Ofsted and Steiner parents expectations

[Bambini2]

I am taking on a child who will be moving on in time to a Steiner School. Her parents want me to follow a few basic Steiner principles. These include not teaching about numbers/shapes/letters/phonics. What will Ofsted say about this when they inspect me and look at the observations/childs personal pathway document and see lots of un-highlighted areas. Any advice would be helpful. I don't want to be downdgraded because of this. i think the parents wishes come before Ofsted, am i right?

[moggy]

If you and parents want to handle this 'formally' you may need to apply for an exemption to the EYFS, I found this:

Q&A (http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2012/10/qa-exemptions-from-eyfs-learning-and-development-requirements/)

which says:


Why haven’t you extended exemptions to all settings within the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (SWSF), as Tickell recommended?
All schools within the SWSF will still be able to apply for exemptions in the same way as they have previously. SWSF that are registered as independent schools and have attained ‘good’ or better school inspection judgements against ‘overall effectiveness of the EYFS’, are be able to opt for full exemption like other independent schools. SWSF schools and kindergarten will no longer have to reapply after two years – their exemption will remain as long as they continue to meet the circumstances of their direction for exemption.

I would speak to your local authority, education dept. You could try Ofsted but this is really more to do with Dept of Ed I think. Ofsted just inspect to the rules provided by Dept of Ed.

You could handle it more informally by skimming over those areas, highlighting all the other great things you do with child/obs etc and keep your written progress reviews more vague... are you due Ofsted while the child is likely to be with you?

Getting individual exemptions was fought for by some parents with the previous EYFS but no clear result came from it, I believe.

But basically, no a parent can not just say 'no, don't do EYFS learning and development with my child'.

[sing-low]

I would find this really hard to do although maybe I'm confused about what it means. I use numbers all the time for counting and in nursery rhymes especially. Presumably those would still be ok (and satisfy both Ofsted and parents?). It would be very hard too not to talk about shapes. Is is about not naming them as such? Letters and phonics would be ok although presumably you can still have books and labels and things?! How would you manage if you had more than one child?

[bindy]

My child will be going to a steiner school, which also happens to have Outstanding. Has I believe Ofsted do ( taken some time) take into consideration how Steiner works. I do not want my child being taught formally (letters especially) teachers have a way of teaching letters and all what happens is the kids get mixed up. When I was a nanny and looked after kids who went to very academic schools, we were told not to introduce letters. My child does know how to count and colours all picked up through play. I would be very annoyed if my wishes were ignored.

[sarah707]

Childminders are legally required to comply with the requirements of the EYFS.

Some childminders have tried to apply for exemptions from some of the learning goals and all have failed as far as I am aware.

I am sure you can find a middle ground that will allow you to comply with the EYFS and meet parents wishes. I suggest you speak to school and find out how they operate within EYFS in the first instance :D

[Bambini2]

My child will be going to a steiner school, which also happens to have Outstanding. Has I believe Ofsted do ( taken some time) take into consideration how Steiner works. I do not want my child being taught formally (letters especially) teachers have a way of teaching letters and all what happens is the kids get mixed up. When I was a nanny and looked after kids who went to very academic schools, we were told not to introduce letters. My child does know how to count and colours all picked up through play. I would be very annoyed if my wishes were ignored.

Need to look into this more. Parents are giving me a letter with more details. I may then need to speak to Ofsted

[Bambini2]

If you and parents want to handle this 'formally' you may need to apply for an exemption to the EYFS, I found this:

Q&A (http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2012/10/qa-exemptions-from-eyfs-learning-and-development-requirements/)

which says:


Why haven’t you extended exemptions to all settings within the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (SWSF), as Tickell recommended?
All schools within the SWSF will still be able to apply for exemptions in the same way as they have previously. SWSF that are registered as independent schools and have attained ‘good’ or better school inspection judgements against ‘overall effectiveness of the EYFS’, are be able to opt for full exemption like other independent schools. SWSF schools and kindergarten will no longer have to reapply after two years – their exemption will remain as long as they continue to meet the circumstances of their direction for exemption.

