What exactly should DS be doing at preschool?

[Portlypenguin]

DS is 3.2 and just moved from the 2-3 room at his nursery into preschool which is on the same site but a little separate (though same chain nursery co). The nursery has been fab to this point and (if it means much) has been reawarded ofsted outstanding so i think the care is fine. I was expecting s bit more structure and starting a tiny bit of more formal learning in preschool but i haven't noticed any real difference from general nursery activities yet. DS reported playing with various toys, sand, garden etc yesterday. They definitely do yoga on weds and PE on thurs as i have had to get PE kit. also cooking on fridays.

I know it isn't school but what should i realistically expect or that others have experienced? It is possible they are doing more structured learning things during the day i suppose - the staff werre a bit vague upon questionning. I am going to ask the room team leader when i next see her but thought i would gather opinions.

Thanks!

I would hope that they are playing all the time! With some activities which are 'learning opportunities' available and things like crayons and paints constantly available for mark making.

they should be playing! There will be more time for structured learning when he goes to school

They will be playing. That's all there should be. They start formal learning soon enough.
Ds2 goes to a pre school attached to the primary school and they also play. They sing songs, they go to gym. They do learn about the world we live in and other things but all involving crafts and games.
He will learn so much that way without you or he even realising it. Let him enjoy it while he's still so little.

They don't do structured formal learning. It's all learning through play.
I would expect him to pick up shapes, colours, numbers to 10 and letters in his name.

running about like mad, preferably outside and playing.
also making great mess doing artwork and plenty of messy play.

they learn through playing.

• listening to simple instructions
• taking turns
• sitting quietly for half a minute
• dressing/undressing
• cutting with scissors

Playing. Ideally with an open space where they are free to choose between indoor and outdoor play. Circle time to share experiences, take turns at talking, listen to stories etc. Lots of messy/ sensory play with opportunities for mark making. There should be regular observations where staff notice your child's own special interests and plan activities to follow/ develop these interests.

Mine had been in preschool since the new year. She's definitely still playing and not in structured learning. It's too early for that surely?

But I have noticed she recognised some numbers and letters on everyday objects. For example she pointed to the large number 2 on our bottle of shower gel the other day and told me it's a 2. And she sometimes pointed to o and e on things and say the letters to us. So obviously they are learning something with letters and numbers.

And yes to dressing and undressing. And going to the toilet and trying to wipe herself. I think she has really learned a lot and surprised me constantly with it. Give it time.

Even when your DS starts school the reception year should mostly be learning through play.

Preschool should be about social skills/being able to sit on the carpet and listen for a few minutes/being able to eat lunch in a group setting with greater independence...

There will be learning of letters and their sounds, numbers up to 20, colours, using a computer etc but if it's done well the children won't notice it happening.

I'm a nursery teacher. We do a brief (5 minute) session at the beginning of each 3 hour session where we do the register, and then do some counting/sorting/listening game/shapes/story etc. The children then go off and play and we follow it up while they are playing e.g. if they are emptying and filling containers in the water tray, we will support them to count how many of one container fits in a larger one.

That's about as formal as it gets! (Mine is a school based pre-school).

Thank you everyone! That was really helpful. I think he is basically playing all day and they have two big rooms and garden available so it all sound sfine. He brought home a drawing of himself today (large scribble) and it was reported he loved the tatty bumpkin yoga session. They have an interactive whiteboard which he is eyeing up at present.

He already knows numbers to 20, all letters and most basic shapes so that is all okay.

Thnaks again, very reassuring.

Can I ask this question the other way round? Dd was 3 in August and started pre-school last week. She has been at nursery since she was 15 months and has always been fine, apart from toilet training which is quite literally another thread. The new nursery gives feedback at the end of the day and they keep saying that dd doesn't listen to them and follow instructions and have asked me in supporting them with it. What do they mean? I don't want to be that parent who thinks their child is an angel when everyone else can see they're a nightmare but she seems like a typical three year old to me. I pick my battles generally and focus on making sure she knows not to do anything dangerous or unkind. We are working on trying to get her to put her toys away now and eating properly. She is far from obedient but we don't spend our lives locking horns- a bit of cajoling, negotiation and bribery, with the occasional threat thrown in seems to get us through. I look after friend's dcs sometimes and they seem pretty similar. What are preschool expecting from her? Have I got it horribly wrong? Are most three year olds models of obedience? Am wondering whether she is too young for pre- school but she starts school next year and I don't want it to be a total shock for her.

Hopefully your child will be playing. How much they will be learning through that play will depend on several factors- mostly the professionalism, qualification, experience & passion of the staff, peers, provision and environment.

It's very easy to write 'play' off as a trivial activity, something that means the means the opposite of 'work' or structure. However in an ideal setting- your child will have choice over a wide range of open-ended activities & materials, both indoor and out, and adults who observe & respond to his interests, extending his thinking, challenging, and supporting him in becoming independent in a wide range of skills & knowledge.

So what might look like running around in a chasing imaginative game will likely involve most of the curriculum, because it will generally always at least involve: negotiation with peers, understanding social communication: verbal & non-verbal. , physical skills (negotiating pathways, climbing, running, jumping, fine motor- grasping, throwing, pulling) Judging timing, distance, observing the effects of physical activity on our bodies, vocabulary and language... The list goes on really.

Play can easily cover the curriculum. Children don't need to be sat on the mat listening to an adult to be learning. They can learn so much more of the adults have set up an enabling environment, and also are available to further extend and support their interests.

My DS is 3.9 and is in the last year of a private Nursery. They have just started having a teacher come twice a week to do more structured lessons but mostly they play, paint, have fun.