mps09

OFSTED pulled me up for having a can of coke at lunchtime! It is not seen as portraying a healthy example to the children. (and it was Diet!)

If that's the case, what would they say about smoking!

We are a pre-school renting a room from the primary school. We were inspected independently from the school early last year, the inspector didn't look at the school at all and didn't speak to any of the staff. The when the school got notice of their inspection last September, we were told we would be inspected again (twice in 6 months - NOT FAIR!) just to keep the two sites on the same cycle.

advantage was - we got notice of their visit!

However, school had two inspectors for 3 days (I think) and we had our own Early Years inspector for a day and a half. They did speak but neither our report nor the schools mentioned the progress of the other beyond the benefit of free flow and mixing.

This was under EYFS too so I would say NO the Pre-school success/ failures would not be reflected in the School report and vice versa.

Hope this helps!

Good luck

me again.... if you check out TES Early years forum there are a few threads about this song and a mention of a book called Harlequin

oh here you go then.....

here's the tune...

http://www.singup.org/songbank/songs/view/...fluffy-paintbox

I have no idea of the tune but one my children and all subsequent reception classes did was... cauliflower's fluffy, cabbages green

Strawberries sweeter than any I've seen

Beetroot purple and onions white

All grow steadily day and night

 

 

Thats as much as I can remember though

It's called 'paintbox' and I do know the tune it's a beautiful song!!

Anyone know how I can hum the tune over the internet??

Sorry can't help with any more...

Hi,

We use the pre-school learning alliance register and list all the children due in during the day, noting in the margin in they are in at L(unchtime) or PM.

I've attached a word doc which shows the basic layount.

We mark / as they come through the door, then cross it the other way when we call register. Then the ones going home at 11.45 are marked OUT, those staying or arriving for lunch are all marked in again, then the same at 1pm. The totals are recorded at bottom which is great.

Hope this makes sense!

Abbie stays for lunch and leaves at 1pm

Ben leaves at 11.45

Carol leaves at 11.45

Derek leaves at 11.45

Edward arrives at 11.45 and leaves at 3pm

Frank stays for lunch and leaves at 1pm

I thought that ALL children were entitled to a full time place from the September after their 4th birthday, and this could be taken at either an LEA setting or a PVI (but you could share between these two). However, schools weren't obliged to offer a place it was upto them.

Our local school were considering immediate full time from Sept 2009 and we went through this a lot with parents who didn't want full time at school but they couldn't accept mornings at school and come back to Pre-school 1 or 2 afternons and still be funded.

Couple of points though:-

1. we are in Oxfordshire so maybe it is differnt in different areas

2. my brain sometimes throws out bits of information and I'm not sure where it comes from

my boss thinks I make stuff up! trouble is I can remember lots of interesting snippets but don't forget them when something new comes along

I just can't imagine our committee having a meeting and our staff not attending. Would hate to think what crazy ideas they would try to implement without us there to give them a shot of reality!!

I agree that there are occassionaly times when staff shouldn't be there, ie to discuss wages but generally the matter that are discussed at our committee NEED staff to be there.

Perhaps we are just lucky with the committee we have had Guess they are all different though.

Hi,

I'm reading a bit more into this and am I right in thinking that this isn't really about the train track?

I feel so sorry for your situation.... is your admin manager childcare qualified? Have you sat down an put it all back to her "how do you see your role?", "what do you want to do day to day",

if you can get it from her view perhaps you can discuss and move forward. I am in a similar situation although I get on well with my supervisor - there are only 3 of us staff.

She has been working at the setting for 15 years and been supervisor for 9, with a leve 3. I've worked there for 4 years and during that time achieved level 3 and I'm now working on Foundation Degree with a view to gaining EYPS. Does she feel threatened? YES, should she feel threatened? Don't want her to be BUT I want recognitition for what I'm doing and want to have input into running setting/planning/resources but I have to get her approval for everything.

By the way - she DOES NOT want to do any further qualifications

Don't mean to take over your post - just wanted to let you know you are not alone, I know how you feel, try not to let any bad feelings take over your professionalism, which I'm sure you won't anyway.

When things get a little stressed where I work we go out for a coffee and have a NO WORK TALK RULE. (doesn't always happen like that but we always come away feeling far more comfortable to discuss any other work issues).

Keep your chin up.

We take children from their second birthday so have lots younger than 3. Although, yes you would need to assess each child, we've never had any problems. Because we use it reguarly for fire drills (and just test trips around the school field) all the children know they must NEVER let go. We often match up a younger chld with an other one, have an adults at the front and the back so you can be in good control of what's going on and of couse the older children will let you know if someone lets go!

we use this one:-

www.tts-group.co.uk/Product.aspx?cref=TTSPR593410

have to say it is brilliant, we use it for walking (obviously ) but also as an evacuation rope. We have one rule (don't let go of your ring!) and even the youngest stick to this. Children can share a ring so you can have up 20 children on the rope.

Wouldn't recommend a normal rope because of friction burns if someone pulls hard.

Hope this helps

sounds very thorough...

Just a thought if you have parent helpers coming in....

We have a list in the kitchen re: allergies or special dietary requirements and include a photograph of the child next to their name and description of allergy, just so that anyone coming in to help can easily identify any child with special requirements. Spoke to all parents re: confidentiality, but no one wants to take a risk so no one minded!

We had a child who was only allowed to drink bottled water and wasn't allowed to eat apple in case she choked - so these went on our list as well.

HOpe this helps.

sorry I should have clarified in my response "from 2015".

I agree with lynned55 that this will affect a lot of settings who might loose staff.

