Bigsue

I have a pack that I put together form stuff i have gained over the years at courses and college but you can get some good books on observing and what to look for . If you can get me your name address sent privately to me I will be more than happy to copy and send you what I have. I have recently given it to all staff as a refresher and even staff with 10 year + experience said that had forgotten some things!

It must be in the air at the moment, I had a staff member having an almost walk out on Friday because I brought the subject up Re her Knowledge would be interested in looking at your pack pleeeeease.

Sue

We did it too 26 children 6 adults they loved it

My children really discussed all other pre-schools doing it, they asked if their siblings were doing it in school, told them to teach them it at when they get home

Think this should happen more often their faces were a real treat

Sue

I have mixed feelings about them.

We do have them in the setting, but I do have to keep a careful eye on how they are used. Some staff would like to put them out as an activity in itself...........which for me is a total no no.

 

 

Wow thanks for that comment I thought it was only my staff !!!

I personally hate them (we are a pre-school) some staff do sneak them in, when they do I ask what a child is gaining from them?

However if children request them I will get some if its what they ask for, BUT I feel like already posted clipboards, envelopes. pads etc ar much better, children can do pictures like this at home.

However its personal choice but children of pre-school age can get so much more from other activities

Sue

My subscription ends soon so I'm getting in a little goodbye before it's too late.

 

Oh you lovely forum buddies have been the most fantastic lamp posts to lean on, shoulders to weep on, and my No.1 advice line. I really have enjoyed being a member of this forum. We have had such laughs and I have learnt so much. You have helped me through some really tough times and shared in my jolliness. Thank you to you all.

 

I have been unemployed since September and although attempted to find work, I have been unsuccessful for many reasons. For those reasons I decided not to continue working with children. Although I was good at my job and enjoyed it, I have encountered too many mean people and had my confidence bashed too much. My brain has struggled with finding work so I have decided to become self employed and am giving it a good go!

I have recently qualified in Confectionery and decided to start my own cake making and decorating business from home, I hope to officially open before Easter.

 

So, as I am no longer in early years and have a lot to be getting on with I decided not to renew my subscription.

 

I shall miss your faces and voices (that I see and hear when reading your posts!) and wish you all well in all that you do.

I have my mug, two pens, note pad and a cheque - which has gone towards some sugarcraft equipment - to which I shall remember you by!

 

Thanks guys

 

ppp

 

(I think I'm here for at least another week!)

Good Luck in your new adventure, Its such a shame when good childcare workers are lost.

Sue

We are part of it got info from Ecat course, planned it before we broke up, but info pack still hasn't arrived

Sue

We have large plant in our pre-school. They are dotted all around setting. I normally buy them from ikea when on offer. They are touched a lot by the children and they give a nice look to the setting. We pack away daily so they have to withstand a lot of movement.

We also bring in large logs/cut down trees for areas the children love exploring them, sometimes little bugs come in too.

Sue

Hi lots of den making equipment, discoverery toys, binoculars, tape measures, mark making tools, weaving. Our children love to dig, we take everything out throughout the term. We also take the musical instruments out on a mat they loved this.

Let the children take the lead and add resources as you go.

Have fun.

Very Similar to bridger, musical instruments work so much better outside (saves my ear drums )

Today I cementing washing line extentention poles into buckets to aid in our den making activities, hubbie doesn't know I went out and got ready mix cement yesterday. Hope I don't make too much mess in our garden or he will kill me

haven't worked out how I am getting them to work yet??? hopeing son and hubbie will help me!!! I could of asked them to do it but want to do it myself as a sense of satisfaction, and at least it takes me away from this FD TMA 6 errrrr hating it at mo!

Sue

I want to chill so I am REALLY going to try!!!!

BUT still need to catch up

MUST clean windows and wash nets (its a half term tradition)

Tidy house!!! Keep hubbie happy! Meet up with a friend for lunch

Finish TMA 6 and send

Be organised and start TMA 7 preparation (ha ha me organised)

Bills newsletter, update website!!!! and and and!!!! CHILL!!!!!!

Its only a week, but daughter is away (shes a teacher so off the same time as me) hubbie and son go off to work So I have a house to myself from 7-5.30 Bliss!!!

Sue

Cait told me about this website and I only paid a one off payment of about £22 no more if I remember rightly

I love the way it update there and then too

Big Sue

I'm watching it

At last something a little different

Didn't like the hand at the end

Sue

Thanks everyone! Will definitiely ask my headteacher if I can go. And yes.....will certainly report back! xxxx

Jarmen and her company are fantastic, simple to the point and makes sense not matter what the setting.

We are pre-school in a hall setting up daily but she still inspires me.

Please someone help, Ive been teaching for ten years and love my job with a Reception class but is it just me or are kids coming in with less and less respect. I have a boy that says no to me consistently every time i ask him to do something. I have been very firm with him and send him to time out every time he is refusing me, but it is driving me insane. I am thinking about doing a behaviour reward for him but part of me thinks no, he needs to learn first to do as he is told. Rant over!!

Don't want to advise BUT I know where you are coming from I have a 4year old doing the same to us (we are a pre-school) I am working with parents the best I can but like you say its driving me insane too. Today however my face hurts as I was determined to not let him get to me, my face hurt as I have smiled and secrety laughed to get myself through the 4 hour session.

His last comment was I hate you, and i am going to fold my arms for ever and never come back here again! All i was asking him to do was get his coat as mummy was coming to pick him up, mummy supported me but on a serious note my staff and I are getting concerned as I think he will soon begin to take this temper out on others. I know we monitor these things but everyday I am writing an account of the day just to cover ourselves.

I too am firm with him, hes a big lad and yesterday almost pulled me over when he grabbed my arm. I am not sure of reward charts so haven't used that route yet.

