Calling all nursery practitioners

[Jonesmaximus]

I've started volunteering at an 'overflow' nursery, it's in a community centre and caters for dc who do not have a nursery school place for whatever reason. As it happens, it's 9 boys and 3 girls and oh my god the boys are really hard work. Constant pushing/shoving/screaming/fighting. They will not sit for longer than about 30 seconds in circle time and the same for stories. Nothing seems to engage their attention for longer than a minute. They love outdoor play and we have a proper garden attached to the community centre which makes such a difference.
I'm just wondering is this typical, (I have no experience in an education setting for this age) and if so, what strategies can we use to maybe get them to listen for longer than 30 seconds. It's a shame as there are some children who want to sit for story time and listen but the others completely ruin it. I'm pretty much on my own for the duration, there is a leader who is in and out.
Any help or advice appreciated!

Is this in the UK?
If you (a volunteer) are being left alone with a ratio of 1 adult to 12 children then rules are being severely broken.
You need more adults so those that want stories can sit and listen and those that want to play can play.

I've been a nursery teacher for 10 years and ours always come in like this in September. They haven't ever sat and listened to a story or someone talking at them, sitting down to sing was new to them. I'd never been told no as much as my first week in nursery. They simply have never had to listen to anyone other than their parents and lots don't listen to them. Basically you are no one to them. You do not matter so why should they listen to you? You'll slowly build a relationship and they will come to love you and hang off your every word. My last class has moved on to reception now and when they see me it's like I'm a celebrity!
I do lost of praise, high fives, stickers but in all honesty it just takes time (and cuddles). They need to know your boundaries, some may not be used to this, that you are safe and secure, a constant in their crazy little lives. Everything can be solved with a snack. It teachers manners and patience, independence and social skills. It allows you to model the behaviours you want to see. My nursery nurse and I use each other as models 'ooh would you like a biscuit miss B?" "Yes please miss P, I'll just wash my hands" etc

I'm trying to purposely be vague, it's not a proper nursery, think along the lines of a church run playgroup for EY + KS1 children. Everything is above board.

Thank you, this is so reassuring! I don't have experience in a formal setting with this age group so I'm glad to know it's typical. The issue I suppose re building trust is that it isn't full time, it's only 8 hours over 2 days. What sort of consequences do you have at this age? Are sticker charts appropriate for rewarding good behaviour, or does that not register at this age?

@Jonesmaximus KS1 is compulsory school age though.
How can they not have an official teacher?

Make the story time optional and set up a different activity on the other side of the room that involves more movement. They're not ruining it for others, they're just being forced to go against what their bodies need to do. After you've done the sit down read with those interested, you can repeat with a moving read aloud for those needing to move whilst listening.

There are an increasing amount of children who do not have current provision, especially in larger cities.

That seems very unusual as the birth rate is fairly low in many parts of the UK.
Anyway.... I am afraid I can't really give much advice. I did do some volunteering at my daughter's school right from nursery class but as I was an untrained volunteer (like yourself it seems) I took my guidance from the trained professionals.
It's shocking you don't seem to have one in charge.
I wish you luck.
🙂

As @Needmorelego says, it does seem strange as the birth rate is, and has been low for many years.

I am aware you are not wanting to identify the provision or yourself (quite rightly) but there are legal ratios of how many children a practitioner can look after, let alone one without any training or experience.
That isn't intended as a criticism of you, but a concern for you.

Have you at least done safeguarding training ?

We never did consequences other than explaining the behaviour is wrong, suggesting the correct behaviour and giving them a liberal dose of understanding that this behaviour may be entirely normal for them at home and no one has ever told them not to.
We'd redirect, suggest (strongly) that they go check out the activities other staff member is doing or play in a different area or at most have 'time in' where they sit alongside me with a timer to 'have a bit of a rest' while everyone calms down.
Massively praise the good even if it's literally the simplest of things.
If there was repeated issues in the same session we would call parents and explain that we didn't come to work and children didn't come to nursery to be hit and they had to collect their child. This has happened a handful of times in 10 years.

Good luck!

For many reasons. Could be SEN, it's no secret there is a nationwide shortage of SEN places, EBSA, asylum seekers children, there are reasons but that's not important really OP asked for advice of dealing with it.

Just sounds a bit odd having an unqualified volunteer in charge of small children (also more children than there should be with the ratio rules).

I'm a teacher, but no experience in a classroom setting with children of this age group.But as @Pigriver said, there are many reasons why this is increasingly common. The situation is far from ideal, but at least it gets them out of the house and familiarised with the educational setting for a while.

But obviously the advice will be different, depending on the circumstances.