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Original poster

What is your expectation for home learning for nursery children?

79 replies

Msgiggles30 · 07/01/2021 22:03

Hi,
After reading lots of information on here about home learning I just wondered what parents would want for a nursery age child? Everyone's views are so varied.
Our nursery children do 2.5 hours a day usually and the learning is obviously play based which is tricky to replicate at home. The majority of our children have siblings in the school and are sharing devices. Yr2-Yr6 are having daily zooms but we decided its too complicated for nursery and timetabling all the older year groups is already tricky.
At the moment this is what I currently do -

  • Set a weekly grid which contains 3x maths, 3 x literacy tasks and one task each in the other areas such as ICT, Science, motor skills etc. Linked resources uploaded.
  • They can choose how much or how little they would like to do and send me pictures or videos on our app. I have made it clear they can do what suits and that all play is learning at this age so they can send me photos of other things too if home learning is too much and I reply to photos of walks, cooking etc.
  • I reply to all work sent in real time or as soon as possible and when I am in school for keyworkers my TAs also respond to all work.
  • I am available for parents to directly message from 9 - 4.
  • I upload childrens work to the class feed to celebrate and share with their friends.
  • 3 x recorded videos weekly e.g. story, number work and phonics.

Would you feel this is sufficient for your 3 year old? I'm really aware of how many working parents we have and that lots of the children are currently with grandparents, in addition to trying to compete with siblings doing work. However I want to do the best for them and set enough for those that want it..really I just want to be in as its just not the same for young children and not the way we do things! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
HazeyJaneII · 07/01/2021 22:05

For 3 year olds?!

Remmy123 · 07/01/2021 22:07

Nooooo a 3 year old doesn't do home learning - they watch Peppa, play with toys, play-doh etc

Brownfrown · 07/01/2021 22:10

Wow! My pre-schoolers don’t do anything during lockdowns and I wouldn’t expect it.

Brownfrown · 07/01/2021 22:11

I’m only doing about 30 mins with my year R child at a push.

It’s nice that you are doing it for them though.

Barkybarkynutnut · 07/01/2021 22:13

As other pp have said......at 3 I would expect them to go on walks, play with toys, watch Peppa Pig etc, simple baking, role play/dress up and so on

happytoday73 · 07/01/2021 22:13

If I had a 3 year old I had to home school... I just wouldn't bother... Honestly I wouldn't.

Perhaps 5 videos a week/mainly so they don't forget you...
None of the other items...

Pandachop · 07/01/2021 22:14

Haha my pre schooler watches paw patrol and eats biscuits on rotation. Home learning would be lost on her. You sound lovely and caring OP, I just mean you shouldn’t stress about it. Especially parents who are working and have older children, they won’t be expecting anything! What you’re doing is more than enough. Smile

Thatwentbadly · 07/01/2021 22:14

Sounds a lot and complicated.

Last year DD1 has daily phonics (read, write, inc) already on YouTube, practice number formation and writing her name and a few other bits and pieces. As a parent I would prefer a must, should, could list of activities.

Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 07/01/2021 22:15

Okay I'm glad with these responses because my thought is that its too much but its coming top down through the school. Hence why I've emphasized that play is so important and that this is just for if they do want it ( I do have about 10 sending daily things in). No pressure of what they do or when but there for those that do want it and I engage with all that want to. Im so aware of the juggling acts that I just don't want to add to the stress but want to provide some nice things too.

OP posts:
Imiss2019 · 07/01/2021 22:15

I would prefer to see nurseries sending home activities that encourages fine and gross motor skills i.e. lots of play, movement and exploring. Far more important than maths and literacy at this age.

Isawthathaggis · 07/01/2021 22:15

Wow OP, you’ve really worked hard on this. What a lovely teacher you must be, your kids are lucky to have someone so hard working.

At the last lockdown my 3yr olds nursery recorded different staff members reading a book and singing songs maybe once a week.
Often there was an activity linked to it, printed things or just some advice like ‘gather sticks and leaves, make a picture’.
It was lovely, not very advanced, but given all the attention was going on my oldests learning it was nice to have something for the younger one.

I’m not keen on sharing all the photos of the kids work with everyone as I think that will be anxiety making for the parents who just don’t have the time.

