To think kids don't actually learn anything at preschool

[AnonBCofHate]

It seems like my kid learns a hell of alot more by staying home having a "nothing" rainy day than spending a week at preschool. I don't understand why they don't try more. Now they've sent home a letter saying they are no longer going to teach children to write their names! Which I think is the least they should be doing surely. AIBU to want them to actually teach my child!?

They might call it pre school but it isn't is it? Preparation for school doesn't start at 2. That's just regular EYFS.

ill ask my daughters school if they can change their pre school to be referred to EYFS for 2 year olds and pre school for 3 year olds

It doesn't change the fact that my dd attends pre school and I pay for it.

Well no, I'm obviously just talking about acknowledging what pre school actually is . They can call themselves a college of further education for all they like, doesn't make them one

But the fact is your post stated "nobody pays for pre school" when in fact people do, I do!
It's not a nursery as only offers 3 hour sessions and is attached to the school, it's registered as a pre school, my invoice says pre school and it's not free for under 3's, so I'm saying your "nobody pays for pre school" is not correct

Anyway sorry to high jack thread, I'm off to look after my pre schooler

I'll be delighted if my dd accidentally learns her numbers, letters, shapes and colours at nursery; however, my only expectation is that she learns to play and socialise and be happy. You only get one childhood.

Ours is also definitely a pre school. It's only open in term time, 9-3 Monday to Friday and only takes children from 2, no younger. It isn't attached to a school but has close links with the 2 village primaries.
It's a pre-school.

*To think kids don't actually learn anything at preschool

This statement and your OP about name writing shows that you obviously know absolutely nothing about child development and EYFS, in which case it is definitely a.good thing that your kid goes.to preschool!

My ds learnt how to share, take turns and wait rather than shout out. He learnt how to negotiate with friends and how to sit and listen to a story.

In academic terms he learnt to write his name, other short words, hold pencil correctly. He learnt all of phase 2 phonics and half of phase 3, to count, recognise and order numbers to 20 and to know doubles to 10.

He also learn stuff like planets, 3D shapes etc.

So I guess it depends on the pre school. Personally I think ours was a bit too formal but he did enjoy it though.

My kids learned to be in a big group and benefited from group activities like singing. One didn't really do much interacting but the other made a new friend. It's just a wider world but it's not the be all and end all. My older siblings never went to any type of pre school provision and I wouldn't say they missed out!

"nobody pays for pre school" when in fact people do, I do!

Of course they do. I wasn't even aware that there were pre school where parents didn't have to pay!

The EYFS is mandatory for all early years settings in receipt of early years funding (15 or 30 hours).

Regardless of whether a child attends a preschool in a church hall, a private nursery school, a nursery attached to a primary school or is in the preschool at a private nursery offering full day care.

They are all following the same curriculum. The EYFS.!

From Pre School ( approximately aged 3) all children will follow both the prime and specific areas of The EYFS until the end of their reception year at big school. Phonics based on.letters and sounds should also be taught.

The only requirement is that nursery class within a primary school is led by a qualified early years teacher.

However, there are a number of private pre schools in nurseries that also employ a fully qualified teacher to lead and support learning with EYFS.

^^ what bugaboo said is what I was getting at. Pre school education begins at 3/4 depending on the month your child was born. Before that they are using a different part of the curriculum which isn't pre school related.

Coddi- don't you know about the free hours funding? Every child gets a free 15 hours of preschool to prepare them for school, starting at around 3.

YABU.

Pre school isn't about learning to write. It is about learning how to socialise, how to be away from familiar people and get along with others. How to follow rules, routine and that teachers are not like mummies, but have lots of people they have to pay attention to.

IMO pre school is so important because it teaches the soft skills needed to participate in the classroom before they get to reception/primary 1 and have to start learning proper.

Can you imagine the chaos if the reception teacher had 30 kids who were all leaving mummy for the first time? My DC started school two weeks ago and she is already learning letters and numbers. She had a whole year last year of learning how a school day works and how to get along with others, so she has gone in well equipped.

