Family Child Care

Key Stage One Statistics

Key Stage One Statistics

The Department of Education have just released the latest set of statistics on pupils achievement in Key Stage One assessments. The figures ...

6:10 AM

Common Core Standards and Early Childhood

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-vsLWoAVMbUzI6anoOvgBiYaubN1qlp-mbsLe2jIlwiHOkku3i_5kpVe7zc3WOeNnFBksQQ1Z9Aex5dVOtaJfoZpOKROv-S9S4zUMsvk_UiaBtg4dD4p2aTChwpHP_0gg7iX7UoE3s4/s1600/PICT0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-vsLWoAVMbUzI6anoOvgBiYaubN1qlp-mbsLe2jIlwiHOkku3i_5kpVe7zc3WOeNnFBksQQ1Z9Aex5dVOtaJfoZpOKROv-S9S4zUMsvk_UiaBtg4dD4p2aTChwpHP_0gg7iX7UoE3s4/s320/PICT0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was sitting in a meeting recently with a group educators and we were talking about the impact of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) on early childhood.  I mentioned that I had spent the summer on a state committee looking at our preschool language arts standards and making sure they are preparing a child for success in meeting the new standards when she attends kindergarten.  Our committee discovered that our preschool standards were very strong in preparing a child for that success.  We also discovered, however, that we did need to change some terminology and begin to help educators make that smooth transition from preschool to the CCSS in kindergarten.  We also learned that it will be good practice to begin to talk more about fiction, non-fiction and the writing process, which in preschool is drawing and responding to stories and texts.  The CCSS is a different direction, but in my opinion, a good direction.  Through those standards we can help children delve more into the reading and writing process and more thoroughly understand the printed word.  I hope early childhood educators will help children in this learning process and realize that remaining developmentally appropriate will help children be successful with these new standards.

Common Core Standards and Early Childhood

I was sitting in a meeting recently with a group educators and we were talking about the impact of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS...

5:45 AM

Child Abuse and Neglect in the UK Today

Child Abuse and Neglect in the UK Today

The NSPCC has just published a major new study into the prevalence of child abuse and neglect. The new report is the result of over 6000 in...

1:32 AM

School Rules

A few slow news days so here's another retro educational film from the archives. This one is from 1953 and is entitled School Rules: How They Help Us. As you might expect, the 10 minute clip explains the importance of obeying rules to children, and especially takes time to explain why exceptions can't be granted. Would such a film have a place in the modern school? And what advice do you think an updated version might include in 2011? <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="379" width="480"><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"><param value="high" name="quality"><param value="true" name="cachebusting"><param value="#000000" name="bgcolor"><param name="movie" value="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf"><param value="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':['format=Thumbnail?.jpg',{'autoPlay':false,'url':'SchoolRules_512kb.mp4'}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/SchoolRules/','scaling':'fit','provider':'h264streaming','showCaptions':true},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':true,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true}},'h264streaming':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.pseudostreaming-3.2.1.swf'},'captions':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.captions-3.2.0.swf','captionTarget':'content'},'content':{'display':'block','url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.content-3.2.0.swf','bottom':26,'left':0,'width':640,'height':50,'backgroundGradient':'none','backgroundColor':'transparent','textDecoration':'outline','border':0,'style':{'body':{'fontSize':'14','fontFamily':'Arial','textAlign':'center','fontWeight':'bold','color':'#ffffff'}}}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" name="flashvars"><embed src="http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" cachebusting="true" bgcolor="#000000" quality="high" flashvars="config={'key':'#$aa4baff94a9bdcafce8','playlist':['format=Thumbnail?.jpg',{'autoPlay':false,'url':'SchoolRules_512kb.mp4'}],'clip':{'autoPlay':true,'baseUrl':'http://www.archive.org/download/SchoolRules/','scaling':'fit','provider':'h264streaming','showCaptions':true},'canvas':{'backgroundColor':'#000000','backgroundGradient':'none'},'plugins':{'controls':{'playlist':false,'fullscreen':true,'height':26,'backgroundColor':'#000000','autoHide':{'fullscreenOnly':true}},'h264streaming':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.pseudostreaming-3.2.1.swf'},'captions':{'url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.captions-3.2.0.swf','captionTarget':'content'},'content':{'display':'block','url':'http://www.archive.org/flow/flowplayer.content-3.2.0.swf','bottom':26,'left':0,'width':640,'height':50,'backgroundGradient':'none','backgroundColor':'transparent','textDecoration':'outline','border':0,'style':{'body':{'fontSize':'14','fontFamily':'Arial','textAlign':'center','fontWeight':'bold','color':'#ffffff'}}}},'contextMenu':[{},'-','Flowplayer v3.2.1']}" height="379" width="480"></embed> </object>

School Rules

A few slow news days so here's another retro educational film from the archives. This one is from 1953 and is entitled School Rules: How...

4:52 AM

Education At A Glance 2011

Education At A Glance 2011

One for the number crunchers today - the OECD has just published Education At A Glance 2011 , its annual report comparing a mass of informat...

