Timetable Issues- Focus V Child Initiated

[Guest]

Hi,

 

As you all may know I work in a FSU with 46 Reception aged children and a 39am/pm nursery unit with 7 staff (1 being an LSA). We are currently readjusting our timetable to include at least 1 hour of uninterrrupted play (previously had 45 mins and 30 mins) and we are struggling to get the balance right.

 

How do you fit in focus activities, in particular numeracy and Literacy activities for YR (I have been told I should have 1 of each per reception child each day) and still have at least 50% of the time being child initiated.

 

Do group times count? Our groups vary in size between 13 and 18.

 

Would anyone mind sharing their daily timetable and explain when you fit in focus' etc.

 

Thanks Caroline

Edited July 18, 2006 by Guest

[Marion]

We dont actually have a timetable in our FSU. The suggested ratio of adult to child initiated is 40%adult to 60% child in the Autumn term increasing to 60%adult-40% child by the summer term.

 

Group times adult directed activities and adult led activites all count. ( I confirmed this with Julia Graham Early Years )

 

The way we work is all reception children will have a group and adult led literacy and numeracy activity everyday. We alternate between literacy morning and numeracy afternoon one week and numeracy morning literacy afternnon the following week. At this point in the year the children will be 'directed' to an additional literacy and numeracy activity to work in their group independently with minimum aldult support. There is also 1 other adult led activity per day so each area is covered in the week. When not at an adult led or adult directed activity the children are free to choose.

Edited July 18, 2006 by Marion

[Guest]

Hi Marion,

 

Thanks for the reply. Who does the small group focus' with your YR children and who is supporting with the Nursery children atg this time? Do your small group times lead directly from your large group time and if so when do you fit in pure phonics, ICT, etc.

 

Sorry for all the questions but getting bogged down in it all

 

Caroline x

[Marion]

There are 4 members of staff in our unit 2 teachers 2 NNEB. 26 reception and 26 nursery both sessions

Staff take turns each week leading the small group activities so 1 week it is the teacher and the next week the NNEB.

 

We start each session with large group sessions which would be a phonics focus or a numeracy focus (depending on am or pm) the children would then go to a small group focus session with the same adult or they would be directed to an independent activity. While the reception aged (more able nursery children) are having literacy whole group/small group activities the nursery (less able reception) would be having numeracy input. This is why we alternate week to week between mornings and afternoons to ensure all children access both.

One of the other adults will work at a focused activity from the other curriculum areas while one adult is free to float/monitor/support child initiated activities

Edited July 18, 2006 by Marion

[Guest]

Hi there,

 

For recepetion class whole class phonics/maths short session on the carpet counts as a focussed activity for every child every day. We plan for two of these sessions a day numeracy and literacy plus two adult focus small group session each morning again covering literacy and numeracy , we have a workshop going on throughout the morning and afternoon which the children can freely access (although on occassion we will direct children if we feel they would benefit from a particular experience) - afternoons I've concentrated on reading with children one to one getting through the whole class each week. We have a 0-6 foundation stage unit with 29 in reception 26 three/four year olds and currently 4 two year olds and 4 babies. 2 teachers plus lots of nursery officers as we are open 50 weeks for some children and the young ones have high staffing ratios.

[Guest]

Hi Androyd,

 

Thanks for reply. Just toclarify, how many small group focussed lit and numeracy do your children have per week and has this been ok'd by ofsted or inspectators. Don't mean to sound aggressive but our SATs were dire this year so expecting a visit very soon and paranoid!

 

I so want everyhting to be running as it should and do the best for our children.

 

Thanks for your help Cx