Early years | Forum profile

 There have been some dire phonic reading books over the years but there are some really good new schemes available now if there is funding to move away from Biff et al ...  

 Fortunately, the OP doesn't seem to be one of those pushy parents.  Why did  you use the word 'stimulated' when 'played with' might have sounded less pushy?

Shall  we ignore this geezer or shall we play with him?

Below is a link to an online petition regarding the government's proposal for five-year teacher licencing. You can read my thoughts on this thread but I urge people to consider signing the petition if you feel that there are already plenty of measures in place for addressing teaching quality:   http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/p/366152/5114578.aspx#5114578   It takes seconds to sign these online petitions - and if you...

At our nursery, there is a climbing frame, slide, balancing beam and ladders that can attach to the climbing frame, which we get out in bad weather and to observe p.d.  Large wooden blocks are very good construction toys.

I think after the outbursts of ecolie (mis-spelt) then farms are out of the question now for visits. Maybe a parent has a tortoise or something.

We asked children to tell us before we started our winter topic what they would like to find out-these were the responses. The children have said they would like to find out more about robins-did think about making bird feeders? Or with Jackfrost/ice-did think a nice activity would be to freeze a disposable glove with water and talk about how Jack Frost has left hand behind-how can we keep from melting etc- and explore materials etc? (saw...

In the perfect EYFS situation you would have constant free-flow indoor/outdoor play so you could get all your gross motor skills areas outside.  As you seem to have a lot of space you could do lots inside.  Another idea which is v. cheap and which Msz/s post made me remember is to get carpet squares (free from local carpet shop) and put numbers or shapes on to them.  You can develop all sorts of balancing, hopping,...

I am sorry you feel this way - but you sre still learning! AND Recepetion is one of the hardest stages to teach because it is so unlike anything else. Look at a book called - Open questions, I think it is called ( I will try and find it and let you know)- these are the types of questions you ask that should challenge and extend the children's thinking. In other words not necessarily questions that the children get either right or wrong -...

Our school also uses parent helpers for trips without CRB checks.  They aren't left alone with the children.