Manor Park First School Dorchester

Significant success with Dreams and Goals

Significant Success

We created a Garden of Dreams as the culmination of the puzzle Dreams and Goals and every child in the school contributed. They made Dream birds, decorative wellington boots, flowers and dream trees.  In Reception, children made butterflies and drew pictures on the back of their dream.  It was a chance for the school to create something together which had been difficult to do during a period of building work.  For more than a week the Garden was a sensory experience with subdued lighting and calm music - a quiet place which both children and staff could visit.

Children were able to sit quietly and reflect for as long as they wanted. Other members of the school community also used the Garden as a meditative place.  Children with one-to-one support came with their TA and used it as a ‘Calm Me’ place and staff were invited to write their dreams beneath the Lily pads.

Impact of Jigsaw

Every child in the school was able to spend some reflection time in the Garden of Dreams.

Children in Year Three created garden ornaments which were sold outside the Garden of Dreams so parents were also able to visit and sit with their children when they came to the sale. The proceeds are going towards a new Friendship Bench.

The Garden of Dreams fed into a performance involving the whole school called Believe in your dreams.  The performance - an artistic response to the school’s new building which included a song developed by musician Kathie Prince with the whole school. The children can be heard in the embedded movie above singing this song partnered with a slideshow of images showcasing their work.

Children are continuing to reflect on the Garden of Dreams and how it made them feel.

Looking forward

We want children to be able to recall that feeling of calmness and use it to help themselves in more difficult situations in future.

Next year, we’d like to extend the Garden of Dreams for more parents to visit and be involved in the outcome.

Tags

England
Primary

Manor Park First School

Manor Park First School in Dorchester is a school with over 440 children.

Headteacher: Melanie Pallister

Jigsaw Champion: Cathy Nisbet

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(String: +44 (0)3331 882133)
phone

+44 (0)3331 882133