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Original poster

CM club - do you 'Sparklebox' your setting?

29 replies

WorriedMary · 12/02/2013 15:00

Or do you go for a more subtle approach?

I can't decide what my approach is going to be. I know there was controversy over Sparklebox and it is banned in a lot of schools.
Surestart and many other setting use a more 'natural' approach. And seem to have a less busy environment.

What display things do you have up?

And do you think Sparklebox is really necessary? Do the children benefit?

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Original poster
WorriedMary · 13/02/2013 13:19

And thanks Panzee for a parents perspective Smile

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Original poster
WorriedMary · 13/02/2013 12:17

Thanks Tanith Smile

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Tanith · 13/02/2013 11:53

Can I just add to this and reassure the Op?

A friend of mine was adamant she was not going to turn her home into a nursery. On the morning of her inspection, she made it crystal clear to the inspector that she was a childminder and that there were no displays and "ridiculous notices" on the walls. The only ones she had were her childminding certificate and "under protest!" the parents OFSTED notice that we have to have up.

She got an outstanding.

Why? Because she didn't need printouts all over her walls to show that she knew her children inside out and she was providing outstanding care for them.

Tanith · 13/02/2013 08:49

Subtle every time Smile

I'm outstanding, too, and I made my own minimal printouts strictly when I thought they would add something to what we were already doing.

To paraphrase another poster on another thread, who is Head of IT in a school:

Sparklebox means

  1. A series of boring, identical and fairly tacky classrooms.
  2. No money in the IT budget because it's all used up on printer ink.
  3. A very rich paedophile

To my mind, it's the mark of a new or inexperienced (and unimaginative or lazy) teacher to cover the walls with Sparklebox.

I prefer the kids' own work - and I bet OFSTED would, too.

Panzee · 13/02/2013 08:06

One of the reasons I chose childminder care instead of nursery for my son is because i wanted a home environment for him. I really feel for you all having to follow the EYFS when I just want someone who will take care of my son in their home. There's plenty of time for targets and paperwork later Hmm

So please leave your walls as they areGrin

Original poster
WorriedMary · 13/02/2013 07:22

It has the Sparklebox logo on it! You can't cut it off it's parts of the picture.

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TerraNotSoFirma · 12/02/2013 23:17

How would I recognise something as being from 'spaklebox'?, without googling the stuff.

AbusedMinder · 12/02/2013 22:45

I won't have that man's stuff in my house. He designed it. So Sparklebox say he's nothing to do with them now! And everyone believes him, just like they believed he was SAMUEL not DANIEL! Of course he profits from the site.
Sparklebox is tainted. It will always be tainted. Daniel Kinge is a twice convicted paedophile and a proven liar.

No-one has to have his stuff. There are plenty of other places to down load resources if you like that sort of thing.

When I was looking for a school for my DC, I walked into a Reception classroom that was full of it. As an abuse survivor, it made me feel physically sick to be suddenly confronted with his resources and his company name. I walked out of that school and I refused to send my DC there. If they are prepared to finance a known paedophile and display his work to a classroom of young children, I don't want my child going there.

Original poster
WorriedMary · 12/02/2013 22:31

Thanks for the Twinkl recommendation :)

I had read about the criminal conviction but just assumed it would've been sold on. I can't believe that Schools still use it!

Not sure whether I want my house to look like a nursery if I can get away without it looking like that.

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Feenie · 12/02/2013 21:31

Yes, Twinkl is lovely Smile

HSMMaCM · 12/02/2013 21:30

WorriedMary - I got outstanding and although I have a playroom, it is not covered in childrens artwork. I photograph their work and send it home. I have the food posters the children made and an A4 sheet of paper with house rules. Occasionally a couple of other things pop up. I did recently put a front porch on the house, to keep everyone dry at drop off/pick up and it was a great space to put pegs for the children, so all their junk lovely stuff is outside my home.

messybedhead · 12/02/2013 21:28

If you want a sparkle box look without using sparkle box, try the website twinkl it's very similar ( and hopefully not run by a paedophile).

NickNacks · 12/02/2013 21:24

Sorry ill report my post. Genuine mistake.

Feenie · 12/02/2013 21:13

Please don't use Sparklebox - every click on his site puts money into a twice convicted paedophile's pocket.

Original poster
WorriedMary · 12/02/2013 21:08

That's great Smile
I just keep comparing myself to other CM's and one had a full on Chinese Restaurant set up courtesy of Sparklebox (pics on Facebook I was snooping) So I did some stuff off there copied her and the kids (EYFS age) have just ignored it!
Lesson learnt I think!

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Flisspaps · 12/02/2013 21:04

Worried I got a good Smile

Original poster
WorriedMary · 12/02/2013 21:03

It's still banned at my son's school, or rather they have to print it off at home because they can't access it at school.
Some of the classes have loads of Sparklebox and others don't.

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NickNacks · 12/02/2013 20:56

I'm shocked if you're right because I thought it was ok to use them again... Eek!

NickNacks · 12/02/2013 20:55

Not through anything official- hearsay I guess although the person who said seemed to be sure.

MrAnchovy · 12/02/2013 20:51

Why do you believe that NickNacks?

The web site still states that it is owned by SparkleBox Teacher Resources Limited and Companies House still shows Samuel Kinge to be a director and the sole shareholder of that company.

Original poster
WorriedMary · 12/02/2013 20:45

I feel like that though, it's my home not a nursery - but feel under pressure from early years and other CM's to make it like a nursery Hmm

Do Ofsted have any preference? Do you lot who have a home rather than a setting still get Good or Outstanding grades? Smile

(I knew there were issues with the previous owner getting convicted, but I also read an article slamming teachers etc for using the site as its lazy and unimaginative not to mention a little bit garish!)

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Flisspaps · 12/02/2013 19:26

YY MrAnchovy, iirc part of the site was for photos of youngsters and their sparklebox creations to be uploaded/added.

NickNacks · 12/02/2013 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrAnchovy · 12/02/2013 18:54

Sparklebox was banned because its creator and owner was convicted of child pornography offences, not because of its garish materials.

lechatnoir · 12/02/2013 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.