CommunityCommunity

As we prepare to head back into the classroom after what has felt like a very long time, and preparing for a new term in September a few things occurred to us that we thought we would share.

 Personally we can’t wait to get back in the classroom and do what we do best, which is to connect with other human beings and encourage and nurture growth. It has been a long time away and we have missed everyone so much! And we can’t wait to get back to the weekly joy of seeing all your wonderful happy faces!

One thing that became very clear, very quickly during this pandemic and the enforced school closures, was just how important children’s education is, and how much we value Teachers. It is a unique skill. And anyone who tried to home school during this period will definitely have a renewed respect of our children’s teachers and educators! 

Having our own little person at home during lockdown really brought home just how much more than education was missed though. We were able to help her with her reading and practicing her Maths etc. (she’s only in Reception class), but it’s not only about learning. We couldn’t replicate the environment of her classroom. We couldn’t make up for the lack of the other 29 children in the room. We couldn’t play with her in the way that children play together and learn together through that play! And we could feel that she really missed that. She missed her friends and her Teachers. But above all that sense of ‘belonging’ to a group!

And I think this is mirrored within our classes.

The weekly class is a shared experience. And if this pandemic taught us anything it taught us the value of experiences over ‘things’. And with every shared experience a memory is made. And those memories, over time, build a sense of belonging, a sense of friendship – and a community is built. 

That community is so important to us and has been since we began our journey in this field. Obviously we love what we do. Teaching really young children and being a small part of their learning journey is a real privilege, but the social side of classes should not be underestimated. 

There are many, many friendships that have grown out of our classes, not just the obvious ones with the children who can’t wait to see their Art class friends each week, but Mums finding their tribe, Nannies meeting other Nannies, Dads meeting Dads etc. you name it…. 

For us personally, a family walk through Greenwich Park is a joy to behold with the amount of smiling little faces wanting to say hello! 

Last year Tim rode the London to Brighton with 4 other of our parents raising money for charity. The year before Kirsty ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon with 8 of our parents raising money for Tommy’s. We are (very) proud Godparents to two of our little ‘splodgers’! And last year Kirsty was a Bridesmaid to one of our Mums who we first met the day she walked through the door to one of our classes with her 12 month old son, who now attends with her 2 year old daughter as well.

The examples are many and varied but all grown out of this community that starts with an Art class for children. Each class exists in isolation (in a bubble if you will), but the sense of community across all of our classes, and across our area of South East London is wide and far reaching and we couldn’t be prouder of it!