Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Is it standard practice for reception children to watch TV in class

92 replies

Aladdinsmagiccarpet · 30/03/2023 16:44

Just that really. Every now and again dc comes home and says they've been watching TV in class. It's a two form entry , so sometimes both classes will watch something together and sometimes they'll just watch stuff in their respective classes. The other day dc was saying they watched Smeds and Smoos, and then something else together with the other class and then came back to their own class and watched three episodes of Peter Rabbit 🤔 I was quite astonished to hear that tbh. Surely they should be doing their early learning curriculum ? Is this normal practice now for Reception students?

OP posts:
redskylight · 30/03/2023 16:52

Normal practice all the way through school (though more reserved for end of terms as you get up through secondary school).

x2boys · 30/03/2023 16:52

Maybe it's related to.a lesson ?
I was in reception in 1978,there was always huge excitement when the big tv on wheels was wheeled in for us all.to watch.

Iam4eels · 30/03/2023 16:52

They watch TV if it corresponds with what they're learning, for example if their book for this half term is Smeds and Smoos then they'll read it together but might also watch the animation to supplement their learning. Ditto other programmes, my class watched an episode of Do You Know today because it tied in with a DT project we're doing.

Entertainment shows like Peter Rabbit, Number/Alpha blocks, Shaun the Sheep, Horrible Histories, etc might be put on if it's indoor play or during golden time or as a treat if they've done an activity exceptionally well and finished sooner than expected.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Primary education
stbrandonsboat · 30/03/2023 16:53

Yes, mine watched the black and white version of The Wizard of Oz back when he was in Reception. They were always showing them movies. We pulled him out eventually as it was chaotic and the quality of teaching was poor.

BouncingWorms · 30/03/2023 16:57

Mine seem to watch a lot, I gather some is educational and they also do a bit at the end of the day which I think is bribery for getting coats and bags on

GymNewbie · 30/03/2023 16:58

Yes! Perfectly normal. And has been for over 30 years

Mixkle · 30/03/2023 16:59

Yes. I was really shocked and saddened by it. I thought school was for education but apparently not.

alyceflowers · 30/03/2023 17:02

Wet playtimes maybe? Or 10 minutes at the end of the day while getting bags and coats ready? That's quite normal.

Numberblocks and Alphablocks are used as part of the early years curriculum.

Chemenger · 30/03/2023 17:02

I remember watching a TV programme every week when I was in primary, probably around 1970, we had to go to the dinner hall at the same time every week, because recording TV didn't exist. The BBC broadcast schools TV in the morning. Education comes in more forms that a teacher teaching. I teach in a university and I quite often recommend Youtube videos to my students. Sometimes we even watch them in a lecture.

OldChinaJug · 30/03/2023 17:07

It's because the teachers are lazy and useless and can't be bothered

So they stick the telly on all day rather than do their jobs.

Everyone knows that 🙄

Or its because its a good way of quietening them down just before lunch, just before they go home or as a treat for being good.

Plus, they're always shattered by the end of a half term.

It's precisely because so much is expected of them throughout the day that sometimes they just need a bit of down time too.

otherwayup · 30/03/2023 17:09

Reception classes normally have 2 members of staff and 25 children.

Fancy having a go at getting 25 children sat on the carpet at home time with the correct coat, bag, water bottle, painting, pe kit etc etc while simultaneously dealing with a number of children who can't find things, have wet themselves or are crying about something.
Do come and join us! We love volunteers!

CBeebies is our friend at the end of long day.
10 minutes of number blocks gives us 10 minutes to help with all of the above, particularly in the winter when we have potentially 50 individual gloves to locate 😬

viques · 30/03/2023 17:10

Also wet lunchtime play, stops the classroom being wrecked!

otherwayup · 30/03/2023 17:10

But yes, it's just because we're lazy 🙄

YouNeverCanTellWithBees · 30/03/2023 17:12

My DD seems to watch TV every day at school, sometimes educational stuff like Numberblocks which is fine, but also stuff like Paw Patrol and Peter Rabbit.

gogohmm · 30/03/2023 17:12

We watched educational programming in the 70's (does that still exist?) zig and zag I remember

Gymmum82 · 30/03/2023 17:12

Yep they do and in year 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well. Y2 Dd watched an entire film the other day

junebirthdaygirl · 30/03/2023 17:25

As a teacher l hate seeing children watching TV in school. Even on wet days they would be far better off just chatting to each other for some social interaction. In my experience it's mostly used on wet days and on the day they get the holidays as a treat.
If l have completed a novel with an older class l am happy to show the movie but otherwise no!!

Rayn22 · 30/03/2023 17:33

You will probably find it is related to their learning! Number blocks is used... a lot!

Smartiepants79 · 30/03/2023 17:33

junebirthdaygirl · 30/03/2023 17:25

As a teacher l hate seeing children watching TV in school. Even on wet days they would be far better off just chatting to each other for some social interaction. In my experience it's mostly used on wet days and on the day they get the holidays as a treat.
If l have completed a novel with an older class l am happy to show the movie but otherwise no!!

🤣 4 year olds don’t ‘just chat’ for longer than 5 minutes. Do you actually teach this age range?
We use it occasionally for wet plays and rewards for good behaviour.
A couple of episodes of kids TV doesn’t mean that they’re not doing their early years curriculum! It’s not either/or.

Rayn22 · 30/03/2023 17:34

As a reception teacher I feel that ten minutes winds them down. It is normally learning related or mindfulness.

liveforsummer · 30/03/2023 17:36

We put tv on at the end of the day if dc are ready a bit ahead of time to go home. Dc probably mention that when asked what they've done today as they have just done it. I doubt the 3 episodes is accurate though. Dc aren't always reliable at this age when it comes to details

SparkyBlue · 30/03/2023 17:38

There hasn't been much telly this year but there was a lot during the time last winter when covid was rampant and when there was a lot of staffing issues.

CremeEggThief · 30/03/2023 17:39

Towards the end of every half term we would put DVDs on all day for our Reception kids whileall the adults got on with the job of sorting the classroom out, moving around furniture etc.

COMPLETELY against guidelines for good practice, but every school and setting I worked in (supply for years) does it!😆

McAvennie · 30/03/2023 17:40

Mine seems to watch GoJetters everyday, we have quite a fun game on the way home with me trying to guess where they went today while he gives helpful clues like 'there was a temple' or 'it was a mountain' 🫠

HubertTheGoat · 30/03/2023 17:46

I've taught a mixed infant class and only put it on for wet play / last day before Christmas or Summer. Our current infant class doesn't watch it as a matter of course so it's perfectly possible to get children ready for the end of the day without it. I'd not be bothered about 10 or 15 minutes a day though, and alphablocks/numberblocks is quite educational.

Swipe left for the next trending thread