OPEN PLAN BENEFITS
I was interested to read your news item on Bents Farm Day Nursery (12June), which has taken the decision to provide an open-plan setting forchildren from birth to five. I am surprised that Ofsted was not aware ofany other nursery operating like this, as ours has been since we openedin April 2004. We are a 45-place nursery which holds the Key Personapproach as our guiding principle. Staff are paired as 'buddies'(working opposite shifts) with children aged six months to six years,joining them to form a family group.
We have had two very positive Ofsted inspections since opening, whichhave recognised and been appreciative of this system. We have had manyvisits from local and not-so-local nurseries who have been recommendedto visit us as an example of best practice in using family grouping andthe Key Person Approach in an open-plan setting. Parents have beenextremely positive, so much so that we no longer need to advertise as weare so oversubscribed with word-of-mouth recommendations.
Staff are able to make lasting relationships with children and families,gaining an in-depth knowledge of the children in their group's learningand developmental needs. Children become 'strong' (Birth to ThreeMatters 2003) through being able to depend on a Key Person for the wholeof their time in the setting to become independent. There are manyscaffolding moments throughout the day, encouraged through therelationship-rich environment. This is then evident when children maketheir next transition to our adjoining nursery and primary school.
Kim Barker, manager, The Slade Day Nursery, Headington, Oxford
Letter of the Week wins 30 worth of books
YOU JUST CAN'T WIN
An article on the inspection of a nursery school in an Ofsted newsletterfrustrated me. It was clearly an outstanding establishment. Reflectingon the inspection, the Ofsted inspector commented, 'The children wereabsorbed in exciting play and experiments throughout the day, whichmeant no time for squabbles. Children could make, or be, absolutelyanything they wanted because this "Aladdin's Cave" was brimming withreal objects, natural resources and different materials; treasures forchildren to explore, as well as manufactured toys. The children's highlevels of concentration, self motivation, independence and confidencehad no boundaries.'
So why did the setting not receive an outstanding grade overall? Itfailed to be recognised as such because staff were too busy interactingwith the children. The inspector said, 'Although relations betweenparents and the setting were excellent in so many ways, the procedurefor sharing information about children's progress and development, andincluding them in planning for children's next steps of learning had notbeen fully developed.'
If only the staff had taken more notes, they would have been gradedoutstanding. No wonder so many people are up in arms against EYFS!
Michelle Levene, Jolly Tots, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
EYFS CHILDMINDERS
Childminders are doing their best to show people that they are not doingan 'easy' job, but working hard to provide children with the bestexperiences and opportunities to give them a good start in life. Withchildminders expected to provide the same quality care and education asa nursery, pre-school or school setting, we are all looking for therecognition we deserve.
There has a been a lot of press about childminders being frightened bythe Early Years Foundation Stage, with many 'forced out of their jobs',but those of us who are still standing are giving our best efforts toembrace it. Since having training we all realise that most of what weare expected to do, we actually do already.
A good example of this is a trip that Worthing ChildmindingAssociation's Magic Minders had to the local library. The childrenlistened to stories and sang songs. It was a fun morning and everyoneenjoyed themselves. This event covered many areas of the EYFS,particularly the development of children's communication, language andliteracy.
Beth Thomas, Pink House Childminding, Worthing, Sussex
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The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP;letter.nw@haymarket.com; 020 8267 8402.
