JMW Independent EYFS Consultant

Well the new term has started with some lovely feedback from a school I worked with before the summer.
Spent time with the Eyfs lead auditing the environment and implementing ideas to improve their nursery setting. Do love working alongside such receptive professionals🙂

Research shows that setting formal homework does not have an impact on progress in Early Years (or much of Primary school for that matter, but that’s a debate for another day, perhaps).

It can also be yet another strain on parents – adding to their mental load, guilt and time-pressure - especially over the holidays when these stresses often peak.📈

One 2020 study concluded: “We find little evidence that the amount of homework time primary school children are assigned is related to their academic achievement. This holds true across a large number of countries, survives various robustness tests and does not vary by gender or socio-economic status.”[ 📚1]

👀Looking into research around homework, it feels very clear that challenging this requirement, especially in Early Years, is a tricky but essential part of our roles. It can be especially difficult when you’re faced with a school policy, manager or SLT who insist homework is sent home consistently throughout the school.

I know sometimes we’re also encouraged to send homework by the families we work with – often because they see other children receiving it or remember it being an important part of their learning experience so expect something to arrive. This might be happening particularly to all you Reception teachers out there!

⚠️If you need to challenge this idea of sending home worksheets or other formal homework tasks, focus on the fact that research shows it does not support progress in the way the adults might think.

Although there is a lack of EY-specific research into the topic of homework[📚2], we know from years of research that what young children need is time to play freely… and adults who have time to play alongside them. 🤸‍♂️

This quote from EPPE sums up the impact of play at home perfectly:
"For all children, the quality of the home learning environment is more important for intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or income. What parents do is more important than who parents are." [📚3]

If you do need (or want) to send home ideas for play or other activities, focus on offering a more child development informed alternative.

Try not to make these feel overwhelming or reliant on lots of time/resources. Creating a checklist of experiences like museums and baking projects can be tempting… but can also leave families feeling frustrated by being unable to keep up with expectations.

➡️ Instead, focus on giving them ideas and advice around making everyday routines into games, encouraging them to read together or sending a simple rhyme or word game home for them to share.

Best of all, send home a reminder that 🌟play🌟 is the most important work their child does – and encouraging parents to make time and space for it at home whenever they can!

In the chaos of school holidays, these simple play ideas that take the pressure off the adults at home will be the best things we can share for our families.

Many of you talked about this approach in the comments on my previous posts about homework – so I’ll be sharing simple activity ideas throughout the summer which can be used at your setting or sent home for families this summer.

📚References:
[📚1] Jerrim J, Lopez-Agudo LA, Marcenaro-Gutierrez OD. ‘The association between homework and primary school children's academic achievement. International evidence from PIRLS and TIMSS’ Eur J Educ. (2020) 55: 248–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12374
[📚2] Simone Lehrl, Maria Evangelou & Pam Sammons (2020) The home learning environment and its role in shaping children’s educational development, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 31:1, 1-6, DOI: 10.1080/09243453.2020.1693487
[📚3] Sylva K, Melhuish E, Sammons P, Siraj-Blatchford I & Taggart B. ‘The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) Project: Findings from Pre-school to end of Key Stage1’ (2004) Institute of Education, University of London, University of Oxford, Birkbeck, University of Nottingham.

Check these ideas out for developing oral literacy.

Want to make storytime more engaging? Check out these tips for reading aloud to your child!

Brilliant block play 😊👍

We’ve explored… block play One setting in Scotland created a dedicated block-play area so children could fully immerse themselves in the imaginative activity, discovers Annette Rawstrone

So agree with what's being said by 'The Curiosity Approach'

Get a grip 🙏🏼
Sadly there seems a societal push, that EVEN BEFORE children start SCHOOL they are ‘expected’ to follow the dotted line with their pencil and formally practise name writing completing worksheets in anticipation of moving onto school.

What the chuff and where has this notion come from?😳😭

EARLIER is NOT better, why are we expecting 3 and 4 year olds to participate in planned lessons that replicate a school?

They are NOT school age children.
Let them be little, let’s take the pressure off and recognise handwriting and writing their name needs so many other developmental skills FIRST before children can successfully write.

Let’s stop leap frogging over critical stages in development 🙏🏼

Dexterity, a good grip, fine motor skills and the ability to use strength,force.
Not just in their fingers their whole body too.

Movement is essential for learning
Movement IS learning!

Fine Motor Skills
Manipulation
Coordination
Dexterity
Attention
Pivotal joint development
Auditory discrimination
Force, or grading of movement
Balance vestibular
Gross motor skills
Bilateral coordination
Body awareness
Visualisation
Hand preference
Body position
Postural reflexes
Tactile discrimination
Eye-hand coordination
Muscle tone
Postural stability
Visual discrimination
All the senses
Power. agility, strength

All these are essential in order for a child to write their name!

A child writing their name is NOT an indication of how well they’ll do at school!

Let’s stop the focus on being able to write their name before getting to school.

What to do instead ? How can we support children in readiness for school ?
Let’s set children up with the skills necessary to achieve.
Let’s all get a grip ! 😉

Want to help give children the best start in readiness for starting school?

Check out our 5 magazines available as a PDF EZINE
(pinged to your email today- no need for APP sign up )

1. Get a grip
2. Gross Motor
3. Fine motor
4. Transitions ( educators)
5. Parents guide

Do you need help articulating and explaining to others? Comment below and we will reply with a link ⬇️

Thing's have been rather busy so the social media has been sadly neglected.. Back to it this week, not promising weekly updates, but will definitely be more active!

Something to start the summer term off with. What a great idea! A change from the usual grass seed heads! 👍😊

🐛🌿

Happy Easter hols to colleagues far and wide. Hope you all get rest and recharge your batteries.

Pre-ordered already..sure will be a great resource and inspiring read. 😊

I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book with my friend Oliver from Cool Canvas - it's out in July but if you want to pre-order it I have a code for 35% off through Bloomsbury.com!

Here's the link to Bloomsbury: https://bit.ly/OUTDOORS35

The discount code is OUTDOORS35

Here's what it's all about:

Transform your play area with these environmentally friendly DIY projects for the Early Years!

This one-of-a-kind book contains everything you need to build exciting, sustainable outdoor play spaces that can be adapted for any setting, big or small. There are 36 projects ranging from smaller designs such as the Bird Box Bookshelf and the Table-Top Ramp to larger structures such as the Hobbit Hole Door and the Wonky Stage that children can help build, using recycled pallet wood.

Authors Alistair Bryce-Clegg and Oliver Wotherspoon are experts in Early Years play and have been instrumental in designing some of the very best outdoor play settings. With their helpful illustrations, full-colour photographs, step-by-step instructions and advice on how the play spaces link to the EYFS Framework and support early learning, you don't need to be a DIY expert to build these simple and effective natural play areas.

Useful guide to scissor skill progression. Notice it doesn't mention ' have a go at cutting a classmates hair' 😂🙈 Definitely an activity I've seen happen many times!