We have to give homework??

[Simona]

If cms feel unable to share their resources for fear they may never come back...what other methods do they use to promote sharing learning with parents and how do they record it and evidence it to Ofsted?

[gef918]

I had a mindee who was given weekly homework by his pre-school. His mum complained that either they didn't have time to do it, or if they found the time the child wasn't interested. From that point of view, the pre-school was 'ticking the box' about engaging home learning, but in reality it was of no benefit at all to the child or the family.

As a childminder, I feel that just by sharing what we have been doing and what the child is interested in is 'homework'. For example, A really enjoyed playing with gloop this afternoon - here's how you make it. Or we've been singing Twinkle Twinkle today and B was joining in with some of the words and actions.

[sarah707]

I give parents lots of ideas for things they might like to do at home - I share information about places we have visited - I suggest activities to follow up our planning...

For example, this week we are having great fun with nursery rhymes and I've put a little booklet for parents with words and some pictures on the parents page of my website...

I don't think of it as homework and neither do they it's just sharing fun!

[Simona]

I give parents lots of ideas for things they might like to do at home - I share information about places we have visited - I suggest activities to follow up our planning...

For example, this week we are having great fun with nursery rhymes and I've put a little booklet for parents with words and some pictures on the parents page of my website...

I don't think of it as homework and neither do they it's just sharing fun!

Has anyone come across PEAL?

Home

and why PEAL makes an impact on children's learning
Evaluation

[rickysmiths]

Yes I went on a course with them several years ago. It was excellent. Went on another course in mid October REAL which was excellent also and free.

One of the main ways we share with parents and they with us is through Learning Journals to which we both contribute. I get feed back on what children are doing at home and they get feed back from me in spadefuls about what the children have done while they are with me. I am often asked by parents what can they do and I willingly share information lead them to websites and suggest resources they can get to compliment what I do and likewise I may buy things that enhance what is done at home to follow a child's interest.

I do not however refer to all this as 'Homework' but sharing information with parents.

[Simona]

Yes I went on a course with them several years ago. It was excellent. Went on another course in mid October REAL which was excellent also and free.

One of the main ways we share with parents and they with us is through Learning Journals to which we both contribute. I get feed back on what children are doing at home and they get feed back from me in spadefuls about what the children have done while they are with me. I am often asked by parents what can they do and I willingly share information lead them to websites and suggest resources they can get to compliment what I do and likewise I may buy things that enhance what is done at home to follow a child's interest.

I do not however refer to all this as 'Homework' but sharing information with parents.

Absolutely...homework is totally the wrong word to use!

[Tazmin68]

I already use daily diary, newsletters about what we are doing and where we are going in the holidays. I use QED trackers which I give to parents every half term so they can out input in. It was suggested by the inspector that I send send sensory bags and story sacks home with children with activities to follow up on. The wording given by inspector was to promote home learning. I know one family wil just damage anything that I send home. I have already had the sensory bag returned stained.

Deb

[sing-low]

I had a mindee who was given weekly homework by his pre-school. His mum complained that either they didn't have time to do it, or if they found the time the child wasn't interested. From that point of view, the pre-school was 'ticking the box' about engaging home learning, but in reality it was of no benefit at all to the child or the family.

As a childminder, I feel that just by sharing what we have been doing and what the child is interested in is 'homework'. For example, A really enjoyed playing with gloop this afternoon - here's how you make it. Or we've been singing Twinkle Twinkle today and B was joining in with some of the words and actions.

I agree with this 100%. There's no point in doing something that is just ticking the box. I think as cms we have an opportunity to be really creative with the way that we share learning and ideas with parents. I have lent toys and books (so far, so good with returns) and as I have a large selection of parenting books, I am thinking of starting a lending library for parents. I made playdough last night so will add the recipe to daily diary today. I think that we can also complement 'home learning'. I know some parents shy away from messy play so I make sure to do plenty.

