Sure Start offers a useful guide for designing an early childhood centre

 
In 2001, the UK government published 'Every Child Matters', a 10-year plan of action committed to giving young children the best possible start in life. A part of this is the creation of a large number of centres, including services that support and enhance family life.

This visual guide has been put together from the experience of those involved in creating Sure Start centres so far to demonstrate to local authorities how to deliver inspiring buildings that enhance family life within challenging timescales.

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Children NEED Play

"Play is essential to the development and learning of young children. Not optional…essential. Children learn as they play. In fact, play provides the perfect context for learning for the whole child - mental, verbal, social, physical, creative and emotional, in a way most structured classroom-style activities do not. " ~ Making Play Great, Play Grow Learn Issue One

Via Modern Parents Messy Kids and Childhood 101.

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Te Mirumiru (Ngati Hine) Childcare Centre now finished!

   
I blogged in August last year on the design concept for a new maori childcare centre in Kawakawa, New Zealand that had won a WAN (World Architecture News) Award. Designed by Phil Smith who has designed a number of early childhood centres in New Zealand, the project successfully reflects a desire to be both ecologically and socially sustainable.

The concept for the design is inspired by the Maori concept that all life is born from the womb of Papatuanuku (earth mother). Therefore the building's form is is expressed as a womb-like form, which seemingly grows from the land.

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