I would speak to your local authority, education dept. You could try Ofsted but this is really more to do with Dept of Ed I think. Ofsted just inspect to the rules provided by Dept of Ed.

You could handle it more informally by skimming over those areas, highlighting all the other great things you do with child/obs etc and keep your written progress reviews more vague... are you due Ofsted while the child is likely to be with you?

Getting individual exemptions was fought for by some parents with the previous EYFS but no clear result came from it, I believe.

But basically, no a parent can not just say 'no, don't do EYFS learning and development with my child'.
Parents are giving me a letter,when i see what it says , then i can decide how to handle this. Not due an inspection until next June but need to decide how to handle this soon as I don't want to get behind with observations!

[bindy]

Childminders are legally required to comply with the requirements of the EYFS.

Some childminders have tried to apply for exemptions from some of the learning goals and all have failed as far as I am aware.

I am sure you can find a middle ground that will allow you to comply with the EYFS and meet parents wishes. I suggest you speak to school and find out how they operate within EYFS in the first instance :D

Has far as I am aware, they don't. I know for sure they don't do LJ but you are right she should speak to the school. I know through Steiner school I visit a lot with my child, they have worked very closely with Ofsted to prove how they teach. They do sing song with numbers, letters and my last visit a small child, climbing up a tree, took off a leaf and started talking with the teacher about the shape, colour which the teacher openly encourage, they just teach in a different way. I looked after 2 boys who went to Stiener, I was intrigued and did attend some morning sessions to find out more.

[sing-low]

I'd be really interested to know how you get on with this if you have time to give some feedback.

[Bambini2]

Has far as I am aware, they don't. I know for sure they don't do LJ but you are right she should speak to the school. I know through Steiner school I visit a lot with my child, they have worked very closely with Ofsted to prove how they teach. They do sing song with numbers, letters and my last visit a small child, climbing up a tree, took off a leaf and started talking with the teacher about the shape, colour which the teacher openly encourage, they just teach in a different way. I looked after 2 boys who went to Stiener, I was intrigued and did attend some morning sessions to find out more.

The Steiner School is impossible for me to get to, it's too far away,i don't drive & it's not on a bus route! Will speak to them and get more advice from Mum. There is however a limit to what i can do/not do in the Steiner way however as i will have non Steiner children here as well. Also I don't necessarily believe in all Steiner methods. I need to read up a bit more on it.

[Bambini2]

I'd be really interested to know how you get on with this if you have time to give some feedback.

Will keep you posted on it when child starts and I have been in touch with the Steiner School.

[bindy]

The Steiner School is impossible for me to get to, it's too far away,i don't drive & it's not on a bus route! Will speak to them and get more advice from Mum. There is however a limit to what i can do/not do in the Steiner way however as i will have non Steiner children here as well. Also I don't necessarily believe in all Steiner methods. I need to read up a bit more on it.

I would not worry too much, mum can not expect 100 per Steiner, very few do outside school, I looked after 2 boys, in my house wasn't 100 per cent, in her house it was, but I did not formally teach them. It sounds like, it would be impossible for you to get the child to school anyway! Problem solved Lol!

[jax clinch]

Don't children just learn all those things through play and informal talking day to day!! I can understand her not wanting you to teach letter formation because I agree that if bad habits are created they are hard to get rid of but surely letter sounds, shapes, colours etc are going to be called the same thing wherever you go. I don't know anything about Steiner education but may see what it's all about now!!!!

[sarah707]

I knew I had a link to this somewhere!! I think you might find it useful :D

http://www.steinerwaldorf.org.uk/downloads/earlyyears/EY_Foundation_Stage_Guide.pdf

[Bambini2]

Don't children just learn all those things through play and informal talking day to day!! I can understand her not wanting you to teach letter formation because I agree that if bad habits are created they are hard to get rid of but surely letter sounds, shapes, colours etc are going to be called the same thing wherever you go. I don't know anything about Steiner education but may see what it's all about now!!!!

