23 replies to this topic

[Y24JOD]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this!!!!

I was wondering if anyone could offer my advice or support on the EYFS. I'm a manager in a private day nursery struggling with the eyfs in terms of planning. I have more than 20 girls and more than half of them have or are completing an NVQ, my opinion is that they lack knowledge i gained while studing for my NNEB (I know that not all people who complete an NVQ lack knowledge).

could anyone please explain or show me how they deliver the eyfs and could anyone help me with handouts etc so i could do a training session?

Please help

Thank you for your support

Jod x

[Cait]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on making your first post.

There'll be loads of help coming your way.

Firstly though, I'm a bit confused by your statement "I have more than 20 girls and more than half of them have or are comlpleting an NVQ" I take it by 'girls' you mean staff?

Have you had any EYFS training at all? Have the 'girls' read and understood the cards in the pack and do you have any sort of Learning Journey/Story files for the children? What are you doing at the moment as regards delivering the EYFS?

We'll be happy to help, but we need a little info if you can, about your situation.

In the 'resources' section on the left there are loads of things which may be a useful start for looking, I know Maz had done a powerpoint presentation of the 6 areas of learning, which should be in there.

[Y24JOD]

Thank you for your reply.

yes, I'm sorry i do mean my staff.

I feel that the staff do not have the knowledge and the confidence to make judgements and that they do not fully understand the EYFS and child development.
All my staff have attended the EYFS but it is clear that they do not understand.
At the moment children from birth to three use the same planning, observation and assessment format, which clearly is not working. From observation I have made and looking they work I feel a lot of forced learning is taking place, I have spoken to each memeber of staff one to one and its quite alarming to me that they do not understand child development child led and adult led activities.
i understand my reponsibility as a manager and that this failure may be down to me I have recognised my problem and now I am on the road to fix it? i myself did not fully understand the EYFS as i was concentrating on planning purely on interest

its really hard to explain, sorry

jod x

[Wendles]

Our team have had a hard time getting to grips with the EYFS which for me was what I was already doing. I am now the manager and have enlisted help from LA and they will be doing an obs, planning, assessment cycle training session with us. I have 6 new staff starting over the next couple of weeks and only time will tell what their understanding of it is, when interviewed none of them could identify the ECM outcomes so I am not hopeful. Looks like lots of training and role modelling for me to do

[sunnyday]

Hi Jody and welcome to the forum - that's quite a workforce you have there.

My suggestions would include - seek help from your LA Early Years Team - Development Worker and Early Years Advisory Teacher, give staff adequate time if possible to read, read, read all E.Y.F.S. documents, seek training - I'm sure there must be plenty in your area - there certainly is in Kent, could you buy some reference books - have a look on Amazon.

Good luck with it all.

Sunnyday

[louby loo]

Now I am going to stick in my twopennath... and I don't want to offend anyone but...

A NVQ is what it says.. a National Vocational Qualification - meaning a 'workbased' qualification. Students doing NVQs need to be supported by the workplace...... the Assessor is an 'assessor' and not a tutor! Yes assessors may set tasks etc, but much of the 'learning' should come from the workplace itself. So it's down to the workplace to arrange LA training, and do substanstial [s?] in house training events. etc.
I know some go to college one day a week, but this should only be seen as 'extra' to what they learn in the workplace and not the sole 'taught learning'content of the NVQ.

I think a lot of young people struggle doing NVQs because not being given the support they deserve (and need). Often being paid low 'training wages', but not really being given the full workbased training the NVQ route needs to be effective.

Ohpppss and sorry.......... welcome to the forum, you'll find lot's of support here to help with the training.xxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited by louby loo, 01 April 2009 - 05:24 PM.

[hali]

welcome to the forum Jody....

hee hee louby lou i think many of us would agree with that

[Inge]

perhaps a bit more back to basics ans start with some child development training, this seems to be an area you have highlighted as missing..

then move onto eyfs.. and child based learning

perhaps set up a situation where you allow them to start something and then come along telling them it would look better this way and to change this or that.. some practical learning so they can understand the principles.

we had one sesion where we were given some paper to cut up and then all given scissors , but they were all left handed ones... made you aware of need for correct equipment etc.

Inge

[Cait]

an observation would be a good start, a place to think about making judgements and assumptions. A lot of EYFS is based on this so it's an important part of what we do each day. If they can do a good observation you will be able to take them to their 'next step' of using what they've observed in a meaningful way

[louby loo]

Inge, on Apr 1 2009, 18:39, said:

we had one sesion where we were given some paper to cut up and then all given scissors , but they were all left handed ones... made you aware of need for correct equipment etc.

Inge

we had one where we had to link paperclips up wearing wolly gloves!

xxx

[sunnyday]

Lots of good advice Jody - just another thought - do you have regular staff meetings - a good way to get everyone 'on board' with planning.

When do you 'expect' Ofsted?

Sunnyday

[Shiny]

Agyness, on Apr 1 2009, 19:51, said:

This training role is what the governenment is implementing in all settings by 2010. i.e. The employment of an EYPS -

Only Children's Centres must have an EYPS by 2010. Full day care by 2015.

[sam2368]

and what happens when the pot runs dry?