Updated 2024-11-11

Reimagine

Reimagine supports home education clubs for self-directed learning – currently Hummingbirds runs 9am-3pm Mondays and Fridays for children 4-9yrs, in a nurturing environment with plenty of outdoor and free play, interspersed with art/cooking etc.
Daisy Fretwell founder
Co-ops & Resource Centers
https://reimagine.org.uk
(+44) 7725342399
Address: Old School
Ashley Green
City: Chesham
Country: England
Postal Code: HP5 3PP
Union: United Kingdom
Berkhamsted

Description

At this stage, Reimagine supports Hummingbirds, which brings creative ideas / inspirations to offer to the group, drawing on some Steiner and Montessori influence – providing stimulating materials in the setting, which the children are free to explore as they wish. The children spend much of their time playing outdoors and engaging in role play-type games indoors.

There is an outdoor ‘mud kitchen’ area, a swing constructed by the children and a space for campfires in the colder weather. The group also enjoy taking walks in the countryside exploring the impacts of the seasons and playing in the trees, etc.
There is a space where the children have planted some vegetables and flowers, which they enjoy preparing in the mornings for their daily soups / snacks.

SDE Optimizing Conditions

ASDE surveys all SDE communities/programs about how they provide, enhance, or align with each of the Six Optimizing Conditions for young people to succeed in SDE.  Survey answers:
  1. Responsibility – The clubs are for home educated children - there is no curriculum / pre-planned learning outcomes. Children are trusted to focus their attention on, and identify for themselves, the things which they would like to learn.
  2. Youth Autonomy – Children explore their own interests, predominantly through free play, indoors and outdoors and engaging in optional games and creative projects. Facilitators step back, providing suggestions if group dynamics seem as though this may help.
  3. Access to Tools and Technology – Access to woodwork tools, knives, saws, cooking utensils, gardening equipment, is encouraged and supervised for safety.
  4. Adult Allies – Two facilitators at any one time will support the group, empowering them to manage their own conflicts and supporting them to regulate where they struggle to.
  5. Free Age Mixing – Children and adults mix freely in the group (currently children range from 2 years to 9 years, with the majority being 5 and above).
  6. Community – Children are encouraged to voice concerns, make requests, etc. Presently the group prefers minimal interruption to play and does not wish to engage in formal circles.

If any information about this resource is out of date, please let us know.