to think that reception aged children should be able to earn back their Golden Time?

[Classof2032]

DD had no Golden Time at all today. She had to sit in the classroom with her head on the desk while all of the other children played :( Surely it's just cruel to punish children like that. Once she had had a talking to it was just proving a point.

Her misdemeanour was yesterday anyway. She said she tried really, really hard today but it was no good.

I am sure that all of the recent educational theories advise against GT and treating children like this.

We've just had some training on improving behaviour in schools and one of the training points was separating punishment from praise.

Being able to 'earn back' minimises the deed i.e. "It doesn't matter if I do X because I'll be able to wheedle my way out of the punishment by being good for a while". This is encouraging behaviour games.

It should be 'deed = punishment" or "deed = praise", maintaining clear, consistent boundaries and not confuse the two.

I overheard some boys once, who had lost a fair chunk of their Golden Time for bad behaviour, saying to another child, "who cares, we'll be good later on today for a bit, and then we'll get it back." That was the point at which I, as their teacher, stopped letting them earn it back (in some cases). They were taking the piss.

Our school ditched Golden Time some years ago. There are other ways of rewarding children.

OP, for the sake of your child, start working WITH the school in managing your child's behaviour, instead of minimising and excusing it.

She hit another child. And I don't think it bodes at all well that you're trying to dismiss it. Nothing makes it reasonable behaviour.

The school must love you btw.

Head on desk is not on. Awful

But you are completely minimising the seriousness of hitting another child; and being totally unrealistic about the environment that the school can create for your child, sadly.

Sounds like she needs support, not punishment. Hitting out because of distractions should not be countered with missing any significant amount of Fun time. All of Reception should be Fun, with appropriate sanctions not old fashioned head-on-desk.

What "appropriate sanctions" would you suggest, Iris?

I understand that your DD "prefers" quiet for her work. However, she is 4 and one of many (30?). She doesn't get any "preferences" .

If there are any SN's then yes, absolutely, school should be taking a different approach and getting some help for DD to learn to cope with the classroom setting.

It really sounds as though you think school should make exceptions for your DD. Are you reinforcing the importance of good behaviour & following school rules with your DD? Because there could be many rules/issues you don't agree with over the next 15 years but, like you yourself say, you have to pick your battles.

Removal from situation, apology to other child, clam. Then thorough investigation into why normal classroom noise distresses a child so much they feel their only option is to hit out at another child.

Would you say a whole lesson period forced to adopt one physical position is a good way to stop it happening again? For a 4/5 yr old?

Schools should help every single child to cope within the classroom setting, diagnosed or suspected SNs are by the by. In no setting is an enforced long period of utter boredom for a Reception child appropriate.

We've all said the head on desk punishment is inappropriate. Loss of GT fine though

Head on the desk for an hour?

im secondary and totally agree with those who have said earning back the reward makes the punishment totally ineffective.

For hitting another child they would be removed from lessons for the whole day here.

Head on the desk for 50 mins is, however, unacceptable.

OP - have you checked out the school's side of the story? If I were you I would call the school and find out exactly what happened by talking to the teacher. How do you know it was head on desk for an hour?

I don't believe a child would be made to sit for an hour with their head in the table. Not a chance in hell a 5 year old would do that anyway.

Well fine, keep punishing a 4 yr old because they find the classroom environment so stressful they hit out at their peers. That will be really helpful to their education and everyone else's.

Maybe OP's idea of a desk in the corridor is unworkable, but at least she is recognising there is a barrier to learning at this stage and looking for a solution. She's not the expert on classroom dynamics but she is the expert on her Dd and what she finds difficult about school at the moment.

OP I think you really need to adjust your attitude to your daughter's school to be honest.

Having your arms on the desk, and placing your head in them, is not physically uncomfortable. When I went to infants we used to have an enforced nap time in this position.

She hit a child?
This is unacceptable.

You expect the school to put her in the corridor because she can't work in a classroom? Perhaps mainstream education isn't for your child?

A 4 year old's idea of an hour with her head on the table is pretty unlikely to match up with reality.

She probably had to sit out for 10 minutes.

I think this is the 4th thread about the school/teacher you've had in almost as many weeks OP? There seems to be a problem, but I'm not convinced it's the school. My son has just started school this year as well and it's really been brought home to me how difficult it is for teachers dealing with so many children, all with different personalities, different learning styles and abilities, not to mention any social or behavioural issues. What do you expect they can really do for one child above the others? Try to imagine what it must be like to deal with not just all the children but all their parents too, especially those who expect their children to be given special treatment. I don't envy the teachers at all!

Head on desk is awful, abuse, unacceptable??? Good Lord. When I was at primary school, many years ago, arms folded, head down (which is what the OP said in a later post) was what we did for a bit of quiet time. Sometimes the teacher would read aloud, sometimes the radio would be on, sometimes it was just quiet. I used to quite like it. It was relaxing, a bit of time out from having to listen and concentrate.

It's you again??
You have so many issues and problems with this school, it's always everyone else's fault. I'm sure you are the problem.

So children with SEN shouldn't be educated in mainstream, Wolfiefan?