In the days before every classroom had a computer, never mind an iPad per child, schools were full of weird and wonderful contraptions to help to make your life more simple. When none of us had even heard of a photocopier we relied on the services of the Banda Generator. A spirit based printing machine that required you to write out your worksheets in special ink, load up a large drum with your master copy and then turn a handle like your life depended on it. Sheet after sheet of purple stained paper would then land in a pile – still wet and reeking of alcohol. Many a morning was spent in ‘the Banda queue’ observing some quite unnerving ‘jiggling’ … Read More
Outdoor Makeover – on a budget!
I have spent a great deal of time over this last week outside for one reason or another. On the domestic front our tortoise Ned has gone AWOL from his enclosure. Tortoises are the masters of escapology and he has done this a couple of times before but we have always found him. This time there is no sign! I have searched in bushes, under stones been prickled, nettled and rained on but the elusive Ned is still eluding… When not hunting for tortoises I have been working with a settings planning their outdoor area and got invited to the opening of another that was part of a cluster of schools who were granted some funding to improve their outdoor … Read More
Get Cosy – Some great ideas!
As always, I have seen lots of inspiring ideas on my travels, so I thought I would share a few… First of all, you need to keep a look out for this 'must have' catalogue for Early Years resources. It was Joanne at Chester Blue Coat Primary School that recommended it to me and I have been promoting it ever since. It has got some BRILLIANT stuff in it, the sorts of things that we spend hours trying to source and collect. Better than that the prices are really good! There is no website yet so you need to check your pigeon hole or staffroom table to see if your copy has been delivered. If you can't find it or … Read More
Deep breath!
Man Alive! I don't know where today went – didn't think I could possibly have much left to do and then got to 5.30pm and still had loads to do! Children and parents in tomorrow, am nervous, but keen just to get going with my little cherubs. Had a team meeting tonight and piloted the planning formats. Team were really keen to use the child initiated planner up to Year Two. Have done that before in other settings – just pleased they wanted to do it here. Am going to rewrite the format so that it can include FS and National Curriculum points/levels. Bought a sofa today to enhance my dedicated talk area. I am going to create a 'talk … Read More