Last updated at 06:54, Sunday, 16 November 2008

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CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow would feel right at home with a Furness nursery’s adventures on the high seas.

Young pirates at Little Rainbows Day Nursery have been out to find a treasure trove of gold.

Staff devised a series of action-packed pirate activities for the children, so that they could learn through role play.

The little buccaneers made their own eye patches, and dressed up in swash-buckling costumes and hats.

The nursery’s sensory den was decorated as a pirate’s cave.

Inside, the two to four-year-olds could find maps, a treasure chest and other pirate’s booty.

Children also tried out pirate PE.

They played games involving pirate ships and hunting treasure.

Play is a central part of the new requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Role play is seen as an important part of children’s development.

At Little Rainbows children are encouraged to use their imagination.

This can also boost confidence and self-esteem.

Sandra Wheeler, manager at Little Rainbows, said: “Some of the children showed an interest in pirates.

“We plan our activities from observing the children and assessing what they enjoy.

“Role play helps to develop children’s communication, language and literacy skills.

“The pirate theme introduces the children to new words, sounds and characters.

“The children love to dress up and play in the sensory den which was turned into a pirate cave.”

Tyrone Miln, three, said: “I like being a pirate.I like to dress up. Pirates say ‘aarrgh’.”

And the pirates certainly haven’t been going hungry as the popular home corner has been transformed into a Cultural Cafe.

Children are sampling food from around the world, such as Chinese noodles, Indian onion bhajis and Italian pizza.

The cafe has chefs to cook up a feast for everyone, waiters and waitresses to take the orders, work the till and serve the food, and lots of hungry customers.

This imaginative play covers the knowledge and understanding of the world elements of the curriculum.

Making and tasting tropical fruit drinks also provides an investigation task for the children.

The nursery teacher records what each child says about juices made from oranges, apples, pineapples and cranberries.

When the children try a thin slice of lime they react very differently.

Three-year-old Karis Wearing says she doesn’t like the sour taste, but Khian Phizacklea, two, nods and says he likes the fruit.

Mrs Wheeler said: “They love trying new things.

“The children have been talking about the taste, smell and colours of the fruit drinks, and how the colour changes when they are mixed.”

First published at 12:12, Friday, 17 October 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk