Findings 1 - What reclaimed resources are used?

Our first research question was: 'What reclaimed resources are used?'

In order to find out what types of reclaimed resources were used, in the four participating early years settings, we undertook an audit of the resources accompanied by some photographs of provision (see the post for Research Methods 1, on 20th October - below).

What reclaimed resources are used?

An audit form was used to record the reclaimed materials in use within each of the four settings. For pre-listed items researchers either entered 'yes', to signify the presence of the item, or 'not seen', if the item did not appear to be present as a resource in the nursery. Additional items were added to the list as they were seen. The lists were then collated as one document, with a column for each of the four nurseries, to facilitate comparisons.

Using this tool we were able to discover the types of reclaimed resources in use in each setting and to make some comparisons between settings. The fewest reclaimed resources were recorded at the suburban private day nursery, with only 13 items noted. The largest number of items was recorded at the rural day nursery; 45 different types of material. This was similar to the town community nursery (41 items) and the city workplace day nursery (36 items). Overall 72 different types of item were noted.

The items common to all four nurseries were: fabric remnants; yarn, ribbon or string; catalogues, magazines and old comics; CDs; and car tyres.

Overall, various materials were used in different ways in each setting. The rural day nursery had access to items reclaimed via the agricultural industry, including tractor tyres. The town community nursery featured reclaimed furniture and toys. The workplace nursery collected a wide range of materials for use in indoor and outdoor craft projects, often sourced from parents. The suburban day nursery was supported by a neighbouring business providing fabric remnants and by families who gave items that their own children no longer needed.

The audit checklist was supplemented by photographs, such as the one above, which gave much more detailed information about the resources and their uses in the settings. In answer to our research question, at this stage of the data analysis we are able to say that a range of natural resources, food items, craft materials, and donated items are used in early years settings. The findings from observations and interviews provide further insights into how and why these items are used.

a workplace day nursery, in a university city; 

a small community nursery, attached to an academy school and neighbourhood centre, in a town;

a private day nursery sited in an affluent suburb of an outer London town;

and a private day nursery in a rural location, in Essex.

- See more at: http://4recrg.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/our-research-settings.html#sthash.iFKsW5R3.dpuf

a workplace day nursery, in a university city; 

a small community nursery, attached to an academy school and neighbourhood centre, in a town;

a private day nursery sited in an affluent suburb of an outer London town;

and a private day nursery in a rural location, in Essex.

- See more at: http://4recrg.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/our-research-settings.html#sthash.LYiC2YUC.dpuf

a workplace day nursery, in a university city; 

a small community nursery, attached to an academy school and neighbourhood centre, in a town;

a private day nursery sited in an affluent suburb of an outer London town;

and a private day nursery in a rural location, in Essex.

- See more at: http://4recrg.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/our-research-settings.html#sthash.LYiC2YUC.dpuf