[bunyip]

I have 'home activity' pages bound into my daily diaries - about one a month. They describe an activity to try at home and it's usually linked to the current 'next steps' goals for the child. The sheet also includes space for parental feedback on how it went, how it might be made better, and space for them to update me on the child's current interests. I make up some of the activities and take other ideas from books. Some parents love this, others don't bother - but at least it's evidence that I'm making the effort to fulfil my side of partnership with parents and extending the learning at home.

I do lend resources, but do so judiciously, depending on whether I think a child will lose small pieces, or has a dog at home to chew stuff, etc. I've always had things returned, possibly because I promise to add the cost to the invoice if it goes missing (said with a friendly smile, but I think they know I mean it. )

IMHO the problem is that EYFS regulates for something that may already be happening, and Ofsted apply judgments/sanctions if you're not improving all the time. To explain. Some parents are already highly proactive in their child's learning and development, and thus need little if any support in this. Some CMs, nannies, nurseries, etc. already do support home learning and have good systems to talk, review, share ideas and discuss L&D with clients.

OTOH, some parents just can't be bothered, whilst others have made a conscious decision to steer clear of anything 'educational' in the early years and just let their lo "have a childhood." Despite all the lip-service paid to 'diversity' and 'parental choice' this latter position is one that is not tolerated by the authorities.

There are also CMs and other settings who've never done much to communicate or support the idea of home learning. Their L&D responsibility begins when the lo arrives a the door (preferably on time to the last second) and ends with them being propelled back through that doorway, shoes and coat on at the ready, and again bang on the dot of pick-up time. Information sharing with the parent is limited to the bare minimum: "he's been fine" or maybe push the boat and and say "she's getting really good at walking now."

I have no problem with DoE's desire to see practitioners working with parents to extend and support L&D at home.

But when this is coupled with DoE's and Ofsted's obsession with 'continuous improvement' it is quite likely to reach the level of 'overkill'. It is no longer enough to be doing enough, because the inspectors demand that you do more. Political soundbites about "raising the bar" are all very well, but they forget that some providers are already clearing the bar, whilst other can barely be bothered to get their trainers off the tarmac.

The regulation is:-

(Taken from EYFS Statutory Framework 1.11) The key person must seek to engage and support parents and/or carers in guiding their child’s development at home.

The problem is that inspectors don't seem to understand that a CM may indeed "seek to engage" only to run up against a brick wall of parents who do not reciprocate in that engagement. Or s/he may already have a perfectly good way of working that isn't broken, doesn't need fixing, and yet isn't good enough to meet Ofsted's obsessive demand for 'continuous improvement'. One can only assume that should Truss ever be packed off to the Dept of Transport, she will be seeking 'continuous improvement by looking for motor manufacturers to quite literally re-invent the wheel.

[Simona]

I already use daily diary, newsletters about what we are doing and where we are going in the holidays. I use QED trackers which I give to parents every half term so they can out input in. It was suggested by the inspector that I send send sensory bags and story sacks home with children with activities to follow up on. The wording given by inspector was to promote home learning. I know one family wil just damage anything that I send home. I have already had the sensory bag returned stained.

Deb

Yes ..the buzz word is to improve 'home learning'
There is a huge campaign going on about this and has been for a few years now

It is to do with supporting parents to improve their 'home learning' not by newsletters or sending toys but by encouraging to share 'good practice'
Some of the parents we refer to are very poor hence they may not be able to afford story sacks

Bunyip...I find it hard to accept that 'some parents cannot be bothered'...we should not judge as we hope not to be judged...sorry no offence is meant
This is not about sending toys home to improve learning...EPPE was written in 2004 so it is not new and it gets quoted everywhere not just by politicians but in Early Childhood studies

Take a look
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/RB_pre-school_to_end_of_KS1(1).pdf

After that REPEY was researched...same things came out and CMs included in that study too and written by some of the same authors who still speak for Home Learning

http://www.ioe.ac.uk/REPEY_research_report.pdf

[Mouse]

I do send 'work' home with my funded children each week.