I wonder how 'strict' this will be. we employ someone for 2 hours a week to work lunchtimes - will they have to be 'qualified'?

while everyone is settling in still it might be worth suggesting to everone in your foundation unit that you restrict (temporarily!) the free flow to certain times.

Hope that helps

Good luck!

not wanting to sound negative but.. just a few thoughts...

1. if you have a regular intake you need a system where you can easily add new children's names (and remember to do it!)

2. our parent's hating doing this with their children and constantly complained about it... mind you we are a pre-school and they all arrive at the same time.

3. I read an article recently which suggested having a double sided peg card - one side with photo and name and the other side with just written name. It claimed it was important for children to have a visual clue to match with their written name , in this case it could be turned over as the child got to recognise their name.

I would love to resurrect this because it is great to watch the children begin to recognise their name.

Might have to bite the bullet and ignore my own points 1 and 2 above.

please someone correct me if I'm wrong but....

I understood that all staff had to hold 'relevant qualifications' BUT only if you want to include them in ratio.

So your lady wouldn't have to take a qualification but you then can't rely I her prescence for adult:child ratio.

Probably not much help because I guess most people want to have staff to cover ration rather than just an extra pair of hands...

Hope this helps.

I agree with many of the responses above, there isn't enough time, but you don't want to/can't exclude anyone regardless of whether there is a physical problem or not.

If you are not a parent - it is hard to imagine what a trial potty training can become.

and if you are a parent - think back to what a big issue it is - whether it was easy or hard!

We take children from 2 and so inevitably some are in nappies, and would be expected to be so.... however as we become more familiar with the children - or as they develop - to me it becomes clear when children are 'ready'.

Some have no idea when they are wet/dirty and probably should be left to get on with it. Yet others are aware and ask for nappies to be changed, or tell us they need a poo or wee - believe me it takes more time to take off a nappy when the child wants to use the toilet!

I actually think we would all benefit by investing a little time talking to parents of those children who don't have a particular problem, are developing well in other areas, show and interest, know what they are doing, and support them in the process. Many parents are mortified if their child has an accident (particular a poo one) and perhaps need a bit of reassurance that it is OK, it is part of the job, done it before, etc. as a parent if I felt that this wasn't the case, I would probably stick to nappies too then at least I won't be embarrassed .

There are some good books, websites (ERIC) to look at.

I know how frustrating it is for staff to be taken up with this kind of thing but truly feel we should be supporting parents, it is one of the most difficult developmental areas for parents

Hope this offers a bit more food for thought (and yes one of our darlings does try to eat it! - try clearing that up!)

not sure if it is statutory but it is in our policies too!

bit hard though cos one of our parents is only 17..

If it is parts of your policy I don't think it matters whether it is statutory. You have a duty of care until the children are passed over to a responsible adult (18?).

Sorry can't be of more help.

I started this thread and not I'm totally hooked on the idea of schemas!!

I want to go on a course now....

that's how bad it is!!!

I agree with all the other comments, it's hard when you don't get helpers and hard when you do!!

Haven't tried this idea - but it only just popped into my head!

Instead of a date list asking for parents to help, why not put up an 'activities' list and ask parents to put down their name for particular activities?

ie.

reading corner

playdo

sharpening pencils

preparing paint/paper, etc.

sorting/cleaning toys

Cooking

role play.

love the list from myhenroxanne - you could incorporate that too

as someone already said, some parents might prefer to be more handy away from the children, but in our setting would still get a great view of our sessions.

There was also a good article in Practical Pre-school recently. June issue, if you can get a copy. There is a good Q and A for parents which covers some of the areas which might put some parents off.

We find that once they've been once they are much more likely to come again!

Thank you to everyone who's responsed on this - even I understand the behaviour a bit more having read Killowengirl's handout!

It will be interesting to try and support this schema rather than just let it play out each time ....

We also have a little girl who constantly fills up a particular handbag with anything she can find, including single jigsaw pieces!! now I know why and can support her learning even more through this.

I'm just hooked on schemas now

I just love this forum

wow - thank you! glad to know I'm not alone!

thanks for the links - will definitely pass them on for others to read.

my superviser also get fed up when the dino world is set up and dinos end up in sandpit! I think it should be sending messages about the provision - perhaps sand toys are'nt interesting enough?

lts of 'food' for thought

thanks again

On friday one of my colleagues strode outside calling to some of the children to keep the sand in the sandpit, she was quite cross and the children did as she had asked and my colleague took a bucket of sand back to the sand pit....

not too much of a problem had the children been pointlessly tipping the sand out on the ground BUT

what they were actually doing was transporting the sand from the sandpit to the outdoor kitchen where they were adding water, grass, stones, stirring with spoons, sharing out into dishes and 'making soup'.

It would have made a wonderful observation and could have been extended in so many ways! It involved children from 2 - 6 so great learning going on....

My question is.... does anyone have a link or information about an article that I could get her to read which might just switch on that area that would make her think this is not untidy, thoughtless mucking around? Does anyone recall any articles in Practical Pre-school or similar?

Any advice gratefully received!!

Love my colleagues to bits but sometimes I just dispair

Thank you very much

Hi

Anyone doing the ED209 exam in October?

Any revision advice? I'm really nervous!!

Thanks,

Hi,

We've taken 2 year olds for a while now - this was a commercial reason really - a rival pre-school started taking children from 2y4m while we were 2y 6m and we found children were going there instead because they could go earlier!

Anyway....

My only bit of advice really beyond the obvious, "will take longer to settle, may need parental support for longer" is

don't buy too many specific resources for younger children - we did - and found they didn't really use them they just enjoy the same things the older ones do.

Hope that helps.

Good luck!