Right from the start I just want to make it clear that I am not writing this post to attack anyone. I am absolutely not saying that anyone is getting it wrong or shouldn't be posting what they are doing in their setting. I'm not saying it isn't nice to see inspiring activities and environments. I'm not saying it isn't important to read about how other people are getting it right. But is anyone else feeling that they aren't doing enough?
I'm meant to have a welcoming start to the day, with a creative self-registration idea. I'm meant to be available to the adults dropping off in case there are problems but also support the children if they need settling in. I can't waste any time during the day at all so these welcome activities should be designed to be visually attractive to the children but also move their learning on. During the day I should let them have long periods of uninterrupted playing. This way they can follow their interests and develop their skills in a natural way. So I shouldn't force them to leave their play and come and sit at a table. It should be purely their choice. I should observe all of the children and look for teachable moments. Seize those moments and prepare activities that join their interests with their next steps. To plan this, I should look carefully at my assessments. My assessments should be written down so that I have evidence. Or they could be recorded in an 'online' EYFS tracker. But some of my assessments can come from my professional knowledge and might therefore be in my head. My planning should be done in the moment and in advance. I should be child-led. Child-initiated. When would I even have time to be adult led? My planning should take into account where children have come from, their interests and their next steps. I should plan exciting activities that engage all of the children to develop their skills. Unless they aren't interested, in which case I should observe their play and teach them the objective through their play. Unless their play is already worthwhile. In which case I should just make observations. I should make sure I do exciting topics. But I shouldn't do topics at all because that's not child-led. I should base my topics, that I'm not doing, on stories. To find support I should follow people on Facebook. And follow them on Instagram. Follow them on twitter. And follow them on Pinterest. And follow them on Snapchat. But not follow them home - for obvious reasons. I should read blogs and newspapers and journals and books. And watch the Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year Olds.... I'm meant to allow self-service snack time, allowing the children to prepare their own snack and clear up. I am meant to encourage them to talk during this process as we need to develop their vocabulary. Speaking of which I'm meant to get them talking all day. All the time. Except when they have to be quiet. Although maybe there shouldn't be an expectation that they are quiet because they're only young? But they can't talk in assembly. But perhaps they shouldn't go to assembly because there are more important things for them to learn about. Right? I'm meant to read to them every day. Unless they choose not to listen. In that case I should let them choose what they want to be doing instead. Unless it's using the iPad because that is ruining their development. Except those useful apps that teach them phonics. Or numbers. Oh and speaking of phonics - I should be teaching that, right? But not formally because they're too young for formal teaching. But it is good for them to develop their concentration skills so perhaps I could sit them on the carpet for 5 minutes? Then I can allow them to practise their phonic skills during their play. But we should group them by ability to allow focussed teaching. Except we shouldn't because it affects self-esteem and there is no evidence that 'setting' actually makes a positive difference. Inside I should have furniture made out of natural materials. No plastic resources. Except Numicon because we should use that. I should have stones, twigs and half of the school wild area in a beautifully arranged display to encourage them to make art with loose parts. I should have areas to be quiet, areas to be alone and areas to be together. And a sofa. And lots and lots of mirrors. I should have fairy lights. And lamps. And I should have hessian. And no bright colours. Except maybe on their work. Which should be displayed on a tree branch. And it should show the child's thought processes. And what the adults think. And what their next steps are. And their photo. My sand and water tray should have Victorian sieves, copper pans and teapots from around the world. And they should be arranged more beautifully than in a Harrods shop window display. My art area should be organised into coloured sections and should look so attractive that even an Instagram filter couldn't improve it. I should have a tepee for reading. Or at least a table with some books under it. I should have a role play area. But it should be deconstructed so that the children can build it into whatever they like. I shouldn't have a writing area but instead have writing integrated across the entire classroom so that children can write whenever they feel inspired. Perhaps I could put some pens and paper in the toilets? The children shouldn't be forced to write. They will write when they are ready. They will write when they feel inspired to. When it is important to them. But I should get them writing their name, right? But not with tracing or dots to follow. And I'm teaching them cursive handwriting. Or pre-cursive handwriting. To be honest, just getting some of them to hold a pencil is enough at times. But if we are writing is it in an exercise book?! And if I'm writing in an exercise book do I have a separate one for maths work? Not that I'm 'teaching' maths because it's all in context. I should teach them mindfulness. And yoga. And we should have a charity that we raise money for. We should do Dough Disco. And Dough Gym. And Magic Maths, And Super Sentences. And Story Bags. And Funky Fingers. Outside I'm meant to have lots of space to run and jump and play. They need to be able to grow their own plants and perhaps look after their own animals. They should be made to feel like it is their environment by allowing them to help develop it so perhaps they can help me repurpose some olf guttering and plastic bottles to build a water wall. Or the music wall. Made out of junk. They could help me paint the boat and turn it into an outside reading area. Or an area for quiet reflection. I should have old tires made into fairy gardens and a wooden spool turned into a small world table. I need a mud kitchen that is fitted out with all modern conveniences. And a pond. But it needs to be fenced off. And there should be trees to climb. Because I should allow the children to take risks. Except playing with conkers - that is still banned, right? And I need tuff spots. I need tuff spots that look so inviting even grown-ups want to join in. I need stuff spots that are so beautiful that they would make you weep. And I might after I spend so long on them and then the children get their destructive little hands on them.... And I should make my own dough. In the same way that we shouldn't compare our bodies to the airbrushed perfection that we see in celebrity magazines and on the internet, we should be careful to judge our 'early years' self against what we see on the internet. It is impossible to do everything. At once. And also, not everything is right for everyone. Not everything is right for every setting. Or every child. Take inspiration sure. But you know your children best so don't feel under pressure to copy anyone. Be kind to yourself. But definitely keep following Ace Early Years, eh?! xx
30 Comments
Jo Rogers
4/24/2018 04:22:02 pm
So true! I actually unfollowed a lot of groups as I got sick of seeing perfectly set up classrooms. There's a definite balance between getting ideas and having a good work life balance.
