We have to give homework??

[Taleasoldastime]

My cominder when to play group today and another childminder told her to meet the requirements of the eyfs (working in partnership with parents), we now have to provide weekly homework to each child?? This childminder was told this at the last local forum meeting (that we weren't told about - don't get me started!!) can anybody shed some light on this?

[moggy]

Goodness me, how things can be misinterpreted!

We need to work together with parents to support their child. Read EYFS 1.11... it says 'engage and support'... so suggesting an activity to help a child who is struggling with something, recommending fun place to go that you know the child loves and the parent hasn't thought of, if a parent hates messy activities in the house you might suggest some less messy sensory activities, talk with parents about how they are approaching weaning or potty training etc, let child take a book home to share at bedtime if parents do not read to child usually etc etc. You probably do it anyway. As usual, it is pretty much common sense. It also covers working with parents to get support if specialist help is needed, like suggesting a speech and language drop-in at the Family Centre.

[Bluebell]

hmm - I think maybe this is another way of saying to be effective at working with parents and suggesting learning opportunities at home -next steps. Like we really enjoyed singing this song / reading this book - passing book home so parent can share too.
One of the pre-schools my little one goes to apparently set home work for the parents but I really don't like the term 'homework when talking about lo's
I'm not sure it specifically says it in the EYFS? I can't remember seeing it but perhaps I haven;'t interpreted it correctly! Maybe Sarah or someone else with a little more knowledge will clarify!

[FussyElmo]

I think your cm friend may have since a document that was sent out by am la who said that homework should go out. It said a lot of other things too but it not stated anywhere in the eyfs (which is law) that we have to send homework home. Like the others have said you may on a firday night tell a parent that that they have really enjoyed playing with playdoh so the parent follows it at home.

[Taleasoldastime]

thank you for your replies, i feel we are already working well with parents (and ofsted agreed a couple of weeks ago at last inspection), so i am no overly concerned about this - it just seems very unnecessary work, when what we already have in place works well!! i thought i had missed another new document or something

[Maza]

Sorry, but this makes me so MAD! He/she has totally misinterpreted things. Sorry, (I'm in a bad mood so forgive me) but how can someone misinterpret things to that extent? Where on earth does the EYFS state that we must provide weekly homework??? It doesn't. Does this childminder enjoy sensationalism?

[Taleasoldastime]

i didnt speak to her personally, it was my cominder, but from how i understood it, it was how it was explained to her at the LA forum meeting Maza, rather than her coming up with it herself. i have our ey consultant coming at the end of the month - i hope she doesnt suggest it!

[Maza]

Maybe she has misinterpreted the word 'homework' as this conjures up images of worksheets which then need to be marked. Of course we should be offering suggestions of how to take the child's learning further or how to consolidate something, but I don't do this on a weekly basis. x

[Simona]

My cominder when to play group today and another childminder told her to meet the requirements of the eyfs (working in partnership with parents), we now have to provide weekly homework to each child?? This childminder was told this at the last local forum meeting (that we weren't told about - don't get me started!!) can anybody shed some light on this?

Oh yes ...I give homework to all my under 5's each day and put it in the diary so that parents can do it and return it in the morning
I send at least 5 worksheets home for numeracy, literacy and handwriting!!!!

Tell you cominder to understand it must have been a joke and we are nowhere near April 1st......what next I wonder??

[FussyElmo]

Oh yes ...I give homework to all my under 5's each day and put it in the diary so that parents can do it and return it in the morning
I send at least 5 worksheets home for numeracy, literacy and handwriting!!!!

Tell you cominder to understand it must have been a joke and we are nowhere near April 1st......what next I wonder??

Its not a joke Simona a la has produced a document saying that homework should be given. A lot of other recommendations was on there too . Perhaps this member and her cominder come from that la as it caused quite a stir over on fb

[Simona]

Its not a joke Simona a la has produced a document saying that homework should be given. A lot of other recommendations was on there too . Perhaps this member and her cominder come from that la as it caused quite a stir over on fb

It has caused a stir on FB? that maybe so but it makes it no less a joke.
Any LA that suggests we give under 5's children homework has, in my view, lost sight of what EY practice is about, child development and early learning

Has anyone challenged this LA? has anyone named the LA and discussed this ridiculous suggestion in the open and not just FB?

I criticise my LA for giving ridiculous paperwork to cms and if they told me to give homework to my children I would go a bit further than go on FB...utterly ridiculous....sorry my view!

