What should preschool be doing?

[jenster1976]

DD been at preschool for a year and a term (is now 3.6) and have always been happy with its slightly chaotic set up, as DD always been happy going there. however recently she seems less happy, refused to go in today saying its boring. Am now potentially over analysing this. There is very little official communication with the school - I haven't had a parent meeting in over a year or seen her development book in the same time. They don't appear to do much in the way of topics etc. Difficult to gauge as DD always says (typically) "nothing" or 'played with barbies" when i ask what she's done. Don't know if that's true or just typical 3.6! Going to talk to them on Tuesday but what i expect them to be doing together at the moment, she starts school in September and i want her to be prepared, and just not sure she's getting enough where she is??

It sounds as if she is being prepared appropriately for a 3.6 year old but I guess you mean reading and writing?

I think she should be doing dressing up, role play, arts and crafts, playing with construction toys, counting things, looking at lots of books, riding in cars and scooters and bikes outside, sand and water play. She should be learning about how to get along with other children and the pre- school workers. She should be having lots of fun.

Well they all have to follow the Early Years Curriculum don't they? So they should be able to show you what that involves.

Could she be bored because she's been there so long? Are there many children there that are her age or are quite a lot of them younger? She might just be ready for something new. Where I live they all move on from preschool to nursery school, so are only there for a year at most.

Maybe she is bored [smile}. I guess no point in moving her now, but perhaps you could find a friendly way to tell the staff that she's bored!!!!
Are there a few older ones? Could they do a more involved topic or something?

We were lucky that DS had pre-school up to this September and then this year it's been school nursery which has really seemed like a step up. Much more organised, more stimulating and more geared to 3-4 year olds. Also a good balance in all the areas of development with high expectations.

Probably not the end of the world if she's "just" bored, but maybe if you don't want to move her at this late stage you could find one or two extra activities during the week to stimulate her?

you can ask to see her learning journal at any time - good staff should not mind this.
Her tasks at preschool are to play, socialise, learn to use the loo independantly, make choices for themselves i.e. what toys to play with.

There is a curriculum it is called the Early years foundation stage and lasts from 0-the end of reception.

google eyfs and you can see the full document although it is a bit weighty!!!