It's all linked to what the children have been doing here and what their interests are. Each child takes home a folder of 'resources' that I make. It might be a colouring sheet I've printed out, or laminated sheets with a whiteboard pen so they can write on the sheet then wipe it off. That's good for handwriting practice, learning their name etc. I've also sent resources home to help with counting, number, letter and colour recognition etc. I also print off and laminate pictures from the books we've been reading so the children can use them to help talk about the story at home. I put in a list of suggested games they can play, websites they might want to look at etc.

One mum insists on calling it homework, while I insist that it's not. More often than not the children are really keen to go through their folder, but I stress that parents mustn't make them sit down and work.

For the younger children I send colouring sheets or picture cards that I've made, again with a list of suggested activities.

The majority of my parents are very happy with what I send home. For one child in particular it has made a massive difference to he learning & development. He has very young parents who didn't really know how to help him, so it's been very useful to them.
One mum isn't so interested, but the child loves taking their little bag home each week and often comes back with their picture cards all scribbled on. She'll tell me all about them & what she's drawn on them. Mum is starting to take notice, especially when she's realised that her child is naming colours, shapes etc & telling a story.

I can see a lot of benefit in sending activities home, but I never see it as homework.

[lilac_dragon]

Interesting thread -
Our school Nursery class sends the 3 year olds home with weekly Homework, to be returned the following week!
I've just done it with my 3x3yr olds at the request of the parents, who didn't have time to do it, and also admitted to not having a clue about where to find the leaves needed.
This weeks was identifying leaf shapes and bringing the sheet back with the correct leaf attached to the relevant picture.

If Ofsted come this week, my Planning Diary clearly states that we spent one day doing the los Nursery Homework instead of what I had planned to do! That should count as Working In Partnership.
Hmmmm maybe I should send the los into Nursery with some Homework from me for the staff to help them with? There's a challenge!

[bunyip]

Yes ..the buzz word is to improve 'home learning'


Bunyip...I find it hard to accept that 'some parents cannot be bothered'...we should not judge as we hope not to be judged...sorry no offence is meant

No offence taken, but there times when making a judgement isn't a bad thing (and I don't think the sermon on the Mount was delivered with specific regard to early years learning and development.)

Aside from any other considerations, I'm rather obliged to take it at face value that a mum can't be bothered with all this (ie. home learning activities) when she looks me in the eye and says, "I can't be bothered with all this."

Maybe it's just what goes on outside London's wealthiest boroughs.

[sarah707]

Maybe it's just what goes on outside London's wealthiest boroughs.

What exactly are you trying to say about those of us who live oooop north?

[loocyloo]

I have 'borrowing bags' that go home ... some parents are keen, some not so keen, some return them, one has been gone 3 months and mum has no idea where it is! some return intact, some have been used and some return 'well used' and need replacing!

most of the bits in my bags are things I have picked up at car boots/charity shops/etc with the occasional item bought especially for a bag.

I really like mouses idea of sending colouring sheets/books/resources etc home, but I could already tell you now which of my 8 EY children would bring them back looked at, and which wouldn't. one mindee loves to take things home, but they never get taken out of the bag. even if the child carries the bag separately, it gets put in childs bag in car and there it stays, and its always at the bottom of the bag when child next attends. ( I should be grateful though - all my parents DO at least, read the diaries! even if they don't comment! )

[Mouse]

Aside from any other considerations, I'm rather obliged to take it at face value that a mum can't be bothered with all this (ie. home learning activities) when she looks me in the eye and says, "I can't be bothered with all this."

:

Sounds just like me when my children used to bring work home from school that had to include input from parents Don't get me wrong, I have no objection to helping my children do their homework, but I do object to being set family tasks that have to be done more by me than by the child. Out of earshot of my child I have often be heard to say "I can't be bothered with this"!