All the other stuff you’ve written seems very well thought out.

Maybe three times a week is too much work for you though?

I don’t have qualifications in this area but I think this age group don’t want phonics, they just want to see their nursery staff.

I hope your appreciated.

Thatwentbadly · 07/01/2021 22:15

Links of dough disco, French Friday songs.

Isawthathaggis · 07/01/2021 22:16

*you’re appreciated Angry

BertieBotts · 07/01/2021 22:19

I would not expect anything to be sent for a nursery child Confused

Maybe ideas for fun activities which you can link to the EYFS if you really want to, but I'd defo emphasise that play is the most important thing.

Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 07/01/2021 22:20

School wants daily! I had to fight down to 3 a week Confused. All the maths and literacy is really practical stuff basic skills and mark making nothing complicated, as simple and fun as possible using household items . It's so hard as it goes against my EYFS beliefs to set focus tasks but I have to follow what SLT say I must set. Again thank you for confirming my thoughts Smile

OP posts:
Onedropbeat · 07/01/2021 22:22

My 3 year old days are typically like this -

Morning walk
Lunch
Tv / iPad games
Bake a cake / make dinner for evening read book
Play in garden some days
Or play inside - building etc

thewinkingprawn · 07/01/2021 22:22

Absolutely nothing. Private school justifying continuation of fees to parents presumably? I would feel pressured as a parent. If it was my first I might dabble for a very short time and try some of the activities but second or third child in and I wouldn’t even look.

NoSquirrels · 07/01/2021 22:24

As long as you are stressing to your parents that there’s NO EXPECTATION FROM YOU on sending back ‘work’ tasks then everything is fine.

Really all I’d want from an early years teacher is reassurance that anything you do at home can be educational and some links and ideas to fun things to try. But mostly the reassurance that all play is as good for them as anything else and they’ll be A-OK.

upsidedownwavylegs · 07/01/2021 22:25

At the last lockdown my 3yr olds nursery recorded different staff members reading a book and singing songs maybe once a week.

Just the idea of this has made me tear up. How lovely.

Extrapepperoni · 07/01/2021 22:25

How about this 😂

What is your expectation for home learning for nursery children?
StacySoloman · 07/01/2021 22:27

I don't really expect anything, but my 3 year old's nursery teacher does three 5 minute videos a day - for example a letters & sounds activity, something to do with Numberblocks and some kind of challenge (can you build a really tall tower, can you draw a picture of your family).
She comments on anything we submit.

Bettyboop82 · 07/01/2021 22:30

Hi, I’m an early years teacher and also a mum of 2 3 year old and I think that sounds far too complicated and stressful. I appreciate the ‘top down’ pressure but it’s just not appropriate. What about a daily clip of you reading a story and then some suggestions of activities parents could set up linked to the story? Each one could have a different focus -creative, baking, counting, role play, writing, speaking etc... Eg read the Gingerbread Man -ask parents if they could do some baking, painting or even re-enact to the story. Takes the pressure off and makes it fun for all!

Waterdropsdown · 07/01/2021 22:30

My school nursery (state) sends videos on tapestry to follow.
So today was the teacher reading a book, the teacher making a craft object cutout, colour glue etc, and then kids do that at home (much slower), breathing exercises video, then a song to help learn the days of week. They ask that you take a video or write something about your experience of doing the tasks.
Kids are 3 turning 4 (ie reception in 2021/22).

Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 07/01/2021 22:33

Oh gosh at that timetable! Grin Yes the videos are just 5 min me reading story or singing etc. I really am continually saying no pressure, all is learning at this age, go outside, play etc. and say the children can send me anything they want to - some asked to send me photo of their scooter or them at Christmss Xmas Smile. Our LEA wants us to contact parents if they haven't sent us anything in 2 weeks... I think I am really going to fight this with the nursery is non compulsory stance as I strongly disagree with nagging parents to send in work. Of course I would keep vunberable ones on the radar and would ring for a general chat if I'm told I really have to rather than nag about work!

OP posts:
marshmallowfluffy · 07/01/2021 22:34

I'd hope for some videos of the songs you sing there and perhaps a story or two.

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