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Play to Z Reaches Finals of Six Prestigious National Awards:
British Female Inventor and Innovator Special Recognition Award, March 2008
Sue Gascoyne, creator of Playscope resources, has scooped a coveted award at the internationally respected British Female Inventors and innovators Award in Cardiff. Sue was one of only 40 female inventors to receive a Special Recognition Award at the 10 year celebrations event attended by inventors from around the world. The Awards are designed to showcase inspirational examples of creativity and innovation. Previous winners include Mandy Haberman, the inventor of the Any Way Up Cup.
Nasen Inclusive Primary Resources Awards, 2008
The Playscope resources have been selected for the prestigious Nasen Inclusive Primary Resources Awards, beating hundreds of competitors to reach the final four. In their sixteenth year, the Nasen Awards represent excellence and best practice in books and resources for special educational needs. As Managing Director Sue Gascoyne says This recognition is brilliant, but what really matters is the impact these resources are having. The Fidget Floor Mats are improving childrens opportunities by helping them to focus, listen and concentrate, and enabling teachers to teach. The Playscope Complete Set is being used with children of all ages and abilities to address the curriculum in a fun, child-centred way. See below* for some feedback from one of the panel judges.
Nursery World Birth to Three’s Award, 2008
After just 18 months of trading, Play to Z Ltd have had their innovative children’s resources and training shortlisted for three further national awards. The Playscope Complete Set has been selected for an award by Nursery World magazine, in the Birth to Three Resources Award as has the Playscope Playmat, designed to take children’s play outside. The judges have also selected Sue Gascoyne as a finalist for Trainer of the Year 2008. Sue comments I am obviously thrilled to bits about this latest recognition. All six of our existing resources have now been selected for these national awards, and it’s a great vote of confidence to have the training element of my business chosen too.
* Feedback from nasen panel judge
I use [the Playscope Complete Set] in my day to day work in the Nursery, and I love it. I knew the children would love it too as soon as I saw it.
I have found it to be an holistic, tactile and versatile teaching and learning resource. The learning opportunities are endless. What I particularly like is the fact it enthuses the children to initiate their own learning for example I have children bringing in their own items to add to the treasure basket, we have themed treasure baskets and I have seen children gathering items in the nursery to make their own treasure baskets which is a great opportunity to share with the other children at show and tell time, lots of speaking and listening!
The cards are a useful activity bank to use as part of planned activities or as extension activities and all linked into the new EYFS. It is easily accessible for use by students and parent helpers because all the information and resources needed are listed on the cards which are bright and small and therefore easily transported/ stored.
The [Fidget Floor Mats with their colourful ribbons are a super resource for the little ones who need a little help to sit and listen at times like show and tell. Again a very versatile resource. Also have been used by children as an indicator, if they help themselves to one and sit on it means they have something they wish to say or share with the other children, they love this independence and feel very proud when other children sit and listen to them. Others simply love to sit on them when reading a book in a quiet corner.
I have 66 children in my Nursery. We work on a Keyperson principle. I am the Nursery teacher with two other key people. We have 39 children in the morning session (13 children each) and 27 in the afternoon session. The Sensac [containing the Complete Set] is shared between each keyperson at various times in the session. In October our Nursery was featured in a local Newspaper supplement as Nursery of the month. As a result of this publicity other teachers have recently visited our Nursery and have shown interest in the Sensac.
As you can see I am delighted with the [Playscope Complete Set] it is a real Wow factor in the Nursery.
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