Growing Through Practice
Rooted Together is an evolving creative practice.
The development of Rooted Together is part of Natasha's Master's in Creative Practice with the Make Happen Institute and Plymouth University.
The practice is being developed through action research — learning through cycles of action, observation, reflection and adaptation.
This means Rooted Together is not presented as a finished model.
We are still learning.
The development of the website has become part of this enquiry.
Through creating, sharing, listening, reflecting and changing the practice, Natasha has been exploring an important question:
How can Rooted Together move from a teaching-led model towards an approach that accompanies families through relationship, reflection and curiosity?
This process has influenced the development of the 7-Seeds framework and Natasha's understanding of her role as a facilitator.
From Teaching to Accompaniment
The development of Rooted Together has involved a gradual shift:
From giving answers
to asking meaningful questions.
From teaching families
to creating space for families to explore.
From presenting a fixed programme
to developing an evolving framework.
From positioning Natasha as the expert
to recognising the parent as an expert in their own family.
From trying to define the outcome
to becoming curious about what emerges through practice.
This is the action research journey behind Rooted Together
The Practice Cycle
ACT
Try something in practice.
↓
OBSERVE
Notice what happens.
↓
REFLECT
Ask what the experience might be showing us.
↓
ADJUST
Change what we do next.
↓
ACT AGAIN
Continue learning through practice.
This cycle applies to the way Rooted Together is facilitated and to the way Rooted Together itself continues to develop.
What informs the practice?
Rooted Together draws on Natasha's developing knowledge and experience across:
Montessori philosophy and practice;
early childhood education;
reflective practice;
relationship-centred approaches;
attachment-informed perspectives;
awareness of emotional regulation;
creativity;
nature and outdoor experiences;
community participation;
active listening;
respectful communication.
These influences are not presented as a single prescribed formula.
They are part of an evolving creative practice that continues to be questioned, tested and refined.
What happens next?
The next stage of the action research will take place through the 7-Seeds Online Family Experience in the forthcoming Make Happen Engagement module.
This will provide an opportunity to explore the emerging accompaniment approach with a small group of families.
The intention is not to prove that the 7-Seeds framework "works".
Instead, Natasha will continue to explore:
What do families notice?
What questions emerge?
What feels useful?
What feels less useful?
What happens when families experiment with small changes?
How does Natasha's facilitation develop?
What does the experience reveal about the framework?
The learning from this next cycle will inform future iterations of Rooted Together.
Rooted Together is therefore not finished.
It is growing through practice.
Our Commitment
We will continue to:
Observe.
Listen.
Reflect.
Question.
Learn.
Adapt.
Grow together.
Support the Development of Rooted Together
If you would like to support the development of Rooted Together and help make participation more accessible to families, you can contribute towards future community opportunities and sponsored places.
Your support can help us explore ways of creating more accessible opportunities for families to participate.
Support Rooted Together
Interested in collaborating?
We welcome conversations with organisations, practitioners and community partners who are interested in family wellbeing, creativity, education, nature and relationship-centred practice.