Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Behaviour

Under the revised EYFS, learning experiences must be 'challenging and enjoyable'. Is this the ideal opportunity to revisit some tired routines?, asks Penny Tassoni.

I work in a nursery in the three- to five-year-olds room. There are around 30 children. As part of our daily routine, we spend about a quarter of an hour mid-morning with the children talking about our topic, doing some counting and looking at the weather board. It's meant to be a time when we all come together, but a few children spoil it by fidgeting or not listening. How can we help them to sit still?

Let me start by warning you that I may be the purveyor of bad news. Or at least not the news that you were perhaps hoping to hear. Rather than focusing on strategies to keep children still, I think you may need to turn your attention to the actual construct of your routine.

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