Blackpool today. Heads in the morning, EYFS practitioners in the afternoon! With heads we were looking at how to recognise attainment in FS and with practitioners, how to show challenge in the environment and continuous provision. I really enjoyed the day but a really weird thing happened at the end of the day. First my left ear went bright red and then my right one. They are still a bit hot and luminescent. What does that mean? Have I got red ear disease? I hope not! For all of you who were there today – thanks for a great day and here are the documents we looked at (all in one place) Came home to the first ' real ' … Read More
Recording Attainment in Continuous Provision and other stuff
Training heads and EYFS coordinators today – looking at what excellent FS might look like and how you would know, especially if you were not an EYFS expert. I think the only word for the day would be organic. When the delegates had \outlined their ideal expectations of the day they were not the outline of the the course that had been advertised. But, in the spirit of all I talk about with EYFS teaching, you have to respond to the identified assessment need and change your plan. So that is what I did. It just meant a good bit of copying from one laptop to another before flashing it on the screen. My pen drive was ' smokin '!! … Read More
Transition Policy
Hello to everyone who came to the Network Meeting tonight – and thanks to Paula for providing sandwiches and biscuits – I know, how civilized! I think I will be eating the leftovers until next Wednesday! As the blog title suggests the meeting was about transition from FS2 to Year One. I have been working with Blackpool La for the past 18 months looking at just that, focusing on 4 very different schools and their transition. The remit of the project was to look at children's emotional welfare before during and after the transition and then look at ways of implementing systems and practice to maximise the potential for a smooth transition. As we all know, it does not matter … Read More
Gerbil traps and Gun Play in Foundation Stage!
Walked in today, switched on the light and there she was – just looking at me. She let me walk right up to her, bend over and then VAMOOSH! She was off! I then sat in the talk area for 20 mins while both of the missing gerbils scurried around me, even sniffing my hand. But as soon as I moved as much as an eyebrow…they were gone! In the end I constructed a tunnel of cardboard boxes along the skirting board and herded them into a corner where I could get them! So after half an hour of hoofing around they were all back in the telly! When the children got in they were full of it so I … Read More