To be fair to the op here, she hasn't said she wants her child hothoused and forced to read and write - she wants the child to learn. And yes, actually, all childcare settings should be teaching kids - through play of course but they should still be learning. I'm a childminder and I have to follow an early years curriculum, track the development of my mindees and plan for their 'next steps'. Surely a preschool has the same obligation? And whilst I don't think kids should be forced to write their names, it seems odd to go the complete opposite way and make an actual policy out of not teaching them.. Surely some will show signs they are ready, able and willing to write? And if that happens their efforts should be enabled?

My parents taught me to read and write when I was a child before I started school and it wasn't under a strict setting, just an as and when type thing. Required minimal effort from them, just basic parenting. But I do remember looking at another kid in my class on my first day of school and wondering why she couldn't write her name. I am of ordinary intelligence so I have often wondered why kids aren't taught to read and write before they start school. Most of the kids in my family could read before starting school so it's definitely something within the capabilities of 3 and 4 year olds learning.

Interesting usename by the way OP. Im guessing this isn't the only thread where people haven't agreed with you.

Your children do learn so many valuable life skills at pre school!

Me and my siblings all went to pre-school - We learnt a range of things, but not too much academically (no reading, writing etc) but the option was there. It was play focused, but if we wanted to try and write our name/read a book, we could and the teachers would help us. We learned academically at school (reception onwards) and could all write half of our names by aged 4ish (we all have quite long names), read basic words and write and understand numbers, shapes, colours.
We also all loved school with a great group of friends.

My friends children didn't go to pre-school. She stayed home and taught them to read/write/numbers etc. They knew all of it before reception. She really brags about how intelligent her children are and how they're way above their peers. She said 'My 10 year old is working at A level grade in all subjects. Teachers say if they were to sit a GCSE now, they'd get an A* without a doubt' - That's great and everything, but her children also don't have friends at school. They can not socialise. They can't deal with arguments (he gets his mum to sort it), they couldn't eat without spilling food until they were around 7 years old, couldn't cut paper/food, didn't know how to listen or take instruction from anyone other than mum until year 2. You get the idea.

He's very bored. He finds school boring because his work is too easy and he doesn't have friends. They're lovely children, don't get me wrong, but it's all academia with them. They don't really know how to be children if that makes sense. They had stopped playing with toys by aged 6 etc.

Your child may not be learning academically, but that doesn't mean they're not learning. Pre-school often teaches some of the most important life skills.

he gets his mum to sort it

should say they get their mum to sort it. She has more than one child

Yabvvvu. It benefits kids immensly, social skills, Interaction.p, chikdren also learn about friendships. It also gives me a break, as both my kids have SN.

My DC learned the local language and culture, independence, new concepts, stamina, to wait their turn, and made friends at preschool. I was very grateful for the hours of outdoor time, messy play, noisy play that they had and I wasn't always able to provide at home.

Their peers started school at 6 completely illiterate but every single child in the class was ready learn. All of them were reading and writing fluently within six months. Not being taught literacy at preschool wouldn't bother me one bit, so long as the local school is competent, TBH.

Well OP i think you are probably a superior parent and teacher, clearly far better than the pre school teachers or us regular parents. Therefore it would probably be best if you take your DC out from preschool and even better, home school in the future, because i suspect the regular schools will just be not up to your standard.

Why do you not take responsibility for your DC's learning and education rather than expecting to farm it out to other people? Your child will be learning lots at pre-school. Quite a lot of their learning will be based in social interactions with other children and the pre-school workers. This is the most important part of their learning. If you want your child to learn specific things like writing their name then take the time to teach them. It is not the pre-school's responsibility to fully educate your child.

DD (just turned 3) is at the pre-school attached to the local primary. We are an English speaking household in Wales, the school uses significant welsh and she is picking it up brilliantly. She can count confidently to 5 in welsh, to 10 with a bit of prompting and sing along to "mi welais jac y do" and other welsh nursery rhymes.
its great that they can provide her with skills that I can't or don't feel confident to.

I think YABU OP. Pre-School is just that PRE school. You should expecting your child to gain independence, learn to take directions from teachers and develop social skills in a group environment. If you're so worried about them writing their name, you can certainly teach that yourself.

EYFS is not mandatory in Scotland. We have an entirely different curriculum!