Little Acorns Culture and Community

What is Cultural Capital?
All children arrive at an early years setting with very different experiences from each other, both in their learning and their play. What a setting like Little Acorns does, through its EYFS curriculum and interactions with practitioners, potentially makes a difference for the children who visit. It is our role at Little Acorns to help children to celebrate through experience the awe and wonder of the world in which they live, through the seven areas of learning. It might be through our Forest School opportunities that children engage with the big, open, natural space of the canopy, shade, sound, smells and texture of the woodlands. Then focus in on the tiny, microscopic detail of snails, bugs, rocks, moss, soil and bark.

Cultural capital is about celebrating the non-materialistic elements to our world, through discovering and sharing different spiritual and cultural aspects of our community. It is also about engaging with 'community', whether that means respecting the job of the local refuse collectors and then thinking about our contribution and commitment to recycling. Or thinking about disabilities and how we can ensure that those with disabilities can be included. From raising money to support appeals and charities, to valuing those who care and help every day.

Cultural capital is about expanding our minds, broadening our thoughts, a growth mindset. It might mean engaging with a new interest, listening to and making music,thinking of different ways to move after seeing a Chinese dragon dance, discovering autumn art, or creating our own model making. Experiencing new environments that broaden our minds through visits such as the library, Penshurst ponds and tree walk, Polesden Lacey bird watching hide, playing amongst the carved friendship benches, climbing on the fallen trees, seeing a cow close up at the farm eating carrots! Running through the hilly slopes of Harewoods, National Trust bluebell woods, or carpets of autumn leaves and listening to nothing more than the rustling and crunching. Trying to stand up on a windy day at the top of a hill overlooking Penshurst Place! What about watching a windmill against the blue sky, or soaking up the bright colours of the 'vegetable rainbow' while choosing favourites at the local farm shop. Perhaps staring into a pond and watching the huge fish shelter under a deafening cascading fountain.

Bird-watching - RSPB (January)

Chinese New Year (February)