The Foundation Stage at Home: Helping children to achieve the Early Learning Goals
By Shirley Cobbold (The Foundation Stage Network, 14.99 but 10.99 to Nursery World readers, 01432 860569)
Reviewed by Marian Whitehead, language and early years consultant This is an attractive, easily used A4 spiral-bound book about learning at home written for parents, carers and childminders.
This is not a crammer for achieving early learning goals, but a book that is pleasant to read, full of good sense and humour and immensely supportive. The author provides a careful and informed description of the areas of learning in the Foundation Stage and the goals to be aimed for by the end of Reception. Even the delightful photos are useful reminders of the many enjoyable and richly educative things children and families can do together.
The last chapter consists of 'Fifty good ideas for Foundation Stage activities'. Most of these are useful, easily managed and fun, but a few worry me - especially the number activity of cooking and icing numerals on buns. It is always a pity when families are told to do daft 'teachery'
things!
