivering a natural approach that’s based around letting the kids spend as much time as possible within nature.
But in light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and with more childcare professionals and schools embracing an outdoor-based learning approach for the immediate future, the nursery has invested heavily in its already beautiful outdoor space.
The spectacular new site is setting standards in the early years education field.
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Anne Statham – Curriculum and Training Development Consultant at Back to the Garden Childcare – said: “We’ve always believed that some of the best and most natural learning takes place outdoors, and with current concerns about limiting the spread of the coronavirus, we have redeveloped our beautiful tepee, potting shed and garden space transforming it into a wonderful outdoor classroom and safe place for the children to learn and play.
“In the current climate, outdoors is the safest place to be – the risk of transmission of the virus is much lower and it is easier to put social distancing measures in place.
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“Being outdoors is fundamental to our values and we have really made the most of our beautiful outdoor space to embrace a new way of learning and playing that is unique and very special to us at Back to the Garden.”
The outdoor classroom comprises three distinct areas – the tepee, the potting shed and the garden.
Previously a much loved space for storytelling and regular yoga and wellness activities, the tepee has now become an engaging area for the little ones with the addition of a projector and soundbox that enables the children to enjoy light projections and learning experiences with external visitors who would usually come into the nursery – such as its key partner The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester – and a sensory soundscape with things to watch, smell and touch for the babies.
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The tepee is completed with the introduction of a fantastic apothecary-style Wunderkabinett, with lots of little drawers in which to store the children’s natural treasures and loose parts collection of sticks, logs, pebbles and pipes.
Back to the Garden’s potting shed has taken on a new role as a space for woodworking, creating and natural crafts, where the children can explore the different effects of hammering, screwing, sanding, and general making and fixing.
Jeannie Pickering – Founder at Back to the Garden Childcare – added: “Our all-weather outdoor space really is an incredible asset that underlines and reinforces the wonderful natural ethos of our nursery and provides us with an enviable organic space in which we can interact, learn, discover, be creative and let the children physically challenge themselves and we look forward to delivering a creative and natural curriculum in this space.
“This is just the beginning for our outdoor classroom project, and we are excited to follow the progress of the children as they explore the new spaces.
“When restrictions allow, we will combine the outdoor classroom with regular visits to our favourite local outdoor spaces for further natural forest school learning experiences such as den building, nature bingo and treasure collecting to find natural materials that we can bring back and use within the nursery setting.”
For further information, or to make an appointment to view the nursery, you can call Back to the Garden Childcare on 0161 537 7999, or the website here.
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The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Could the reaction to Casemiro’s swansong Man United season see him stay ‘one more year’?
Danny Jones
Casemiro has arguably been up there with one of the best Manchester United signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, after the likes of Bruno Fernandes; maybe not in terms of how it’s impacted the wider transfer budget, but now he’s about to leave, most supporters aren’t ready to let him go.
Truly, if they had their way, many would happily keep him for at least “one more year”, as they continuously chanted during the most recent home game.
However, with the footballing veteran himself admitting that he’s been left moved by the response and certainly basked in the chants for him to stay following the win over Aston Villa last weekend, another one in which he chipped in with a key goal.
Casemiro scored the opener in what went on to be a vital 3-1 win in their pursuit of Champions League places, and has made it clear that, like the rest of the squad, this is his only goal for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
But with United now looking closer to securing third or perhaps even chasing down second place, according to many (some have even gone further than that…), this current, albeit still early doors, resurgence under Michael Carrick could be the start of a corner turned for the one serial winners.
However, fans have seen many false dawns at Old Trafford over the past decade or so, and there is obviously the risk of him ultimately spoiling what should now be a fine and fitting farewell.
Then again, after speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said it’s been “way more” special than he was expecting since he revealed his plans to leave on a high, and stranger things have happened.
You only have to look at Mohammed Salah and Liverpool, who looked all set to go before eventually U-turning and signing a new deal – though contract terms no doubt helped swing those negotiations.
As one of the highest-earning players not just at Man United or even the Premier League but in Europe, he’s already earned serious amounts during his time with the Red Devils, so there is a belief that the incumbent INEOS board would be happy to shift him off the books and reinvest in replacing him.
#mufc are in advanced talks to sign Bruno Guimaraes for around €80m, but renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move [@Reuters, @fernandokallas]
The likes of Guimaraes, previously courted Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Wolves duo André and Joao Gomes have all been linked with possible moves to Manchester of late.
In fact, depending on how much room Jim Ratcliffe and co. have for spending on recruitment, they could potentially even cover the wages of more than one signing in the middle of the park or other positions that they feel may require further reinforcements.
All this is still very much in theory, of course, and while Casemiro has seemingly confirmed that he will depart this summer, who knows how much of the recent reaction and outpouring of love and support from the Stretford End and beyond could potentially sway the outcome?…
Then again, do you think reconsidering the decision would be a wise move, or at his age, is four years in the English top flight enough?
Emily Sergeant -
21st January 2021 
