Pete Moorhouse

Woodwork in Early Years Education by Pete Moorhouse is published.  82 Pages 94 Images.

This book covers in considerable depth the impact woodworking can have in Early Years education. It looks in detail at the many learning and development outcomes and gives a comprehensive account of what you need to get started.

Pete’s enthusiasm is clearly apparent as is his commitment to encouraging children’s creative thinking. It is clear using wood a creative material can help develop children’s imagination and creativity as well as develop many other skills. Working alongside Pete, I have seen children learning at the deepest level. For some children, working with wood was the key which unlocked the barriers to learning. The impact has been long term.

Woodwork has demonstrated that it is very popular activity with the children, and provides a rich source of enjoyment as well as learning.  I have seen at first hand how young children, their parents and carers and the adults who work with them, have been inspired.

I very much encourage you to try introducing woodwork in your setting and I’m sure that you will find this book an invaluable resource.

Rachel Edwards

Headteacher

Park School and Children’s Centre

I am exhibiting work at the Moncreiff-Bray Gallery in Sussex.   The exhibition runs from 19^th May – 24^th June. The fifth annual sculpture exhibition coincides with the Chelsea Flower Show and features work by 20 artists. It takes place in the three acre gardens of Woodruffs Farm, Petworth, West Sussex. A wide range of work is on view in stone, bronze, glass, ceramic, steel and wood. Click here to view the online gallery

This month I have a feature article published in Nursery World. The article goes into depth, looking at the learning and development associated with woodwork as well as addressing practitioner concerns.  It  gives advice on how to get started, which tools and woods are best and example of projects.

This sculpture was installed on the Concorde cycle Path network, Bristol as part of a series of works to enhance the cycle paths. This work was commissioned by Patchway District Council. It was designed by pupils from Patchway Community College in year 10. The striking work is located at Gorse Covert in Patchway. To see all the previous works in this series please follow this link: Concorde Cycle Path Artworks

The exhibition to open the garden’s 2012 season, will take place from Good Friday [April 6] to Easter Monday [April 9] from 10 am to 5 pm.

The metalwork, stained glass, steel, wood, paper and glass sculptures will be sited in strategic positions around the garden forming a sculpture trail.  Each area has been carefully chosen to create a site of unique character in which the artists will display their work.

Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “We are delighted to host the first exhibition of sculpture at the Botanic Garden displaying a wide variety of beautiful, inspirational pieces of work from talented artists.

Sculpture at the University Botanic Garden will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Good Friday, 6 April until Easter Monday, 9 April. Light refreshments will be available.

Entry to the Botanic Garden and sculpture exhibition is £3.50 adults; free to University staff and retired staff, Friends of the Botanic Garden, students and children under 16.

I have an article published in Early Years Update magazine encouraging teachers in Early Years settings to offer creative woodwork. The article explains the benefits of woodwork in terms of learning and development and gives practical suggestions to getting started.

 

 

The sculpture responds to its location in Cornwall, relating to the open vista and the quality of the sky. The sculpture also suggests elements of nature; sail forms representing the wind and the spherical negative space representing the moon and sun. Its tall rising form can be seen to be connecting earth and sky. The effect of the work is intended to be dynamic and uplifting but also with a meditative and reflective ambience. The work is deliberately minimal, having strong bold lines and flanges that interact with the light changing subtly throughout the day.

This is a new sculpture created for a private garden in Cornwall that opens to the public as part of the NGS. Samsara means continuous flow in Sanskrit referring to the cycle of birth, life death and rebirth of reincarnation in Buddhism and Hinduism. The form of the sculpture suggests flow and movement but at the same time has a quality of stillness. There is a feeling of lightness and fragility to the work reflecting the ephemeral nature of existence. The work interacts with the sun as it catches the different flanges creating a secondary pattern of shadows and sunlight.

I have an article published in Early Years Educator encouraging teachers in Early Years settings to offer creative woodwork. The article explains the benefits of woodwork in terms of learning and development.