The Exploring the Wider World Project was funded by the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area and was delivered by Early Education between April 2019 and March 2020. It offered fully funded training and support to all private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings in Stoke-on-Trent to give children wider experiences of the world around them.

The aim of the project was to enable participants to make the most of what is on their doorstep in terms of heritage, culture and community. They were offered bespoke support to enable practitioners to explore, with the children, the rich learning opportunities their locality provides. It was very grounded in the “people and communities” and “the world” elements of the “Knowledge and understanding of the world” (KUW) area of learning from the EYFS.

All participating settings received:

• Bespoke training on making the most of something/somewhere that is local
• Skill development to enable staff to support improved outcomes for children in relation to Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Support to organise trips out or inward visits to the setting, including opportunities to work with local partners
• Support to follow up a trip/visit and embed the learning in further activities in the setting
• Support with associated resources such as books and small world play linked to the trip/visit
• Ideas for supporting families to use the local environment more

Below, find links to sections of the main project handbook for free access to enable anyone in Stoke-on-Trent or beyond share the project’s guidance, to help improve practitioners’ knowledge and confidence about taking children out and about in their local area to support their learning.