Illustration and Project Work - Amber & Lance
I was commissioned with colleague Leigh-Anne Parfitt by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly NHS to design an educational resource based around the healthcare professions and services, for children aged 3-5.
Working with the National Health Service (NHS)
Every year thousands of children are taken to an Emergency Department (ED) and/or are admitted to hospital. Attending a busy ED or a stay in hospital can be an upsetting experience for a young child and a worrying and stressful time for their parents / carers. Acknowledging these concerns, the toolkit has three key aims:
The objective is to provide young children with a basic understanding of the healthcare service. It has been developed around the understanding that effective teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS) has three characteristics: playing and exploring; active learning; and creating and thinking critically.
This basic early awareness provides a solid foundation for enhanced learning and understanding during the primary and secondary school years.
- Raise children’s and parents awareness of the range of emergency healthcare services in a fun, interactive and innovative way.
- Introduce public health and health promotion messages relevant to this age group.
- Introduce the concept of risk and how to stay safe and healthy.
The objective is to provide young children with a basic understanding of the healthcare service. It has been developed around the understanding that effective teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS) has three characteristics: playing and exploring; active learning; and creating and thinking critically.
This basic early awareness provides a solid foundation for enhanced learning and understanding during the primary and secondary school years.
The characters - Amber and Lance
The toolkit is based around two ordinary children - Amber and Lance, who love to role play and dress up as different healthcare professions; including a Nurse, Doctor, Paramedic, Dentist and Surgeon. They enjoy learning about the benefits of eating healthy and staying safe in and outside of the home.
About the Early Years Emergency Healthcare Toolkit
The contents of the toolkit is all stored in a sturdy box which is disguised as an ambulance with Amber and Lance riding inside. The contents includes:
The pictures below show the different sides of the storage box featuring the ambulance and characters.
- Dressing up outfits (Nurse, Doctor, Paramedic, Dentist & Surgeon).
- Toy ambulances (x 2)
- Doctors kit.
- Hand puppets (Tommy Tooth & Dr Danny).
- Food group flashcards.
- Eatwell food plate poster.
- Sun safety pair cards.
- Floor game on healthcare professions.
- A3 Learn with Amber & Lance book on staying safe and healthy.
- Practitioners Handbook.
The pictures below show the different sides of the storage box featuring the ambulance and characters.
Amber and Lance Floor Game
The Amber and Lance floor game is for 2-6 players and is based around the 6 healthcare services; Minor Injuries Unit, Emergency Department, Doctors Surgery, Children's Ward, Dentist and NHS Healthcare Advice Service (including Pharmacy). The players choose their service and take turns rolling the die to move around the board. When they land in a different coloured area, they turn over one of their cards to reveal the picture.