What makes a brilliant reception class

[oxocube]

and a fabulous reception teacher? In your opinion?

Thank you!

[mummytime]

For my kids: a great teacher, who loves this age group. Plenty of adult support. Consistency with cover for PPA time etc. Outside space that is theirs, lots of time outside, learning outside. Lots of learning in which they have no idea what they are learning. Flexibility, so its not rigidly timetabled as to when each class will be conforming to school routine.

Even better, a much more child friendly year 1, so they don't have to be ready to sit in place and do worksheets at the end of reception, but they still have outdoor learning and time to play in year 1 (and even year 2!).

[poptyping1]

lots of outdoor experences

[52Girls]

For a start - a teacher who genuinely loves children of this age and wants to be there. So many don't. Our Reception teacher was made for the job and the children adore her because she's interested in them.

[sunnydelight]

A teacher filled with fun and enthusiasm who WANTS to teach that age group. Definitely not one who thinks there is something wrong with (barely) 4 year old boys for not wanting to sit quietly for hours

Space (both indoor and outdoor) and an extra pair of hands full time would be on my wishlist too.

[ObscureReference]

We have all the things BeerTricks mentioned and our two are thriving! She has got it spot on :)

[seeker]

Parents who don't bang on about reading levels and how little Tarquin is so bored with playing and wants to get on with some Hard Sums.

A teacher who knows how to laugh and cuddle and is good at reading aloud.

Outside play.

Lots of dressing up stuff.

Lots of messy play - too many children don't get this at home.

Enough adults. Class size isn't important if there are enough adults.

[Tanith]

"Parents who don't bang on about reading levels and how little Tarquin is so bored with playing and wants to get on with some Hard Sums."

What a nasty, prejudiced little snipe!

[seeker]

Why? Have I touched a nerve?

[crunchbag]

What seeker said in her first post :o

[BarbarianMum]

Actually I think seeker makes a good point.

Ds1 started reception last September and for the first term I was definitely (though thankfully silently) very anxious about the almost total lack of anything I considered 'proper work' in the day to day activities. No sitting down and writing every morning, no maths (or so I thought) - all totally different from how I remember school.

Luckily I am self aware enough not to project my anxieties onto ds1 who was patently never bored and quite happy playing, so didn't raise my prejudices concerns and lo and behold this term he suddenly knows all this stuff - can read, write (a bit), add, subtract, explain what a particle is (???) and all as a result of 'playing'. Guess his teachers (who are lovely btw) know what they are doing after all?

[Tanith]

Of course, it's a Tarquin because a Tyler couldn't possibly be ahead of his class!

No, you haven't touched a nerve. I'm an accredited childminder with experience of Early Years so I do know all about learning through play.

I also know that some children need rather more than this, regardless of name. A good reception teacher can cope with that.

[seeker]

I used Tarquin because I come from the Tarquin classes myself, and would really rather mock myself and people like me than others. But if you prefer -

""Parents who don't bang on about reading levels and how little Kayla/Tyler/Chanice/Kaden is so bored with playing and wants to get on with some Hard Sums."

[Tanith]

In Early Years, we expect parents to communicate with us and to tell us of any possible problems, issues, what a child's interests are. Unless he or she is gifted, seeker? Really you don't think the teacher ought to know about that? The next step is often that the child is bored and doesn't want to go to school. Rather like a recent post on here, which is why I think you were nasty posting what you did.

[spanieleyes]

If the teacher doesn't recognise that a child is gifted without a parent pointing it out then either

1. the child isn't gifted, the parent just thinks he/she is. or
   
2. the teacher will ignore the parent anyway

[seeker]

Fair enough. You think I'm nasty. I think you are being a bit silly.

[seeker]

And it is a fact that there are not as many gifted children as there are mothers of gifted children!

[AbigailS]

I must say I agree with seeker. Parents stressing about levels / book bands isn't high on my list of what makes a good reception class, but it is there. A few parents bragging or moaning in the playground makes others stress or worry about their child's attainment, that in turn can transmit to the child. This can result in worried parents who focus too narrowly on one aspect of their child's school life and anxious children. And that is not conducive to positive school experiences.

[lovecheese]

@ seeker

[Kevinia]

8 or 9 reception children with 8 or 9 year ones, in the same room, with a fab teacher and TA. And a dedicated outdoor play area for them. Plenty of play opportunities for both year groups and a gentle/blurred transition from YR to Y1. same small number of children in all year groups so that all the children in the school know each other and all the teachers know all the children. School next to a huge field for children to run around in.

[southeastastra]

blardy early years - see i'm a playworker and think children need more play at school not less. especially reception

[rebl]

A teacher who LOVES this age group and is happy to muck in and play and cuddle and knows when to give a book and when not.

Play to be the central focus with access to outdoors whatever the weather.

A teacher who will encourage and foster a love of school.

I think developing social skills in reception is much more important that learning to read. Some children need that much more at this age. They will learn to read when they are ready and I see nothing wrong with going into yr1 happy, loving school and have lots friends but still on pink books or whatever. I wouldn't want my child to go into yr1 unhappy, hating school and with no friends but can read War and Peace and do algebra.

[lovecheese]

Very good point. My DC's school is just that, admittedly we do live in a predominantly white area, but the school has a really broad mix of children from very different backgrounds and Ofsted noted that they respect and value each other.