'Linked Provision' is a bit of a hybrid that I first used with a Reception setting to help them to get round their issue of hearing guided readers, without compromising their Continuous Provision. Since then I have worked on versions of it from Pre-School to Year One. So, what is Linked Provision? Well, the clue is in the name… It is provision that you link to a need that had been identified by observation or assessment. I would run it as a daily session – usually at the very beginning of the day. Everyone is engaged in activities that are themed around the identified need. The same activities are repeated every day for a week and the children get to … Read More
Dough Gym Week – Creating a Dough Gym
Now that you have assessed your children in relation to their gross and fine motor dexterity, you can set up your Dough Gym. What is Dough Gym? Dough Gym is a gym for children where you work out with dough – Simple! Dough Gym is a specific daily intervention – If it is going to have impact it has to be regular and consistent. Dough Gym is directly linked to assessment and attainment. Dough Gym is exclusive – You need to make the children who need this intervention feel special and chosen for all of the right reasons, not just because they are failing. I usually work with a maximum of 8 children, not a whole group. It is not … Read More
Mid Week Make – Apple Shrunken Heads!
These weren’t my idea, I came across them on the internet and just had to have a go. Initially I made them as talk prompts as part of an activity for my next book about display. The whole concept of a severed head is wonderfully gorey, but also the process of the initial making and then the ensuing decay is fascinating. Not to mention the end results. I love them! They are dead easy to make (excuse the pun)! You need Apples (any sort will do) Apple peeler Play dough utenstils Blunt wooden skewers or sticks Lemon juice (optional) Water (optional) My boys loved making them. I obviously don’t condone the drinking of wine whilst working with children (unless they … Read More
Know Your Early Years Currency
It is hard to imagine that anyone who worked on the Stock Market wouldn't have any idea what the FTSE index was or how their shares were trading. It is this essential knowledge that allows them to make the best investments and chase the best deals. Whilst in Early Years we don't necessarily have to concern ourselves with FTSE we should all know what is current in the social media lives of the children that we work with. Early Years in a very specialist area of teaching and so are the viewing habits of the children that are in it. There will always be the 'dead cert' themes like Football, Princesses, Dinosaurs and Pets. Football themed mark making table … Read More