Cait

Great progress, I'm one of those unlucky people who have to have ears syringed regularly so I know exactly what you mean about being able to hear stuff previously missed. I can remember last time thinking how noisy my hand was sliding down the bannister

I think if someone else other than parent picks up the child - so someone else is signing the form, it's important to give them a photocopy. We always put my home phone number on it too, so they can ring me for any more information if they want to

Well we'll be wet sharks then! hahaha

Tomorrow we are measuring how many children lying down on the grass makes 15m - which is the length of the whale shark in the book they were looking at today

We had this one Friday morning - but it wasn't staff. On Fridays parents come in to listen to story and join in with songtime. A couple of parents were chatting away behind the children, so I'm afraid I just stopped reading and looked at them, and the children turned and looked at them too, and after a minute or so they stopped and looked sheepish, I said 'thankyou' and carried on. Nothing else was said and it's not happened again. I strongly feel that it's just blatant rudeness and has to be stomped out! In the past I have had staff who have done it and I just divert them elsewhere - 'Can you just go and .....' But as a Manager I'm differently placed to do it and I can understand that you don't feel you can do that. Possibly a quiet word with your manager might be the solution - then at least she knows you're not part of the problem - but be aware that if you 'whistle blow' on it you must be prepared to never be tempted to do it yourself! As Maz reminds me every time I moan about people's spellings!

Yep - the phrase 'headless chickens' comes to mind! It's not very professional of them to take it out on you, and I'd like to think that the Head is professional enough to understand your position - even if the secretary isn't! Our school secretary (Stalin in Stockings) used to think she ran the whole place I think and would let NOTHING and NO-ONE past her! It's a power trip I think. Sad people

cheers

OOh Hali - has your egg gone teeny or have I had too much wine? Red or white for you?

Have you looked into Mosaic observation - frantically racking my brains to think what the two books are called - they are down the road. It's about observing children using different 'tools' such as asking them to photograph areas that are special to them, interviewing them, etc. It's really useful and I'll be back when I remember

Spaces to play Alison Clarke and Peter Moss

and 'More spaces to play' by same peeps

Have sent you a private message which may help

Thank you to everyone for my birthday wishes. What a truly great bunch of people you are - I wish I could pour you all a glass of wine to say a proper thankyou. You are a truly supportive group of people and that's what makes this forum so great. Can there possibly be another forum ANYWHERE in the world with such a fantastic bunch of people who can talk about anything from worms to the great theorists! we are a great community - Thank you for your help and support given unstintingly over the last year and I look forward to chatting with you all in the coming year.

CHEERS!!!!

There's a few songs you can adapt - we do it all the time. Things like 5 currant buns we do as 5 red apples in a grocer's shop, round and juicy with a sticker on the top (when we smack our foreheads). The wheels on the bus is another one

So I'm sure they are adaptable here

5 little crabs in the summer sun

scuttle, scuttle, scuttle as they run and run

along came a girl with a bucket one day

took one to the waves and let him 'safe' away

The crabs on the shore go scuttle, scuttle, scuttle

scuttle, scuttle, scuttle

scuttle, scuttle, scuttle

The crabs on the shore go scuttle, scuttle, scuttle

all day long

There are lots of girls (something I can't remember) I'd like to be beside

Beside the seaside beside the sea

 

Yes I am 107 years old!!!!!

 

Sunnyday

There are lots of girls besides - I should like to be beside

Beside the seaside, beside the sea!

Er, so I'm 108 then!?!

Hehe - you poppin in for a glass or two?

I can remember listening to them, if you put one in the fold of a piece of a4 paper and hold it against your ear you can hear them crackling as their tiny villii help them move along.

I think flexibility is the key to a successful day! Children may become fascinated by something and not want to stop so it's important to be bale to do that - some days our group time goes totally by the board, or if it's raining first thing we may do it first and then spend all day outside - even snack and dinner some days!

Here's ours

9 - 9.10 Arrive and Register

9.10 - 10.30 Indoor, outdoor and free play

Including: Small world play, Computer, Jigsaws, Construction, Threading, Games, Painting, Drawing, Role Play, Cutting & Sticking, Books and quiet time, Sand, Water, Dough + any requests

10.30 - 10.45 Handwash and snacktime

Social & Group time

10.45 - 11.15 Key Person Group time - Activities in Key Groups, either general or tied to current theme

11.15 - 11.30 Story and songtime Including Plenary

11.30 - 12.30 Lunchtime

12.30 - 12.40 Arrive and Register

12.40 - 2.20 Indoor, outdoor and free play

as morning

2.20 - 2.40 Handwash and snacktime

Social & Group time

2.40 - 3.00 Story and songtime Including Plenary

I just had a think while I cleared up the kitchen and realised I was being a bit daft.... It's a different term for SENCO isn't it?

 

Thanks for the feedback and to Sam1985 and to SP61HJ for the examples.

Yeah, it's their new term for SENCO, it's Inclusion instead of special educational - they've gone all upmarket!

My lil sis has just pointed out that we wouldn't accept mathematical errors from teachers in books or on displays - so she argues it's the same thing? Is it - or do we accept that grammatical and spelling errors are less important than mathematical ones?

Hmm, I think they probably are, I don't think a ship could be sunk from spelling errors whereas it probably could from mathematical!

Would you be interested in child psychology or speech and language therapy training?

You may find that your local INCO have their own that they prefer you to use, I know ours does and .. well lets just say we don't like it.

It is my belief that NEG can be removed yes, if you are not meeting the criteria, but your EYAT should not let you get into this position and should advise you what you need to do. They are an 'advisory team' after all. There are other reasons that you can lose your funding but it doesn't sound like you are referring to those. What basis have they for saying you are not compliant? Do you know what 'rules' you are not quite meeting?

That's a plan - if you still have it

My father gave me great advice when we were on the way to my wedding, he said, 'If you argue, and you will, remember NEVER to use the words 'always' and 'never'.' They reached 56 years of married happiness together so it stood them in good stead. We're only up to 27 years, but remember his advice. We've not needed it so far .......

fine line between beaching confidentiality and passing on information about a shared child.....

For those who want a spell check on here, I am reliably informed that when you open a reply box and right click you get a menu, one of the options is to check spelling.

I come from a long line of pedants, and generally keep it to myself - but that display really got to me - It must be my age!!!!

I really don't know, there's two thoughts really. Would it offend vegetarians? would it be a learning experience (almost certainly) what do you plan to do with them afterwards? Are you going to boil the lobster and see it change colour?

Mackerel is a very smelly fish - hope you've got some good classroom air fresheners!