[FussyElmo]

It has caused a stir on FB? that maybe so but it makes it no less a joke.
Any LA that suggests we give under 5's children homework has, in my view, lost sight of what EY practice is about, child development and early learning

Has anyone challenged this LA? has anyone named the LA and discussed this ridiculous suggestion in the open and not just FB?

I criticise my LA for giving ridiculous paperwork to cms and if they told me to give homework to my children I would go a bit further than go on FB...utterly ridiculous....sorry my view!

That's alright to the people who would challenge their la. However not everyone is confident in themselves to do so.

Its not a joke to the childminders who are being told this information and yes Sarah as usual wrote an piece to put members mind at rest.

[Simona]

That's alright to the people who would challenge their la. However not everyone is confident in themselves to do so.

Its not a joke to the childminders who are being told this information and yes Sarah as usual wrote an piece to put members mind at rest.

I do understand that some cms may not be confident... or challenge but this request is nowhere in the EYFS so why even consider it?

I am sure that Sarah will have written about it but it makes no difference if the LA will be left to continue with what I call inappropriate practice and left unchallenged?

There is a huge need for cms to understand that when it comes to being inspected no one is going to be there to hold their hand or guide them or speak for them...we need to learn to be 'assertive' and positively challenge and not accept anything that some 'bodies' throw our way

For as long as it remains on FB and not discussed in the open and reported the problem will stay there and the LA will continue to push what it totally 'unacceptable'...once again my view but I wonder how many disagree?

[bunyip]

As Fussy says, a lot of CMs don't have the confidence to challenge their LA - or don't have the time to "go round in ever increasing [sic] circles" trying.

There's also the problem of what do you do if your LA is quite dictatorial and simply refuses to deal with you if you don't do things their way? eg. Ours will only accept their own pro-forma All About Me form for communication between settings.

Add to that, all the CMs whose idea of training and personal development is based on the "Mushroom Theory of Learning". ie. They're happy to be kept in the dark and occasionally fed on BS by their LA, DO, and the gossip grapevine, cos that's so much easier than taking responsibility for oneself.

[Tazmin68]

Hi
I was inspected in September and one of my recommendations was that I promote home learning in that on a regular basis I send children home with some form of homework such as a story sack with book and activities or sensory bag and this also applies to the children under 1 year.

Deb

[munch149]

Hi I was inspected in September and one of my recommendations was that I promote home learning in that on a regular basis I send children home with some form of homework such as a story sack with book and activities or sensory bag and this also applies to the children under 1 year. Deb

If I sent my resources home I would never get them back. At least not in one piece x

[rickysmiths]

I have lost count of the number of resources I have sent home and never seen again!

I am seriously thinking of charging a £25 Deposit when parents sign a Contract to cover the cost of them.

[Simona]

Hi
I was inspected in September and one of my recommendations was that I promote home learning in that on a regular basis I send children home with some form of homework such as a story sack with book and activities or sensory bag and this also applies to the children under 1 year.

Deb

That is quite acceptable if cms feel like sharing their resources so that the parents can do similar to our setting, that can also be promoted by home visits
In fact the Home Learning Environment (HLE) is what is now quoted very often to deal with 'disadvantaged' children whose parents may not be engaging and promoting learning...this is not to condemn those parents as we must help those who may find it more difficult than others.

It all stems from the EPPE research and is part of working with parents...EPPE being the resrach Truss is fond of quoting but possibly never read herself or she would not come out with such hopeless reforms!!

So yes I accept this and often ask parents to bring their child's favourite toy or book and I give them my resources to use at home.
The original comment said 'homework'...that is the wrong terminology to use as less experienced cms may well misinterpret this and get panicky.

Yes Bunyip ...some LAs are prescriptive but unless their request is also a requirement of the EYFS no one has to follow their instructions....isn't that what Truss has done by removing restrictive conditions or do we all want to be cloned and do the same?

My LA has a variety of paperwork they circulate...the reason I don't use is simple: I don't understand it and prefer to use my own devised following reflection of my practice so on the day of inspection I can clearly explain why and how I use it and what results I get.

CMs run small businesses and we are small entrepreneurs.....therefore owners and managers, we want to remain 'independent' and that also entails having to embark on an assertiveness path that leads to being confident and argue against 'unnecessary' bureaucracy.

The day that independence is taken away from us we will be doomed to go into agencies or give up!

[FussyElmo]

I give my parents homework every Friday - no really you non doubters.

I tell them to enjoy their weekend

[k-tots]

If I sent my resources home I would never get them back. At least not in one piece x

Snap we may only have one type of resource ie one book with puppets. ..unlike nusreys/schools who are more likely to have more than one