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Thank you so much for your comment Jo. I sometimes get that fatigue too - and yes, I see the irony being as I help to run Ace! Sometimes I'll 'mute' groups on Facebook, just to give me time away, so to speak! And you'll notice Ace has quiet times because we're working on that balance!
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Alex
4/24/2018 05:57:23 pm
Thanks for this post, I needed to read this today! Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day! Keep being fantastic :)
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Natasha
4/24/2018 06:21:18 pm
Yes!! I’ve come home from one of those days and we have been debating the old child initiated/adult led balance. I think at the end of the day we go back to what it’s all about- individual children. We do what’s right for each child in our settings. And that’s the beauty of early years- it’s unique and each setting is different. I love to be inspired by new ideas but do what’s right for you and your class and your setting. Thank you for writing this article- a great read!
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Natasha
4/24/2018 08:30:41 pm
Thank you!
Louise
4/24/2018 06:24:38 pm
This is all SO true, it made me laugh out loud! And also despair a bit! Everyone who works with young children does so because they want to do their best for them and give them the best possible start. There isn’t one way to do this - but as long as we keep trying, hopefully we will make a difference.
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4/24/2018 06:31:48 pm
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be funny, but it did make me really laugh in parts! Because it’s totally relatable and true!
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Thank you so much Sally. It wasn't meant to be funny as I started writing it but it descended into madness so I went with it! I think most of us find it hard to have confidence in our provision - especially when you have plenty of people willing to tell you that you're not doing it right.
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Sally Wright
4/24/2018 10:31:32 pm
Oh wow Mark! I’m thrilled to hear you are a fan of The Ark Groups! Thank you. 😊
Sarah Dryden
4/24/2018 07:14:45 pm
Thank you for your article, I go through this rollercoaster frequently, often during the night when my brain won’t switch off. It’s so refreshing to see that others are coping with the same dichotomies as I am. Working to achieve perfection is impossible with the pressure on budgets, staffing, resources and on achieving GLD above average each year. It’s good to know I’m not alone.
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Kate
4/24/2018 08:14:19 pm
I literally could have written this post myself. Thank you for writing it and allowing me to realise I'm not the only one feeling this way, Kate x
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Rachael
4/24/2018 09:26:07 pm
This has been like a breath of fresh air to read! I worry about each and every one of these things on a daily basis, so much so that it drives me mad! It’s fantastically reassuring to know my brain isn’t the only one doing all this. Thank you so much for posting!
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Donna
4/24/2018 09:54:52 pm
Thank you for this! It makes you realise you are not alone! Sometimes you never know if your coming or going! I constantly question myself whether things are right! No longer do we just worry if our children are happy and learning!
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You're so welcome Donna. We all feel like we're confused at times and we question ourselves too much! We should have faith that we're providing what the children need because we know them best. When you're feeling confused, just think of this blog and laugh it off! x
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Simon Davies
4/24/2018 10:27:07 pm
This is the best summary I have read about the frustrations between the ideal and the realities of eyfs! I work in year two and I hear and see colleagues express similar dissatisfaction with the vast expectations placed upon them. It is not about workload but what is a manageable situation. I will show these to colleagues a nd remind them that what they do everyday is enough. If we lose ourselves in this confused state of unrealistic expectations and desired outcomes we will really lose our sense of well being. I bet you are doing a fantastic job and not once have you mentioned the difficulties in toileting, eating and lining up so crucial in acclimatising such young children to school. You are far from failing and I would love to work with a colleague like you!
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John
4/25/2018 07:06:44 pm
I'm so glad I read this! What an amazingly true representation of Early Years. I have sleepless nights panicking about how the routine is structured and whether it's too structured and how enhanced the areas of learning need to be and whether the planning is child led enough and actually whether it needs to be. In real life it is about if children are coming in happy and leaving happy! Thank you for your insight and for making me feel like I'm not the only one 😀
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Charlie
4/25/2018 07:32:20 pm
Mark,
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Sarah
4/25/2018 07:52:47 pm
I’ve not been looking at social media for a while, mostly because I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with the many expectations that we all have in our work. Reading this blog felt like you’d read my mind and by the end was so reassuring that we are not alone in all of the middle of the night worries.
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Ace Early Years
We are Anita and Mark. Occasionally we'll add some of our ramblings to our blog! Archives
August 2020
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