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.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

pipbin - we have golden time in reception. It's something that they understand because the whole class is playing at once, on a Friday afternoon for about 20 minutes. And they see it as different from the rest of school because they can lose it for really bad behaviour. Usually just 5 mins, but things like violence might lose it all.

[Pipbin]

Fair enough Libraries.
I'm guessing that you don't have them chained to a desk for the rest of the week though do you.

[Enjolrass]

Disappointed you seem to be Gerry picking the bits of people's posts that you suit your opinion.

You are in Wales, you don't like the English system (even though you have no idea about it) and it doesn't effect you.

[DisappointedOne]

I'm understanding some of the issues friends that have moved across the bridge are experiencing though.

[DisappointedOne]

Hence no need for Golden Time.

[thelouise]

Disappointed Free play is different to learning through play. Most learning isn't sitting at a desk, listening to instructions and completing worksheets. It might be in the home corner; cooking in the kitchen, making the bed, getting dressed up in dr's outfit....all learning but playing. Due to a previous job, I've been in a few hundred Early Years settings but never seen hours of sitting at desks.

[DisappointedOne]

In what way?

Our EYFS puts a lot less focus on formal academics and is predominantly play based until age 7.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Pipbin- I'm a parent rather than a teacher (though I come from a family of teachers).

No, absolutely not chained to a desk. If you ask DD2 (reception) she will maintain all she has done all week is played. She's clearly done something somewhat directed because she comes home with a headdress like an owl telling me what owls eat, etc. But as far as she is concerned, it's all playing IYSWIM.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Exactly Louise

[Snossidge]

How is free play different to learning through play?

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Learning through play will generally have particular aims - like if you are doing a topic on forest animals there might be a vets set up in one corner with toy forest animals. And there may be an art activity making an owl with sticking and gluing feathers for them to choose. It's play, but there is a general direction to it.

Free play means literally that.

At least that it how it has been explained to me.

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

The foundation phase when done properly is not just one long free play session
Although subtle when down well there is structure and specific learning within it
It's not that different to what happens when it's done properly in England

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Oh, also, learning through play the teacher/ta will be looking out for particular children to guide them through things. Like, if a child is having difficulty with holding a pencil, the teacher may take advantage of them playing in the sand to try and get them drawing shapes, etc.

[Pipbin]

Believe me Disappointed, many teacher would rather it was the Welsh way, but sadly the pressures of SATs and Ofsted just don't allow it.

[bettyberry]

Wait... Here there may be no need for golden time in reception classes but there is a need in the higher years so the schools introduce the system in reception, along with the other behaviour policies, so children become accustomed to the school system, what is expected of them and what isn't. Just like they introduce the lunch system to them or how they are expected to move between classes etc

just because kids have flearning through play already doesn't mean there isn't a need to still reward them with different activities.

[mybabywakesupsinging]

DD is also convinced she does nothing but play all day in reception.
She brings home the evidence of all that playing - she's been writing the story of the enormous turnip, her "phoney" book (phonemes, which despite being able to read already she is very pleased with)...it's all playing to her.
Although a lot of glitter is involved atm.
I think DD's school also introduce golden time in reception to get them used to the concept.
Her older brothers - one of whom has a diagnosis of ASD, the other v similar - did really struggle with having to be in a room with what DS1 called "the 29 other children". Sometimes when DS1 was struggling - and his behaviour would get silly and unhelpful - his wise reception teacher would let him banish himself to under the table in the corner, where he would peacefully get on with writing / drawing / doing sums and stop annoying other children. It didn't happen often, just from time to time, and he'd got used to being in a class by the end of reception. No idea if this has any relevance to the op.