Extract from Evaluation Document by Ruth Churchill Dower of Isaacs UK

"In our view, Ball Pond Bobby helped children and adults to

• facilitate pathways to expressing their on ideas and thoughts,
• encourage explorations and discoveries about their place as an individual in the world
• offer a legitimacy and credibility to young children's creative learning by making it visible to (and sometimes even shared with) adults,
• help to create a sense of belongng both through the relationship with Bobby in an imaginary world, and by enhancing the shared experience with adults within their communities.

Not only has this approach supported good practise in the early years foundation stage curriculum, but it has also explored how to bring greater depth of meaning and purposefulness for families in sharing quality creative experiences and learning together.

"In settings around the world, educators are now loking with greater attntion to children as sources of their own learning, to parents for new ways of thinking about shaing in children's early education, and to each other for support and collaboration in making [these settings] learning communities for adults as well as children." - Reggio Emilia: Catalist for Change and Conversation (New, R S -2000)

The emphasis on geting the process right was, in our view, one to the key factors of the success of Ball Pond Bobby. It was, according to the artistic director, the longest regearsal process DNA has ever experienced. This afforded the company plenty of opportunities to change the pacing and flow of the performance, in response to the reactions from families, children and early years staff who were part of the pilot process.

"It was great to be able to rework it as the process took shape, for children, families and staff to see how it was working better for them. In fact, this was the most fantastic part as childen could watch it again refreshed and objectively a few months later, and we could all see how their original criticisms had been responded to. This was important so that we could become even more in tune with the children's needs" - Rachel Riggs

All text and images © Dynamic New Animation 2002