Think I might need to use a blindfold and ear plugs when i am talking to the other children!:laughing:

[bindy]

My child's Steiner teacher confirmed to me today they are exempt from literature and some other parts of the EYFS as been modified with Ofsted agreement. I don't know how this will help you with being a Child minder though. I don't know about others but I find EYFS quite flexible. Have you decided what to do, regarding taking the child on?

[teacakepenguin]

Maybe, as you can't visit, you could contact the school by phone/letter/email to ask for their input with regards working within the eyfs from your point of view but very much leading on so that when they start at the school they aren't having to "unlearn" anything.

I'd probably phone and explain briefly the problem, asking if it would be possible to discuss this over the phone with someone at a mutually convenient time. Then pick apart the letter a bit more and have some specific questions in mind regarding the requirements of the eyfs.

Good luck!
Jx

[Maza]

Phonics/letters are not the be all and end all when it comes to Literacy at that age. You can still do lots of story activities, poetry activities, language development activities, fine motor skills activities, listening skills activities etc. Have you got a copy of 'Letters and Sounds'? There are tons of pre-phonics activities there, which focus on things such as rhyme and rhythm, alliteration, environmental sounds etc. Without developing the skills focused on in this book children wouldn't be able to apply phonic knowledge anyway.

Also, yes, we should take parents wishes into consideration but they cannot dictate how we run our business/practise. If they are so determined then they should look around for someone who specialises in the Steiner method. As you say, you have other children in your setting and you don't necessarily agree with everything Steiner anyway. x

[Bambini2]

My child's Steiner teacher confirmed to me today they are exempt from literature and some other parts of the EYFS as been modified with Ofsted agreement. I don't know how this will help you with being a Child minder though. I don't know about others but I find EYFS quite flexible. Have you decided what to do, regarding taking the child on?

I am definitely taking the child on but am still waiting for the letter from the parents so until then am a bit in limbo. I am not having a complete overhaul of the way i run my business though. I do find EYFS very flexible so will be trying to keep it simple and not deviate too much from what I do at the moment.

[bindy]

I am definitely taking the child on but am still waiting for the letter from the parents so until then am a bit in limbo. I am not having a complete overhaul of the way i run my business though. I do find EYFS very flexible so will be trying to keep it simple and not deviate too much from what I do at the moment.

You will be fine! I like Steiner but would never expect a childminder to change her ways to look after my child. I have loads of plastic toys ( along with lots of natural ) kids just love to play with them lol. For me, its what happens in the class room/nursery. I am sure parents will be satisfied with what you say above. They obviously like you. Good Luck!

[Simona]

Your child will be moving to a Steiner setting and the 'exemption' from EYFS will be in place in that school as all Steiner schools are exempt...this is their philosophy:

Steiner education...
◦Works for all children irrespective of academic ability, class, ethnicity or religion;
◦Takes account of the needs of the whole child – academic, physical, emotional and spiritual;
◦Is based on an understanding of the relevance of the different phases of child development;
◦Develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school;
◦Sees artistic activity and the development of the imagination as integral to learning;
◦Is tried and tested and is part of state funded, mainstream provision in most European countries;
◦Is respected worldwide for its ability to produce very able young people who have a strong sense of self and diverse capacities that enable them to become socially and economically responsible citizens.


No reason for you to worry about doing things differently as I 'assume' the child in under 3 and therefore you will concentrate on the 3 Prime Areas which go well with the Steiner philosophy

More info here

Welcome to the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship Website (http://www.steinerwaldorf.org.uk/)

[bindy]

My child has been visiting on Fridays ready to start in September. Already I've taken her out of one nursery school, she was very unhappy there. I must say, the few Fridays she has been going to Steiner, she has come on leaps and bounds. Her confidence has grown so much and she really looks forward to her Fridays, such a contrast to what she had become going to a local outstanding nursery . I am so happy Ofsted have exempt some EYS. Talking with other parents it been a up hill battle though! With more and more Free Schools and more parent choice Ofsted have to realize there's more than one way to skin a cat!
What's really lucky,(for her) her next school is the first free(meaning no payment) Steiner/Forest/Monti based school in the country!!