Watching TV in school

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DD has just started reception. Everyday for 3 weeks she's come back saying they've watched TV during the day.

I was fine about that in the first week, but now in the 3rd week I'm a little more surprised.

I'm not expecting the poor teachers to hold the attention of 30x 4-5 yr olds for 6 full hours a day but I have to admit that two episodes of Paw Patrol and one epidosde of Peppa Pig is a bit more than I thought they'd be watching at school!

It is an Outstanding school but the teacher is new to Reception level.

Is this normal? Is it likely to be just for the first half term?
I have no plans on speaking to the teacher about this, just wanted to see how prevalent it is!

Are they actually watching the tv or is she talking about a ctouch screen?

It's been raining- maybe they watch it during wet break times or lunchtimes? Maybe they're using it to sing along to basic number rhymes or letter rhymes from YouTube?

I really wouldn’t care if it’s an episode here and there.

From the weather recently I would guess at least some of it is wet play.

Reception classes I have worked in also used to put something on for when children where changed for pe so the staff could focus on helping those who needed help changing.

The school I work in have videos on like Paw Patrol or Octonauts at lunchtime when it is wet play. I personally don't think it is great, but that is the policy.

I know if your school the children watch alphablocks or similar at milk and snack time.

That should have said at DD’s school!

Is that actually what’s happening though?

What are your specific concerns? I

I work in Reception. We have put the odd episode of Number blocks or Come Outside (good old Pippin!) on at wet play or during milk time. Its certainly not every day, and we try to keep it educational or relevant e. g. we watched the Pippin about a rainy day during wet play.

Are you absolutely sure its been every day and 2 episodes of Paw Patrol and a Peppa Pig? I only ask because its not uncommon for children to say things that aren't correct! I'm not suggesting she's lying, of course, but sometimes they are lacking in the concept of time and what days things happened on (we get a lot of things that happened 'yesterday' for example, when actually they mean anytime in the past)

I bet it's been during wet play rather than during actual class time!

I work in a school and these get put on for wet play. Also when I'm getting the small children ready to go home I put an episode on whilst we're helping everyone get dressed. Parents evening will be coming up soon, so you could bring it up as a joke and say that your child comes back and just says she watched tv and they will probably explain why.

I do this for the first term, for a few different reasons

1. We had parents complaining that their children weren't eating their snack in the playground, so we all have snack together before going outside to play
2. Our TAs have tea break before play time, which leaves me on my own with children who need 1-1 as well as the rest of the class.

I phase it out before the first half term.

Yes I fully acknowledge DD could be, getting the finer details wrong but I do ask different details and she, being nearly 5, is pretty good at talking and is very truthful.

The 2 Paw Patrols and the 1 Peppa Pig was just today.
Yesterday she said they watched a Numberblocks when it was 'Number Time' (I'm guessing that is a structured learning time).

They don't watch it whilst it's snack time, that's a different area and there are no screens in that area. It is on a large screen at the front of the class, like a whiteboard but they use it for lots of different things.

I don't really mind, as over the summer she was watching a couple of hours a day (she has a new 8wo baby brother!) I'm just surprised.
And it does seem to be every day.

Yes the wet weather could be a factor. I'll pay attention to the weather next week and see if its every day or just rainy days.

Ah, wet breaks when the TV trolley was wheeled in and we got to watch Looney Toons or the animated The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

It could also be some Golden Time for the end of the week too. Many yR children get very tired in their first term even if they've been used to nursery as there is a gear change for them.

Number blocks is fabulous , has resources by NRICH that go with it and lasts exactly 5 minutes . I

I expect it’s for wet lunchtimes and wet break times.

Yes wet break and it being the end of the week all make sense.
Genuinely not angry about it, just never thought about it I suppose and thought it a bit much, maybe?
It is still very early in the term and I understand why it is used.

Thanks for your answers!

People used to get to watch TV during wet play? We never got that.

I feel cheated!

We watch some CBeebies (and
Sometimes Netflix) programmes during the day for various reasons. Not every day and not lots.

Could be:
Alpha blocks or Numberblocks at snack time
Watching something during a wet playtime - the lunchtime supervisors will put something on the screen as well as having our various activities such as colouring and Lego.
A learning programme of related to our topic
A learning programme such as How Does it Work during a snack or if an assembly is cancelled last minute, etc.

Number blocks is written by a maths expert and had lessons to go alongside it. Wouldn't class that as 'Tv" it's a carefully crafted resource.

The other TV....depends what time of day it is. I am a reception teacher and I put 5 minutes of Peter rabbit etc as a treat when the whole class was ready for home with bags/coats etc. Sometimes I read a book, sometimes play a game. I mix it up! Haha.

Ah the TV trolley, we never got it for wet break (also feel cheated) but I fondly remember school programs from channel 4. It was the best part of being I'll at home as well. You could watch them All!

I remember being ill at home and sitting on the sofa with my dad watching school tv. I still remember the song that was sung on the programme!