Amusing comment made by new nursery starter:)

[thecloudhopper]

I work part of my day in a formal mixed infant class (4-7 years) and it is the pits most of the time due to the fact that it is too formal for my liking. The children right from when they come in at 4 sit at a table and do worksheet after worksheet. They only have 2 to 3 opportunities for free play !!!

Anyway one of our new starters said to me today after over an hour of doing news, then sitting for assembly and sitting for milk:
When are we actually going to play?

Quite telling I thought

Bless. Is it a state school out of curiousity. Can't imagine how Ofsted would let a state school get away with this.

I think thats probably ok for 7 year olds but totally unacceptible for 4 year olds.

Yes we are a Welsh school and Estyn (welsh ofsted) put us in special measures - We are now out but I feel the school is slipping back into old habbits. I only joined the school in September

It is worse that they are so formal as in Wales we follow the Foundation Phase play based curriculm for all children from 3-7.

We just are not doing it.

I think that EYFS is TOO unstructured for some children but no way would I want my ds of 4.5 doing worksheets all day. The poor children. And are they less enthusiastic about coming to school than others you've seen?

Goodness - that sounds dreadful for the little ones especially.

Will you name and shame?

The child who you quoted is very perceptive!

They are on the most part ok but school if you ask them is boring, and that is not the way I think it should be, I love children and wish we did more interesting things.

I wont name and shame as I live in a very local small community and some may be able to work out who I am etc.

I always tend to judge a school on would I be happy if my child or a relatives cild were educated there I would have to say NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS.

The teacher I am with realy does care about the children and I like her but she has only ever worked at this school so from what I can tell has not had many examples of a good quality teacher to watch etc.

God I sound awful slagging off 1 of my places of work

Poor little sweet peas. No, you don't sound awful -- if my DS was at your school I would be relieved to think there was at least one person seeing it your way and hopefully doing what they could to be a cheery understanding presence for the little ones.

Can you ring Ofsted and inform them what's happening? It's really dreadful they are making no effort to follow what is known to be the best way for young kids to learn. I would be livid if that was my child.

I do try to be possitive and make things as exciting as I can, I take a small low ability year 1 group.

I always try to keep smiling.

PS Original inspection report put all areas of learning as grade 4, grade 5 is the worst!

Can you just tell me north or south wales so I don't panic about sending dd1 to school in the morning please???

Ditto poorbuthappy!

north mid wales

Thanks.

Really hope things change for the better soon.

My dd made a similar comment. At least that was in year 1 though.