What is the Archetype Approach?

[Helen]

I first came across Oliver Riddett's posts on Instagram and I was struck with how refreshing his approach is to understanding and supporting children's learning.

Based on Jungian Theory (about which I know nothing!) I started to learn about different ways of observing, appreciating, and responding to children's patterns of behaviour, that Oliver's materials were describing.

I bought his book- available here: https://www.archetype-approach.co.uk/product-page/the-archetype-approach-paperback

and I find myself often referring to it when thinking about and reflecting on children (and adults, if I'm honest).

I got in touch with Olli, found out more about the approach, visited his setting in Cornwall and we recorded a podcast for Tapestry, available here: 

I'm still learning and this will no doubt continue- it's not a quick fix to managing children's behaviour but a gentle, insightful, new way of seeing each child as a whole being.

Oliver's own words in the book's first chapter:

'In most educational settings, performance has become the lens through which children are seen and valued. Whether it's through termly assessments, observations written for data purposes, or informal praise for finished work- adults are often trained to evaluate, not witness.

But something is lost when we focus on what a child can show rather than how they show up.

We lose their rhythm.

We lose their intention.

We lose the chance to meet them where they truly are.

Children are not meant to be assessed for output. They are meant to be understood in process. Learning is not a product-it is a living, relational act.'

I'm excited at this new way of supporting children and it hasn't come a moment too soon! The sector, and most of all our youngest children, really need this.