Hoolahoney Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hi, I realise there is a whole tapestry section and have been investigating it as a new means of doing LJ's. However I am torn as to whether to move away from paper book style we currently use. My concerns are that parents have said they like having the scrapbook style as a memento of their time at Preschool and tapestry being online is not quite the same. Also we know from our facebook page that not all parents are online or have a computer/tablet as many request paper copies of their newsletters etc. Just curious what others experiences or opinions are about traditional vs Tapestry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreamay Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 We have jsut had a parent who has returned since havign an older sibling with us and is currently a guinea pig til we go 'live' with Tapestry so has experienced both give feedback and he has raved about this online journal!! He said I know we used to get a wonderful learning journey at the end of the term and then get to keep it but this has been fantastic to beable to read only a week since he started with us!! And they do get a copy at the end of the time as PDF for them to print if they wish. Also we have decided to have an assessment pack as papercopy with all their summeries in from their all about me and summeries from other setting also a proforma that key persons just note down for their next steps and when and how it was added to planning. Andrea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hoolahoney we were exactly the same as you, I really wanted to try and cut down the time that is spent doing learning journeys at home and thought it may be a excellent training and first step for staff that do not complete learning journeys to begin to do them. I was so torn as our learning journeys are loved by the children and parents and always get praised by other professionals coming into the setting. I trialled Tapestry and really liked it which did not help me make my decision!! In the end I put a questionnaire out to parents and asked them which they would prefer. It came back strongly in favour of paper learning journeys, so that is what we are doing for now. We also had some other big changes to get used to in September and I felt it may be far too much to get used to the online format as well. But we may come back to it at a later date as I do think this is the way it may be going anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaMum Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) We just started using Tapestry at the beginning of term, and we all love it and wouldn't even consider going back to paper journals. The time spent is far less, the print costs are nil and it is just so 'in the moment' and present, with good parental input. I feel for the first time ever, I am on top of my LJ's!!! Of course parents want a folder when their child leaves.... why wouldn't they want a free photo album with their child' work included? I do keep a file for their art work, mark making etc, so in my opinion they get the best of both worlds, a CD to print off (at their expense not ours on a limited budget) and their child's work too. It's the best decision we have made. Edited September 12, 2014 by MegaMum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoolahoney Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 May look at the questionnaire option try to gage opinions. I am all for less paperwork and pritt sticking umpteen things but I do worry some of our less tech savvy staff may struggle, it took 6 months to get them to do a course online that takes 2 hours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Very interested in this topic as it's something we've been discussing for a while now. Stupid question really but do all the staff need to be equipped with an ipad or similar, and if so do you need Internet access (which we don't have). How do the technophobes amongst the staff cope? I'm also fascinated how it saves time? Thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foreveryoung Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) We went live with Tapestry last week and already it is proving popular. We decided to go ahead with it not just because of the paperless system etc (needless to say the benefits of this system are superb) but our main driving force was trying to include parents more. We are getting more and more families with whom we don't see the parent/s often, due to work etc. We invite them I regularly and not many come the main response we get is '"as long as there happy and have friends alls ok" trying to engage some parents was so difficult. Also it was felt by staff that parents didn't see there child's file enough and trying to catch parents at end/start of session wasn't the best way as many are in a rush. We also work well with our childrens child minders but again this can be improved by sharing the child's journey on Tapestry. Tapestry will help so much in this area and parent feedback is coming in thick and fast of how they love it ? As for technology yes you need wifi we are trying to get it through landline at present but it's a nightmare due to post location so in the meantime we are using personal hotspot through mobile phone data. I have a staff member who doesn't have and carnt even work a mobile telephone ! But even she has done two observations completely independant after only 1 hour training on the app that shows you anyone can use it. Staff love it. (Right going to stop praising Tapestry now as I think you can gather I'm in love with it ?) x A word has gone blue for a link I don't know why it's not a link I've put in so just ignore. Edited September 13, 2014 by Rochelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaMum Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) It's very user friendly and we all are getting on really well with it. I trawled through the tutorials and they were easy to follow (except the analysis bit!!) and it took me less than about 2 weeks to get to grips with it. Everyone on here is fantastic and very helpful with the inevitable endless questions at the start. I felt confident after the two weeks to show staff how to use it and gradually drip fed more information over a couple of more weeks and they love it. With having the developmental statements on, it makes life so easy. We are able to look at a snapshot of each child to see if they are in developing and moving forward.... I love it. As manger, in an instant I can look at all the children and see where they are at, and what next steps/obs need to take place. It has cut down my hours tremendously. I do proof read all staff's observations etc, and I must admit this is a bit time consuming, but certainly doable and I can see where they need improvement, or give praise instantly. As I said, all journals are up to date... which surely is a first for us. Edited September 13, 2014 by MegaMum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafa Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) .................(do you need Internet access (which we don't have) Hi I have just signed up for Tapestry and are presently 'playing'! We have no internet access at our setting so I've bought a mobile thingy called a 'Mi-Fi' which is a little mouse size gadget that gives as the internet for £16.95 a month, on a rolling contract and only needs a months cancellation period IF we decide its not going to happen...?!?! So for £4ish a week it enabkes all the staff to 'have a go'. We have two tablets at the mo, are taking flash snaps and getting to grips with anecdoting and adding statements at end of session. Seems to only take a few minutes to do this and the fact that its instant and fresh in the mind makes it appear to be the answer to what can be a laborious task........... that should have quoted squirrel....must have done something wrong......what hope with Tapestry....?? Edited September 13, 2014 by Rafa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thank you all for your comments, I think I'll investigate getting Internet first, then trial Tapestry.Watch this space! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berryred Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 We just started using Tapestry at the beginning of term, and we all love it and wouldn't even consider going back to paper journals. The time spent is far less, the print costs are nil and it is just so 'in the moment' and present, with good parental input. I feel for the first time ever, I am on top of my LJ's!!! Of course parents want a folder when their child leaves.... why wouldn't they want a free photo album with their child' work included? I do keep a file for their art work, mark making etc, so in my opinion they get the best of both worlds, a CD to print off (at their expense not ours on a limited budget) and their child's work too. It's the best decision we have made. This!! Hours spend cutting, finding the right page, sticking, linking highlighting....... I've been with Tapestry for 18 months now, and every time I have a break (holidays and stuff) something new on on there! I'm a childminder and all my parents love the instantness of it all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Hi, I realise there is a whole tapestry section and have been investigating it as a new means of doing LJ's. However I am torn as to whether to move away from paper book style we currently use. My concerns are that parents have said they like having the scrapbook style as a memento of their time at Preschool and tapestry being online is not quite the same. Also we know from our facebook page that not all parents are online or have a computer/tablet as many request paper copies of their newsletters etc. Just curious what others experiences or opinions are about traditional vs Tapestry? I do not use either anymore but maybe you need to consider a few thing to help decide.. Who are you doing these for? parents as a memento or yourselves as an assessment and recording tool . What will be best for your purpose? also think about the time element of doing things, the cost etc How often do parents access and view the paper ones, those with no computer do they use the LJs in the setting and check them.. I believe you can print off pages for those without internet, but it could be a liking for paper based newsletters and information and no facebook for them, I know many do not use it. Then you can decide on what is best for your setting.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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