Guest Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Hi we are thinking about increasing to 3hrs. We are in a scout hall, one large room and all activities have to be put away at the end (like many others I'm sure). I was wondering how your sessions were planned out? We have a specific snack time not a rolling snack bar and would like to keep it that way if possible. Could you please give me som examples of how your session is planned out and any oyher advice please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I was wondering how your sessions were planned out? Each group is very different and has different priorities, but we've just made some changes to our session which now seems to be working well. Like you we have one large room (although have access to a smaller room too) and have to pack away each day. We start with registration which can take up to 20 minutes, and then we all go outside to play for at least 45 minutes after which children and adults tidy up together. Whilst we are outdoors children may come inside and play in the small room (we have floor play, book corner and the computer in there). During this first period of free play we may cook if that's on the agenda: sometimes it is something that each child gets to do (such as toast painting) but others a small group of children cooks something for everyone to take home (such as flapjacks) or eat at snacktime (such as fruit salad). Then its time to come in and change into indoor shoes, go to the toilet and wash hands before snacktime. We all eat together but rather than making children wait for everyone to finish we let the children get up once they have finished, and put their plate and cup away. We changed this last term and whilst some practitioners are still uneasy about children getting up from the snack table when others are still eating it has the benefit of children not having to sit and get bored waiting for their friends to finish. Conversely it also enables children who are slower eaters to sit and take time over their snack without having to be hurried so everyone can go and play! Then its more free play indoors for about 45 minutes, during which time there will be key group time which is very short (ten to fifteen minutes) before we get ready to go home. The way our session is organised there is not too much moving around of furniture during the session, and children get more time for free play so they can more deeply engage with their learning. That said there are inevitably times when the routine impinges on their play but we do try to keep these times to a minimum. Hope you get lots of replies! Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 hi we are also sessional - we have free: 9.30 freeplay 10.30 singing 10.40 snack time /key groups 11.00 freeplay 11.40 circletime / story flexible with all timings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherclanger Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Hi we are also sessional and in one room. Its our village hall, but use to be the local school so still has the wooden floors ! We also have to get out and pack away all the equipment and resources everday. Our routine runs like this: 9.00-10.15 Freeplay/ planned activities 10.15-10.30 Tidy up time 10.30-10.40 Circle time 10.40-11.00 Breaktime 11.00- 11.45 Outdoor play 11.45- 12.00 Storytime/Song time Not sure if it will stay this way as we have a new supervisor and it may change ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Hi we are also sessional care running two 3 hour sessions each day our routine morning routine differs slightly to our afternoon routine when our older children come and bring their packed lunch. Morning 8.45am – 9.00am Welcome and Registration. 9.00am – 11.15am Free play inside/outside 10:30am – 11:15am Snack available 11:15am Tidy up time 11:20am Group time 11:30am Story/singing 11:45am Home time Afternoon 12.05pm – 12.10pm Welcome and Registration. 12.10pm – 12.15pm Cloakroom visit 12.15pm – 1.00pm Lunch 1:00pm – 2:25pm Freeplay inside/outside 2:25pm Tidy up time 2:30pm Group time 2.45pm – 3.05pm Story time/Singing 3.05pm Home time During freeplay there will be one adult led activity happening either inside or out other than that all activities/resources are child iniated, we do not set up any of the other tables. We resisted changing to rolling snack until very recently but I would not change back now it works brilliantly for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Hi we are also sessional and in one room. Its our village hall, but use to be the local school so still has the wooden floors ! We also have to get out and pack away all the equipment and resources everday. Our routine runs like this: 9.00-10.15 Freeplay/ planned activities 10.15-10.30 Tidy up time 10.30-10.40 Circle time 10.40-11.00 Breaktime 11.00- 11.45 Outdoor play 11.45- 12.00 Storytime/Song time Not sure if it will stay this way as we have a new supervisor and it may change ! Hi Motherclanger - can I just ask, what happens during "Breaktime"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 just a guess - but bet its snack time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 We are sessional pack away group in a village hall. We run 2 sessions 2 days a week and mornings on the 3 other days due to others using hall. At the moment we do 2.5 hours In the morning sessions we do free choice inside or outside then about 10.30 we have a story then snack altogether children are allowed to get down from table and choose a book to read then about 11.00 free choice 11.30 singing/circle games pm sessions we start with registration and circle time then free choice and carries much like the am sessions the pm sessions are for older children The children go outside in groups as we are unable to have free flow due to having to walk through the kitchen to get outside, usually in 2 groups. We have one adult led activity and if the hall is not in use we take small groups in for for short period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 We do roughly the same but we do have a Keyworker session that in corporates the registration time where the children are in their own small groups for a 10 15 minutes before the freeplay. This was suggested by our Advisory teachers and works well for the staff to have those few minutes each day with just their children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Thank you all very much for your replies, that has given me food for thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherclanger Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Sorry ! thats when we have our snack time, then outside to play ! I think we called it break time because its when the children stop freeplay and pack most of the toys away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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