1. Highlights of the year !

3. Bold beginnings – Nov 2017 X School Readiness
Narrowing the early years curriculum.
Pre-School Learning Alliance
“The concept of ‘school-readiness’ is a problematic one.
We at the Alliance firmly believe that children develop at their own pace and that policy focus should be on ensuring that schools are ready for children, and not the other way around”
The Guardian
“Educationists and politicians say introducing overly formal teaching practices is a potential disaster for children’s learning”
Formal teaching - Ignores child development
What about self- regulation?
Building on children’s existing knowledge??
What about EAL, SEND, Summer born children, ….

4. School Transition

5. School Transition
Some of the expected characteristics that should be displayed by a child to show school readiness;
Independent in toileting
Able to dress themselves
Understands expected levels of behaviour
Confidence and self-esteem
Can take turns and share
Can sit still for a short period
Can separate from parents/carers
Communication and language skills needed to communicate needs and listen to others
Can actively learn and creatively and critically think

7. How we support your child’s journey
We encourage children to do things for themselves – to develop the skills needed for independence (use the toilet, get themselves dressed, make their own choices, clear things away when they are done, etc)

8. We use golden rules – these rules encourage children to use expected levels of behaviour in the setting. We use praise and encouragement to support children’s confidence.

9. We focus on communication and language development and turn-taking
We focus on communication and language development and turn-taking. We provide opportunities to play games, sing songs , hold circle time sessions, show and tell sessions, etc.
WE HAVE FUN!

10. Pre-reading and pre-writing skills – we provide opportunities for children to develop these skills

12. Can actively learn and creatively and critically think

13. We work closely with parents – home visits, “wow cards”, first day observations, regular observations, parent consultation’s, tracking sheets, reports, etc

14. Environmental factors
School
(ready for individual children, play-based curriculum which motivates and engages children)
Child
(willingness to learn, self-confidence, Characteristics of Effective Learning, Self-regulation)
Environmental factors
(cultural context, political climate, socio-economic influences)
Setting
(support child’s individual needs, foster characteristics of Effective Learning and independence)
Home
(supportive home learning environment, basic needs met, secure attachment, parents work patterns)

15. Questions !

16. For more information.
beginnings-report-on-reception-class-curriculum-is-flawed
beginnings-report
readiness/
concern/writing/writing-readiness-pre-writing-skills/
readers/?cn-reloaded=1