[Carol M]

As already stated the EYFS seek to engage etc
I find myself supporting parents within the 3 prime areas, particularly PSED and CL eg behaviour management strategies to work on together, healthy eating, language development ideas etc. I will lend resources happily but unfortunately I have "lost" books and dvd's/cd's.
I don't send home "work sheets" or the like but will direct parents to sites where relevant activities and/or information are available and put info on my notice board about local or national initiatives to get involved in , places we have been to and enjoyed, Childrens centre timetable, library info and photos of activities we have been enjoying, then it's up to the individual parents to uptake as they wish.
I make notes in my diary of info that comes from home and I think I have a great two way exchange that leads to the learning and development here and at home. Homework!!!!!! pfttttt!!!
Carol

[mrstom]

I have 'borrowing bags' that go home ... some parents are keen, some not so keen, some return them, one has been gone 3 months and mum has no idea where it is! some return intact, some have been used and some return 'well used' and need replacing!

most of the bits in my bags are things I have picked up at car boots/charity shops/etc with the occasional item bought especially for a bag.

I really like mouses idea of sending colouring sheets/books/resources etc home, but I could already tell you now which of my 8 EY children would bring them back looked at, and which wouldn't. one mindee loves to take things home, but they never get taken out of the bag. even if the child carries the bag separately, it gets put in childs bag in car and there it stays, and its always at the bottom of the bag when child next attends. ( I should be grateful though - all my parents DO at least, read the diaries! even if they don't comment! )

What do you put in your borrowing bags Loocyloo? Do they follow a theme? It's something I really like the idea of and would love to try and do myself. Are they along the lines of story sacks?

[loocyloo]

What do you put in your borrowing bags Loocyloo? Do they follow a theme? It's something I really like the idea of and would love to try and do myself. Are they along the lines of story sacks?

Sort of like story sacs... But with less items in. Some have a book with a toy or puppet to help tell the story. Some also have a non fiction book that ties in, or a game ( got some elmer snap cards at car boot! To go with elmer story, elephant toy and elephant book ) I have song puppets and books such 5 little ducks.
I have several child's play board books with songs in. These have instruments/soft toy added.
I have cds and ribbons, bats and balls, a couple of dvds with puppets, puzzles and games, playdough is a big favourite. I'm thinking about putting together a craft and painting bag.
Each bag has a note book with ideas to extend the activity-other books, songs etc. Sometimes I put links to websites for ideas. There is usually a question or 2 for parent to ask child ( to help them extend play ) I ask parents to write a comment as to something their child enjoyed. But frequently I write the comment in when bag returns!
Each bag has a photo on it of contents! Same photo is on notebook!
It took a bit of work to set up in first place and now I'm overrun! I keep seeing things and thinking "that would be a good bag! " if there is something someone is into I might put a bag together for them.
Have fun

Edited to say. .. usually the children choose which they take home or parents request one but I also sonetimes send a specific bag home that will extend something we're doing!

[mrstom]

Sort of like story sacs... But with less items in. Some have a book with a toy or puppet to help tell the story. Some also have a non fiction book that ties in, or a game ( got some elmer snap cards at car boot! To go with elmer story, elephant toy and elephant book ) I have song puppets and books such 5 little ducks.
I have several child's play board books with songs in. These have instruments/soft toy added.
I have cds and ribbons, bats and balls, a couple of dvds with puppets, puzzles and games, playdough is a big favourite. I'm thinking about putting together a craft and painting bag.
Each bag has a note book with ideas to extend the activity-other books, songs etc. Sometimes I put links to websites for ideas. There is usually a question or 2 for parent to ask child ( to help them extend play ) I ask parents to write a comment as to something their child enjoyed. But frequently I write the comment in when bag returns!
Each bag has a photo on it of contents! Same photo is on notebook!
It took a bit of work to set up in first place and now I'm overrun! I keep seeing things and thinking "that would be a good bag! " if there is something someone is into I might put a bag together for them.
Have fun

Edited to say. .. usually the children choose which they take home or parents request one but I also sonetimes send a specific bag home that will extend something we're doing!

That is brilliant! Thanks so much for the ideas, I'm definitely going to be putting some together