How much TV in Reception?

[WigWamBam]

My dd started Reception three weeks ago, doing just afternoons for the first two weeks, and I was quite surprised when she came home on the first Friday and said they'd watched two episodes of Come Outside in the school library. They were due to go to the library to get a book, but didn't have time to do that (although they appear to have had plenty of time for TV). The second Friday it happened again - two episodes of Teletubbies. Even dd turned her nose up at that; she thinks she's much to grown-up for the Teletubbies!

She's been at school all week this week, and every day they have watched TV after lunch, before going out into the playground for the last 15 minutes of the lunchbreak. I spoke to the teacher this morning, and yes - they'll watch TV in the library again this afternoon. Apparently they use it as an activity to keep everyone together and interested while the rest of the children choose their books.

I have no other problems with the school; their ethos is good and the teacher is excellent, but I'm surprised at how much TV they're getting. Once a week is one thing, but every day during the lunchbreak (when the weather has been lovely and IMO the children should really have been outside!) and twice on a Friday seems a bit excessive to me. Is this what other Reception classes do? I'm unsure whether to raise it with the school, and I certainly don't want to make a fuss if it's the norm for this to happen.

NO TV at all in our infant school - it sounds like too much IMHO

none in ours on a regular basis, although I think at the end of term, they did watch a film as a special treat, but then had to talk about it!

Why would they watch TV in school?

Sounds like a lot to me (but what do I know?! No school age children!). Some of them will watch a lot when they get home too. And in the mornings.

Sounds like the teachers can't be arsed to keep them behaving.

I'm a teacher and I only ever used tv or video's as an aid to topic work and even that was rare,a couple of times a term. The only other time I used it was at the end of term, last day as a treat.

I often found it too much hassle to drag the thing into the classromm and was scared it would come toppling down!

It sounds like a lot to me, and shouldn't be necessary imo.

I did wonder the same thing myself, Mascara.

I thought it was a lot too; if they're doing it just to keep the kids occupied when it's someone else's turn to choose books then surely there are other, more worthwhile, things to do? I wondered if they do it at lunchtimes just until everyone has finished eating so they all go out to play together, but again there must be something better to do.

I think I'll let the teacher know I'm uneasy with it.

I'm very impressed the teachers can work the TV/video though

Ours never could

Yep, Teletubbies. Even dd was disgusted!

My dh reckons they do it because it's easier for the kids to come and go to choose their books if they have the TV on rather than having to interrupt the telling of a story by getting their books. I think that's rubbish myself.

Lazy teachers IMO. Very lazy.

I'm surprised really because the teacher and teaching assistants are otherwise really good. Very involved with the children, very attentive to them, very approachable.

The head teacher is usually in the playground in the mornings; I might have a chat with her and see if it's school policy or just this individual teacher.

But some tv can be educational too

Must admit, trying to keep 30 odd children reasonably quiet and on task in a library while chosing their books was something I never quite managed.

Oh yes, I don't deny that some TV is educational. But Teletubbies for a class of 4 year olds? They had Pingu the other day; I'm at a loss to work out what's educational about Pingu!

I do appreciate that it's hard to keep 30 children quiet and occupied in the library, but I'm still not sure that I think watching CBeebies is the answer.

I'm even crosser now, today they had an episode of Come Outside at library time, and 2 more episodes at lunchtime. An hour's worth of TV during the day has got to be too much.

Agree with Malory Towers.

Ooh, just read your last post wwb - they're taking the pee aren't they? Way too much television.

Why do they keep trekking off to the library? I'd take my KS1 classes down there twice a week to choose and change library books to share at home. Otherwise, I had a brilliantly stocked reading corner in the classroom which the children would choose books from. If they are fulfilling national curriculum requirements, I don't understand how they are making all this time for library visits.

WIgWan, DS watched Come Outside twice a day, every day at the last school he was at , plus dvd's on some days. REALLY annoyed me, and i think contributed (with a lot of other things) to ridiculously low attainment. I would raise it.

Out of order. Completely.

Mine occasionally get to watch a bit of video that directly relates to what they're learning: Fine.

Occasionally the younger ones get a vid if it's wet play: Just about okay.

In the last week of term they will sometimes watch a good film as a special treat: Okay.

An hour's TV every day, completely devoid of even a pretence at educational content? Def. not okay.

There was a Reception teacher at my children's school who (it emerged) was letting the children watch videos all day. She was out on her ear pdq, as clearly not up to the job. In your position I would be in there making a BIG fuss. What do the other parents think?

They are taking the michael big time here. Everybody else is being far too polite. There is no way at all that this needs to be so, children should be able to play independently on well thought out activities either insode or outside. suggest you snatch remote control from her hand and flush down toilet at first opportunity. Then ask to see her planning and see what area of the Foundation Curriculum Pingu covers ( I'd love to hear her answer to that BTW) Just hope you are not paying for this "education" Is it at "lunchtime" - if so where are the mid days?

None of the others seem too bothered by it, which was one of the reasons I was unsure whether to raise it. They only have one actual library visit for getting a book; the rest of the time it's just to watch the TV.

We have a "meet the teacher" session next week, I might ask her then what aspect of the curriculum Pingu is covering! My dh thinks I'm taking it all too seriously but I think it's important.

WWB, I can't believe they let them watch an hour of TV a day!

I mean, I watch TV all day at work, but by God, I worked hard to get that privilege

And there's no way that an hour a day is educational.

Lazy bastard teacher. Definitely raise it!

I would be furious tbh. At dd's school they once watched a DVD about numbers, nothing else, and that's how I'd expect it to be. Definitely raise it ASAP!

Whats wrong with them looking at a book while the others choose?