Reception - all play based learning

[Tal12]

Hi. I am applying for next year reception class for my child. I’ve seen 2 so far, is it the norm for reception to be completely play based learning?

I went to one yesterday and the reception class just seemed like total carnage - they run between 2 classes and mix with the 40 child nursery outside as and when they chose with basically no structure, all play. The teacher will come and pull children for random activities (individually) throughout the day. I just wondered, is this the norm ? They then introduce more structure in year 1. The other school seemed much more structured! Thank you!

Ours did a lot of circle time and short bursts of phonics etc learning. They’d then do group learning sessions with the teacher. It definitely wasn’t all play based. I wouldn’t have liked that level of free flow alongside the nursery kids tbh.

I wouldn't say it's 'the norm', but it's within normal. They will almost certainly have whole class carpet based teaching for phonics every day though, and probably maths too.

Thank you both for your replies ☺️

Your visit just provides a snap shot of the time of day you were there. They may have been having some time to play with the educational toys or role play or socialising. 5 minutes before you arrived they might have been learning some maths together on the carpet.

It might look completely play based but I doubt it will be. The reception class at our school is set up like the nursery but with big circle tables dotted around and they do sit down and do phonics and maths. They also do phonics based work on the carpet. My ds seemed to spend most of time playing in reception, and it did seem like organised chaos but he learned to read and write and do basic maths, alongside the social and development side snd absolutely loved it so the set up seems to work.

Thank you for your comments x

Having worked in EYFS in several schools I think there are variations in style varying from heavily play-based for the majority of the day to some play-based activities and some quite formal writing at the table by half-way through Reception.It may also depend on when you visit and decisions made for a given year in a school.

@Tal12
I think it varies according to the Dc. If they are coming into school ahead, play based chaos won’t go down well with parents. If DC is ready to do more formal work, playing is a bit too loose in direction. Dc who need lots of help ti settle do need more play before they are ready to learn formally. Running around not permitted though.

I would have run a mile from this and my DD1 was in a well managed hen and chickens classroom with 60 Dc! No chaos and Dc engaged. Children assessed and working mostly with similar Dc. So if they are ahead, they get appropriate work. No mixing with nursery. Lots of practical investigating work and a very stimulating curriculum.

Thank you for your comment @TizerorFizz . I definitely think my child would benefit from some structure. He’s very energetic and gets completely wired/ manic and overwhelmed with excitement when there’s lots going on, I.e soft play. But I guess that is different to school!

I am still uncertain if I’ll put this particular school down as a choice. I think if I’m doubting it maybe I shouldn’t put it down. Just my general feel of the school.

I am finding it stressful, just want to make the right choice. But still 2 more to view. thanks all so much for your comments. I really do appreciate it.

I was a governor at a school where lots of DC arrived in school behind where they should be. Our nursery started to improve the situation but when I first went into YR it wasn’t like the YR my DD attended. But we live in an area with high straining DC. This school was in a less affluent area with few higher educated parents and few passes to grammar school.

Therefore look at progress and numbers of high attainers. Ask how many DC come into YR below or at the expected level of attainment? What’s the catchment like? Does the school make you excited on behalf of DS? What are the upper years like? Do they do sport and music? Have a good look around. Not just YR classroom. Do you trust the teachers? They might change but would you work for the head? Are DC engaged? What does the work displayed look like? If you really feel the school wouldn’t suit, trust your instincts.

@TizerorFizz thank you! So many questions I wish I had asked!

School 1 made me very excited, lots of opportunities and they explained in the presentation about numbers going to grammar school etc..
School 2 made me feel as though if that’s the school we were offered I’d be really disappointed! So I suppose that answers my question as to whether I should put it down!

We do live in a fairly affluent area in the SE however I feel the school I have posted about is in the less affluent part of our particular village.

We are supposed to put 4 choices… if I leave this school off I’ll likely be left with 2 that I really like and would be happy with either. Would that be a stupid thing to only put 2 down?!?

Thanks again for all the comments it’s nice to have this help!

@Tal12
You must put down the school your DC WILL get into. So put the one you want and one other. That’s ok. Put down where you want first. Look up admissions data to be certain. Would you get into another two anyway? You would presumably have to travel? A third might be worth looking at if you can get into it.

Don’t assume grammar passes stay constant. It’s obviously not a given schools have identical cohorts. Where DD1 went, in her year 28/66 passed. Now the school is bigger, last year 25/120 passed.