JacquieL

Thanks everyone. Yes a lovely restful day, lots of cards and pressies, and just about to open a bottle of wine

Well we're turning the tables on you Dubinbay as it is almost always you who begins the birthday wishes on here.

HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL DAY!

I think this is a good article describing this type of 'heuristic' or 'discovery' play

http://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/resou...istic-play.html

Both local authorities I have recently worked in do not allow polystyrene bits or sheets to be used in schools because of the dangers of inhaling it if it disintegrates, as well as being a choking hazard. Styrene is also thought to be a carcinogen.

An excellent and compelling speech. I am hoping that a transcript will soon be available. In the meantime:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressrele.../dimbleby.shtml

Ooh I must raise a champagne toast tonight!

Yes indeed thank you to Steve, Helen and all at FSHQ who work so hard to keep the Forum alive and well. I think this place is an inspiration to many many people, somewhere we can come for support, guidance or just a chat, and know that there will be someone who will respond kindly and respectfully. Well done everyone

Umm lovely cake Steve

I would just be bit wary because if you did not tell your present employer and they are asked for a reference before your interview, it could make things very uncomfortable. A Children's Centre may very well ask for the reference first as part of their safer recruitment policy. As Maz has pointed out they would probably ask why you haven't put down your current employer as a referee, again they would be looking for gaps in employment or other issues which could be warning signs about someone's past. I think you need to choose your words carefully but be honest about finding that your current setting is not the one for you. Just be sure to sell yourself in other ways. Your interview panel will probably understand what you are trying to say but will respect you for saying it tactfully and with a positive slant. If you haven't been asked for two referees you could also ask the CC you have volunteered at to write a character reference to include with your application.

I'm sitting here with a silly grin on my face now. Wonderful!

Stand your ground Upsy Daisy and I agree with everyone else that there is no reason why she should wear a skirt, for all the reasons stated.

Do they insist girls wear skirts as uniform and boys wear trousers? So we have 9 boys and 9 girls. Would they have insisted that if there had been 10 boys and 8 girls that one of the boys wore a skirt? My guess is no, so it seems to me that they are in breach of equal opportunities as if they can insist a girl wears a skirt then they would need to show that in this situation a boy should wear a skirt. As a teacher I would fit in with the needs of the pupils and not cause this kind of distress for something that should be an enjoyable experience for the children. Ask what is their purpose in doing this performance? At the end of the day this should be of benefit to the children shouldn't it?

So sad to hear your news so just wanted to send you some hugs ((((jenpercy)))

Mine move into a different order regularly but I've no idea why!

Jenwren I have had to remove the document as it is copyright material. I'm sure members would love to see it though, so is is possible that you could add the link to the source so that they can find it for themselves?

The emphasis for storytelling is on the telling rather than using books. So few people actually tell children stories, but read to them showing pictures from the book. It can be quite interesting when children react to having a story told to them without a book so I might actually start by doing that. An ancient art lost in many ways as we use other media to pass on our culture. I use a story bag with props that pop out or the children fish inside it and pull out something to start the story off. Planning for 'telling' ticks lots of boxes for speaking and listening

To support the children in telling I think props really help. Perhaps you could set up a story den, put items and characters from a familiar story inside and encourage them to 'act out' the story they know to each other. Using puppets might be another way to go.

You could collect items from a familiar story and put them in a basket and ask the children if they know which story they are from. Then get the children to retell the story to each other picking out the items as they are needed. With Reception children I would try a story around a circle where each child adds a bit to whatever the last child said. That will probably take a bit of practice but it could be fun.

Not that I would encourage box ticking just using poetic licence!

I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Hello again Mummyspud. I wondered where you had gone so welcome back to the fold

Tom and the Island of the Dinosaurs by Ian Beck. Tom finds a bottle on the beach with a message in it from Katy, who needs to rescue some dinosaurs from a volcano.

Have a wonderful day all of you.

Hello Sian and welcome to the forum.

I am just wondering why you are doing a 20 minute dance session in nursery for your observation, who has asked you to do this and why? Perhaps you can find some music for children to join in with if they wish such as Winter from Vivaldi's Four Seasons or the Nutcracker Snowflake dance or Sugar Plum fairy, but a formal warm-up and lesson is not appropriate for Nursery aged children, but more for a Y1 class. Can you adapt this in some way to fit in with nursery practice?

It's an age old problem isn't it? It is something parents have to get used to, and if only they would heed our advice to put children in old clothing. I always had a paragraph about this in our guidelines for parents, including how to remove paint, so at least I could refer them to that if they came in to complain.

Try rinsing the worst off with cold water, and then soak in very very slightly warm water with a generous mixture of Vanish powder and washing-up liquid. Leave for some time, occasionally rubbing in the Vanish. Never use hot water as that 'set's the colour in. I think that green or black paint is the worst really, and on white paint will be difficult to remove.

It sounds as if the presence of an escort varies between authorities doesn't it? It's worrying really as no doubt not having one is a cost cutting exercise. For safeguarding reasons I would have thought that two adults were essential. I agree with you about children not sitting in the front seats.

Peggy my experience has always been that there is an escort present in the taxi if it a special needs child. Does this no longer happen?

Our Children's Centre uses Taxi firms to take children to and from their schools, but there is always a member of staff accompanying them. Obviously this would be different if it is the parent making a private arrangement and therefore having responsibility, but I would be concerned about what would happen if there was an accident.

I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Happy New Year to every one.

This may help you jenpercy

http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-c...-10-school-year