Thank you for your rant, I now do not feel alone I ranted at hubbie on phone when I got in, bet he can't wait to come home now

Big Sue

PS after all these years in this job we know these type of children come along, however I do feel many are coming with very little respect for adults and their own parents.

Emma - I've just popped back to apologise........my post must have sounded so rude to you......I am just extremely lucky in that we have a great relationship with our local primary school - we are able to visit and use some of their lovely resources - outdoor stuff - we are always made welcome - we also attend various plays, concerts.......and the reception teacher and headteacher visit our setting too.........so this is working well, we are just around the corner from the school and that's the way I like it........a good 'partnership' but completely independent....

 

So anyway, sorry, if I sounded 'harsh' in my response......

 

All good wishes to you and your team - it sounds as if you would really like to move to the school site - hope it goes well for you!

Hey Sunnyday you read my mind!!!!!

I am sorry but I still believe in the benifits of sessional and pack away also not being on school grounds (but the heads up for Ofsted arriving would be different)

Big Sue

I would pay staff, however as already stated in posts Kent don't do first aid on saturdays now, but do them in the week and I pay staff the whole time they are there.

As Suer said its a benifit to the setting, staff need to feel valued.

I am going to a conference on a Saturday and a staff member is going too I will probally pay for that even though she won't expect it.

Sue

Hi thanks for all the replies.

 

I know what you mean about any free space, and if i let them all 19 would probably spend the whole day in the construction area making guns and spaceships.

 

Think i may look into ways of sorting the noise levels.

 

Look forward to hearing any more ideas

I am a pre-school and in September I have 30 children on role 6 girls the rest the boys. We are already planning outside activities A LOT

What we have noticed is wqhen there is a high ratio of boys our resources wear out quicker throgh excess use.

I find boys are lively but also loving and do love an active story.

Hope you get through it

Sue

I am coming to the end (April 2011) I would say do it for yourself!!!

Its quite and achievemnet I think when you consider we often still have a family and job etc.

I have only studied for me, (that sounds selfish) but Its my achievement I( don't HAVE to do it I WANT to do it.

Yes it has made me think deeper about my practice and I now research things with interest. My pay will not increase but my PSE development and well-being has

Good luck if you go for it.

Big Sue

Bet it feels good can't wait for mine!!! Congratulations

Sue

http://kingsizepeople.co.uk/img/Poo_Goes_H...To_Poo_Land.pdf

 

One of parents bought this booklet into our setting today that she found on the internet when searching for ideas to help her child with problems with soiling. I wondered if anybody had heard of it and how successful it was?

Haven't used it not sure I would BUT I found it funny!!!! I think I personally may of used it on a one to one with MY own child but not in pre-school, parents maybe offended

Sue

Made me giggle!!!!

laminate a large pic of a mobile and laminate pics of number buttons, then add velcro and stick it on the wall as a number sequencing activity

Like that one may pinch your idea thanks

Sue

We are in a hall too, I have a mobile as contact (not my own) Its so old it doesn't have a camera but its really loud so we can hear it!!! (Old ladies our hearings going ) Its a pay as you go, most call are incoming!

Its only on when I arrive 7am and goes off when I leave. It comes with us on walks and outings but I always take my personal phone as a back up on outings (it does have a camera but I don't use it as we have a camera for pre-school evidence etc) I do check message in holidays.

We would love internet access but its acost out of our reach I also believe there isn't really the need in pre-school for the internet (personal choice)

Hi I did ok with TMA03 but my tutor was a bit inconsistent with his marking and comments. His feedback was really good on the PT3 form, but the mark didn't reflect this at all. Then on the actual tma he had written all over it, raising questions and challenging what I had written. For example I used observation and parent interview as my 2 research tools - and in the tma I highlighted 'quotes' from the parent interview - writing extracts from the interview - however my tutor obviously didn't like me to use the actual words from the parent as he underlined parts of her response and put exclamation marks underneath it - as it was the parents contribution, I had made sure that it was in speech marks and italic font to indicate this - What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to change what the parent says to make it read more academic? I work in a area of need and high deprivation and some parents social and communication skills one could say need a little honing - but hey - I see it as a bonus that this particular mum let me observe her child. To be honest, I felt totally demoralised after receiving the TMA back. He also questioned (almost sarcastically) what I had observed with the baby - which made me feel that he really doesn't understand the nature of my role or the setting in which I work. Not looking forward to submitting TMA04 at all. As for the RLO - I got a tick on it and word saying this meets the criteria.

One plus point was that I was not on my own with the inconsistent feedback - I believe some complaints are being made.

OMG I am now starting to worry I have not had anything back from my TMA 3, I am working through EYCLOs but don't want to start TMA4 until I have my feedback.

My tutor has appeared tuff too, I have request that she mark my work in RED or a colour so I can visulise it better (works for me old school) Now worrying it will be a huge scribble in red and I will cry!!!

Big Sue

PS why do we do this to ourselves???

I didn't make any last years but this year I like Peggy's Idea 'spend more time with hubbie' after a horrid 2010 hoping things will improve for 2011

Would also love to finish this FD with just a pass. roll on May!

To organise my time better I am rubbish at it and always on catch up!

Big Sue

I agree Buttercup, I seem to be struggling with E215, I too have fallen behind - have had terrible cold for last 2 weeks (ended up in bed!!!) So playing catch up with the reading.

Playing catch up too, have been unwell this week and main aim is to be well for Christmas Day and family. Going to set myself a goal today that once been to doc's hopfully they will sort me and I can crack on again!

Good luck with reading everyone

Big Sue

I passed the K204 Soooooo pleased really didn't think I would, its a great Christmas pressie to myself now ploughing through E215

Hope everyone else did well

Big sue