How much learning at preschool?

[Allegrogirl]

My DD is 3.3 and in the Preschool room of the nursery she has been at since she was one near my work.

She is well cared for and happy but the activities don't seem to be very 'academic'. Various toys/puzzles/activities are introduced throughout the day and the children can join in with whatever they like. Should there a time in the day for more formal discussion/learning? Friends children seem to be doing more at their nurseries.

This nursery has a great reputation and glowing Ofsted report in April '09 but there has been a complaint about inadequate staffing ratios since then.

I don't want to be a pushy parent but when she was in rising threes at the same nursery there seemed to be much more child led learning. I feel DD is a bit lost in a large preschool at the moment.

Sounds very appropriate perhgaps they will start Quantum Physics next week

pre-school is about preparation for school. Ever heard the saying "don't run before you can walk"?
How is a child going to learn at school if they cannot
-sit still
-concentrate
-listen to a story
-problem solve
-follow instructions
-make choices
-use their imagination
-share resources
-take turns
-have confidence and self esteem
-be ready to learn?
This is what children learn at pre-school. Children who have had good quality pre-school experience go on to perform better at school. Child-led learning is totally appropriate at this age.

I didn't make it clear, I was very happy in her Rising threes room where there was child led learning and the staff were very good. I feel since has moved up to the Preschool room the staffing levels don't seem as good and the children are left to get on with it more.

But thanks purepurple. Your list above is helpful and DD is doing all this.

And I'm not expecting quantum physics. I was just wondering what was normal for a preschool.

It's normal for reception classes too

Ratios change - Age 2 is 1 adult to 4 and over 3 is 1 adult to 8 children.

Here are some links to the early Years Foundation Stage, the curriculum that all chidcare providers have to follow till the child reaches the end of their reception year at school
There are 6 areas of learning
Communication, Language and Literacy
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Physical development
Creative development
Personal, Social and Emaotional development
Problem solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
All six areas are considered to be equally important and none can be taught in isolation from the others.
As you can see, children are learning lots.

The EYFS curriculum is supposed to support holistic development/learning.

Thanks for your replies. Some of my friends kids are having much more formal learning at their nurseries. I'm not even sure I want that for DD at age three so I was just interested to know what is normal/desirable for preschool.

I tend to worry that DD is missing out even though I never went to anything before school and was late learning to read and it didn't do me any harm.

they should be doing no formal learning everything should be free flow play and self choice. they learn through this. in fact they should be doing this right up to yr 1.

The problem with early formal learning is that for those it suits it does no harm. But for those it doesn't it does do harm. And informal preschool learning does no one any harm!

The point is that although it is Free-play, the environemnt SHOULD be stimulating and enriching. S free access to equipment lets the kids think through their play, plan and learn how things work. In other words 'have a go". All the activities miht seem meaningly but as long as they are planned appropriately they should cover all areas of learning and enable creative and enthusiastic learners! Montessorri tends to be more structured, but even their the onus is on the child exploring the staged equipment (in the right way), themselves.

If a child is ready to learn more formal things, like writing, then this should be facilitated for them, but while group teaching on it would be pointless if the other children were not at that stage. The structure is provided in the way the daily routine works, and this prepares tem not only for school, but their lives as learners... after all, they don't START learning when they go through the schol gates, they are learning it all already.

Even our school recognises more than just academic achievement... their attitude to learning is often the most important skill they have. And taking initiative, having confidence in own learning ability etc SHOULD be fostered by play based settings... that's the idea anyway.

arggh excuse typos above... I am studying all tis at the moment and get a bit 'ranty' lol!

I agree with morethan - all learning should be play-based and child centred for young children. Children learn much more when they are engaged and interested and this comes naturally when they have chosen the activity themselves and lead the learning experience in a direction of interest to them. The adults role is to facilitate that learning and help them extend their understanding.

I was in a pre-school a few months ago where all the children sat on chairs and had 30 minutes, yes, 30 minutes of test type questions such as 'what is this shape' where each child in turn had to have a go at answering! Awful for the children who get the answers wrong or aren't sure. They will be tested enough at school!