The Foundation Stage Forum Community
Welcome to the FSF – a community for early years professionals. Engage in conversations, offer and receive advice and support, make connections. Discover our library of education articles and podcast episodes to enhance your reflective practice. Working together to achieve high-quality early childhood education.
-
Posts:470,651
-
Members:52,573
Promoting Positive Starts in Early Childhood Education and Care Settin…
by Jayne Garcia
Senior Lecturer Jayne Garcia looks at some of the theory related to transition between home and early years setting, and shares advice on how to make sure your setting is ready for each child.
Podcast: There is no one way to be a family: building an LGBTQIA+ inclusive lea…
Ben and Jules chat with teacher and trainer Caprice Fox about talking with children about LGBTQIA+, the importance of belonging, and the language and resources to support you to create an inclusive learning community. Useful resources mentioned in th…
Amplifying Young Voices in UK Children’s Literature by Winsome Duncan,…
Children's author and publishing house CEO, Winsome Duncan discusses how we can ignite children's innate story telling talent and creative expression.
Latest
-
13
Is the care diary available on the app?
Hi @HappyHomeChildminding, I'm afraid the Care Diary isn't available on our iOS app yet. But rest assured it's a top priority and we're working very hard to get it released as soon as possible! I've noted your interest in this, so once it's added to the iOS app we'll be in touch to let you know. 🙂 Best wishes, Alexandra -
5
nursery catering
Hi does anyone have outside caterers in for nursery school meals. We would like to provide hot meals for lunch time but can't afford to hire a cook/chef. We are in the Oxfordshire area but don't seem able to find anyone who offers this service. What does everybody else do? If you are open 8-6 do they bring packed lunches in for lunch and afternoon tea. Please help -
0
PLAYING WITH MATHS
Did you know there was an International Day of Maths? I must admit, I had no idea. It is on 14th March every year and invites schools and children to celebrate maths around a particular theme. This year the theme is PLAYING WITH MATH. This is so relevant to teaching Maths in the early years, where, as we know and celebrate, the emphasis is on learning through play. Children are exploring mathematical concepts as they line things up, collect things in baskets, role play shopping, make their own playdough, fit things into other things, thread wooden beads, balance on a seesaw, weigh ingredients, fill and pour – I could go on but the list is so long there really isn’t room. And that’s before we even mention numbers and counting! Maths is everywhere: The endless possibilities, the excitement, the intricate patterns, the accessibility of Maths is within reach of every very small child. How much does this wonder continue as they grow? At some point, and in England this is pretty early on, children begin to learn more formal mathematical concepts. They begin to see Maths as having a right or wrong answer. Does Maths lose its magic then? Do some children become anxious about Maths around this time? ‘Maths Anxiety’ is a recognised and worrying issue. According to an Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by Shirley Conran of The Maths Anxiety Trust in 2018, 23% of parents of children aged between 5-15 report that their eldest child often feels anxious when attempting to solve a maths problem. The Maths Anxiety Trust says the key is to make sure children understand one concept before they move onto another. They need to explore, experiment, play with a mathematical idea before it becomes embedded and they are ready to move onto the next one, whatever age they are: Maths knowledge is built like a skyscraper; each new brick is built on the last brick. If one brick is left out at the bottom, the skyscraper might wobble or crash… So make sure your child understands one new idea, before moving on to the next new idea. (Maths Anxiety Trust). In England, the Maths curriculum moves fast. It gallops along. And the challenge for every teacher is to cover the curriculum while giving children that all-important space to really understand each concept. Do the children in your early years or key stage class have time to embed their maths skills? As Shirley Conran says: Whatever you plan to do … you will need to use Everyday maths EVERY DAY. Because Maths is Everywhere, whether you are 6 or 60. By Jules FSF and Tapestry Education Group -
0
Free Global Story Session with Laura Henry-Allian MBE - 7th March 2024
What a fantastic FREE opportunity to join Laura Herny-Allain on World Book Day this year (7th March 2024) To reserve your space, email admin@LauraHenryAllain.com.
-
- 327
- posts
-
- 49.2k
- posts
-
- 76
- posts
-
- 521
- posts
-
- 31
- posts
-
- 7.9k
- posts
-
- 2.8k
- posts
-
- 25
- posts
-
- 100.5k
- posts
- It's Friday!
- By sunnyday,
-
- 10
- posts
-
- 1.1k
- posts
Start a new post
Click on the button below to start a new topic. Remember to use the search bar first, to see if the topic is already being discussed. If not, add your new topic to a relevant forum area.
Getting Started
New to the Foundation Stage Forum? Use the links below to help you get started.
Tapestry Resource Area
Tapestry offers a variety of resources to support your professional learning. Visit our website to find out more.