HELP PLEASE! Reception assembly play time adult breaks

[prowlerchick]

Hi all

Well I hope you all had a fab summer now it's back to school time it seems to have whizzed by!

I have started a new job as EYFS leader and have suggested we don't send the children out to play with the Infants as it breaks up the morning.

I was wondering how everyone else manages this or whether you still have assembly and playtime in your Reception?

It has been agreed that it is a good idea not to break the morning up however fitting in adults breaks is a bit of an issue. I've been in nursery so am not used to having a break at all but some people are and we don't want to make EYFS feel isolated from everyone else.

Just wondered how other schools do it?

We're a church school so going to assembly is a non negotiable (I did try!).

Thanks!

[Guest tinkerbell]

Hi Prowler chick

We are in reception and we don't go out with the rest of the School at playtime.We take a break when we feel like it or we are outside anyway so don't have a 'playtime' as such.We just get on with it ,one of us will go and make a coffee and we go to the loo when necessary.

[Froglet]

I have a YR/1 mix. My reception children don't have a formal playtime at all. In terms of a break I don't take one - if I need the toilet I either send for another adult or one who is already in the room takes them for a moment or two. This applies to any TAs working in there as well.

As for collective worship; we're a church school so have the same situation as you. We have 3 whole school collective worship sessions per week. My whole class joins in for one of these (on a Friday - either a celebration assembly or the vicar is leading it). My Y1s join in for the other 2 by joining the Y1/2 class. I keep reception with me and do a class collective worship which is short, sweet and tailored to their needs although following the theme of the 'big assembly' that everyone else is at! The other 2 days a week are class collective worship for everyone so I do the same as usual and my Y1s join me for it.

Does that make sense? It was getting a bit garbled!

[Guest]

when i was in reception we had no break, and my ta would pop out for the loo, and then we'd manage without a drink as we were quite far from the staffroom, and she didn't have hot drinks. i would have liked one, but felt cheeky to ask her to make me one. and i tried to wait for loo as i didn't feel it was fair to leave her with 30 children ..... at lunchtime we went to the staffroom for half an hour so we didn't become isolated..... year 1 and 2 teachers/ta's used to moan about having 2/3 break duties a week, so in the end we took the kids out for friday break and both did duty. at least i got a cup of tea made for me that day!! and of course i pointed out that we did 5 duties a week......!!!!

[Guest]

Hi

We take turns to have a break during the morning. Children have free choice to be in or out, and have their snack when they want to. This is only possible because we have more than one Year R class, and so organise breaks across the Year group, looking out for each others children, especially outside. The issue of 'breaks' is a sensitive one so we go to some length to make sure everyone takes one.

Assembly is something we introduce later in the year. At first we have class assemblies, then Year Group ones in the Spring term. These are 5-10 mins long and very visual/participative, but good for introducing the rules and routines expected in KS1 - coming in/leaving the hall etc.

MW