18 replies to this topic

[Esme]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering, does anyone still fill out activity plans for their adult - led activities??? We have a box file full of them, and since September the lid has stayed firmly shut. Do you still use them but adapt them to suit individual childrens interests, or do you use enhancements to your continuous provision. ??

[Daisydoo]

Funny that this should come up as I was on here looking for examples of activity plans. I had a visit from my EYA last week and she said that I should be doing Activity plans for the adult led activities - something I have never done before even before the EYFS!!

[Esme]

Daisydoo, on Mar 8 2009, 14:24, said:

Funny that this should come up as I was on here looking for examples of activity plans. I had a visit from my EYA last week and she said that I should be doing Activity plans for the adult led activities - something I have never done before even before the EYFS!!

2 great minds daisydoo!!.

[trekker]

Currently I just have a very short outline of what I plan to do, why I plan to do it and What happened. If I happen to become involved in an activity spontaneously I'll write it up after the event on the same sheet. Doing it this way you always have a record of what was done.

We have definitely cut down on / simplified activity plans as we are still trying to get to figure out how / if to do them while still going with the flow. Lots of times we don't actually do the activity we planned in the week its planned but I keep it on file as Ive found that usually it will get done and then I'll date it and evaluate.
We focus on about three keychildren per week and any written plans are basically just a way of considering options for them...and almost always you will do that activity with those children at some point simply because they are based on their interests.

Each week our activities are planned to fit in with a specific area of learning and I keep in mind how my key children would be encouraged to explore that area...eg a child with an interest in worms might like to address physical aspects by moving like a worm, crawling through tunnels and might address problem solving reasoning and numeracy by counting worms found in the garden, measuring / comparing worms etc
I guess this is really alot like enhancing provision...something that we are struggling to record in a way that works.

Not sure if this makes sense but in short yes we do try to keep a record of adult-supported activities planned or otherwise but we keep them very simple and flexible.

[Marion]

The advice from my LA is only complete those boxes for areas where you are going to enhance provision
Record new experiences that are being added to each area
Don't include focused activities as these are on your focus planning and you would be duplicating the information...

[moomy]

Yes we still complete activity planning sheets for forthcoming activities that are in addition or enhancements to continuous provision. Sometimes they are not used and filed away for future. More enphasis is placed on a complete weeky evaluation showing what went well and what didn't get done, what to repeat and with what enhancements etc. That evaluation along with keyperson's observations forms the basis for future plans. Gosh i hope that makes sense, forgive me if i ramble.

[icklehels]

Hey I'm uploading an example of mine - don't know if this is right as I'm copyong what the lady before me did

Any advice would be great! I would rather not have to do these, as they take ages and I have to do them in my own time

Attached Files

•  upload_activity_planning.doc   5.35K   246 downloads

[Esme]

Thanks everyone for your replies and thanks icklehels for sharing your document.

[lalaloulou]

Yes, we do activity plans for adult led activities although we now call them adult focus sheets - have attached our form. They are used to ensure that the adult is clear on what learning is being sought and are written using IEP information and name children who we would like to take part for key person planning. We use them to also support less knowledgeable members of staff.

Hope this makes sense I have just read it back to myself and not sure it does!!

Attached Files

•  Focus_Activity_Planner_2.docx   235.54K   211 downloads

[Suer]

No way on earth would we complete one of these. not enough room to keep pieces of paper that wont be looked at again
children are different all the time so why would you need these!
we write ideas down on a sheet and i provide evidence by putting photos of what we have done attatched on the back

[Sue R]

I would suggest that they would form part of the child's learning journey; thus would be very useful in planning next steps and mapping a child's progress. As part of each child's documentation this kind of record can be helpful to both the current keyworker and when passed on in transition documentation.

I think when they are personalised, as these have the potential for, they are useful tools and reflect the individualisation of planning in settings. I accept not everyone has the access to photocopiers and storage, but nonetheless they shouldn't be dismissed.

Sue

[Esme]

Suer, on Mar 10 2009, 21:11, said:

No way on earth would we complete one of these. not enough room to keep pieces of paper that wont be looked at again
children are different all the time so why would you need these!
we write ideas down on a sheet and i provide evidence by putting photos of what we have done attatched on the back

I can see what you mean Suer, and I think it all comes down to which authority you come under. As daisydoo says her EYA has said she should definitely be doing them.
I can't help feeling that maybe they should be put in place by keypersons, in the event that if they are away from playschool for a length of of time, another member of staff can take over and follow the activity plan.

Edited by Esme, 10 March 2009 - 10:17 PM.

[green hippo]

This has reminded me of a question I've been meaning to post for a while - how do you record which children take part in planned activities? Currently we have a class sheet which we record if and how well the children have participated using a key - we allow children to choose to do the activity. If a child has shown any significant learning then we would do an obs label for their learning journey. However, I was wondering whether we should be recording somewhere and somehow which focused activities they have been involved in and the main learning outcomes? Short of writing in up to 25 learning journeys everyday: "James joined in with the obstacle course today. He was learning to ..." I'm not sure how else to do it? Is there a quick way. Is it necessary to do this or is our class record enough as this informs our next steps?? Just think that the parents should have a record of the variety of activities the children have been involved in, in addition to their child-initiated play?

Green Hippo xx

P.S. I complete a weekly plan which is essentially a shortened version of the previouly posted activity plans.

[Suer]

surely key person would be making observation notes and noting down learning and next step planning so i dont see why you would need to note this. what use would it be because you would not make a child do activity he was not intersted in?

[Esme]

Suer, on Mar 10 2009, 22:55, said:

surely key person would be making observation notes and noting down learning and next step planning so i dont see why you would need to note this. what use would it be because you would not make a child do activity he was not intersted in?

I am doing an activity next week with one of my key children who loves both playdough and anything farms ...animals, tractors, farmyard. This has resulted from observations and notes. My child has an apparent lack of counting skills so I will be using his interest in farms and playdough to aid his counting skills.
I'll transfer this info onto an activity plan beacuse, if for any reason I'm not there next week, it can be used to inform another member of staff what I would like my key child to achieve from this activity. Also, other staff can add their children to it too, if there's an interest.
The activity would be accessible to other children, but certainly wouldn't make a child do the activity if he wasn't interested.