3:35 AM

Children's Well-Being in the UK, Spain and Sweden

A major new report from <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/" target="_blank">UNICEF</a> has put the the issue of children's wellbeing in the UK under the microscope. It's not the first time that the charity has published research about this topic - in 2007 its report <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publications/rc7_eng.pdf" target="_blank">An Overview of Child Well-Being in Rich Countries</a> made headlines for placing the UK at the bottom of a league table of 21 developed nations. UNICEF's latest research aims to explore the issue of wellbeing in more detail by making detailed comparisons of children's experiences from just three countries: the UK, Sweden and Spain. The findings are wide ranging: a key challenge for parents in the UK was <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/go/news/article/1091715/uk-parents-struggle-find-time-children/" target="_blank">being able to spend sufficient time with children</a>, while another cause for concern was <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14898614" target="_blank">a culture of materialism and consumer pressure</a>. Further analysis of the points raised by the report is covered by <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14899148" target="_blank">this BBC article</a>. The full title of UNICEF's new report is Children’s Well-being in UK, Sweden and Spain: The Role of Inequality and Materialism and it's available from <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publications/IPSOS_UNICEF_ChildWellBeingreport.pdf" target="_blank">this link</a>. A shorter <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publications/UNICEFIpsosMori_childwellbeing_reportsummary.pdf" target="_blank">summary version</a> is also available, and there's even a simple <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publications/Child_Friendly_Report060911%20final%20from%20Ipsos.pdf" target="_blank">children's version</a>.

Children's Well-Being in the UK, Spain and Sweden

A major new report from UNICEF has put the the issue of children's wellbeing in the UK under the microscope. It's not the first tim...

1:42 AM

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiGp_8cOw9Bl1-IJkMBQnvgOAHKPPvhzN2HmMtvv6XPKSlPFiWWLtoSjNNykCmzC5wfYLs-bnkSOVFSNHENd0lDQ0_fj-bhyphenhyphenMDTJcS-nVbspKwij3C-8TLKTwz5HxcN0LhyphenhyphenmsClvARSM/s1600/29145b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiGp_8cOw9Bl1-IJkMBQnvgOAHKPPvhzN2HmMtvv6XPKSlPFiWWLtoSjNNykCmzC5wfYLs-bnkSOVFSNHENd0lDQ0_fj-bhyphenhyphenMDTJcS-nVbspKwij3C-8TLKTwz5HxcN0LhyphenhyphenmsClvARSM/s320/29145b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I have spent many years working on helping children be prepared for kindergarten. I have always thought that it was imperative that parents know what truly is important as their child moves into the foundation year of school. When I began teaching kindergarten approximately 25 years ago, many of the children in my class had never attended a preschool. I remember that I preferred that a child not even know how to write her name to having her arrive at school writing it incorrectly (all in capitals). I could teach a child to write her name correctly, but it was twice as difficult to un-teach a child with a learned bad habit. We know that there are critical preschool skills that are important for kindergarten success (being able to identify alphabet letters) and there are skills that are actually not so critical prior to beginning kindergarten (knowing letter sounds). I'm pleased that we completed an <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=29145&es=10490500000"target="'_New">I'm Ready for Kindergarten</a> backpack this year. It contains parent-friendly activities that zero in on skills that will be critical for kindergarten success. It is my hope that it will assist parents and preschool workers in preparing our young ones for what I consider their most important beginning. I have two grandchildren who started kindergarten this year. They have had lots of support along the way and I feel confident they are ready for this big step. I wish I could help every kindergartner be that prepared.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

I have spent many years working on helping children be prepared for kindergarten. I have always thought that it was imperative that parent...

7:05 PM

Effective Relationships with Vulnerable Parents

The <a href="http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/" target="_blank">Action for Children</a> charity has published new research which examines how childcare professionals can develop effective relationships with vulnerable parents, and how such relationships can make a difference for children and young people. The report concludes that <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/go/news/article/1089967/action-children-gets-results-assertive-approach-parents/" target="_blank">an assertive approach from practitioners is essential</a> to challenge parents to take ownership of issues that need to be addressed. The full text of Effective Relationships with Vulnerable Parents to Improve Outcomes for Children and Young People is <a href="http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/1109148/effective_relationships_with_vulnerable_parents_to_improve_outcomes_for_children_and_young_people.pdf" target="_blank">online now</a>. Action for Children have also produced a <a href="http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/1109012/action_for_children_skills_framework.pdf" target="_blank">skills framework</a> for professionals working in this area, and an <a href="http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/1109018/action_for_children_organisational_framework.pdf" target="_blank">organisational framework</a> outlining support and procedures which should be in place.

Effective Relationships with Vulnerable Parents

The Action for Children charity has published new research which examines how childcare professionals can develop effective relationships w...

2:17 AM

Is it Legal? A Families' Guide to the Law

Is it Legal? A Families' Guide to the Law

The Family and Parenting Institute has recently published the 4th edition of its booklet Is It Legal? A Families Guide to the Law . This co...

8:25 AM

The Childcare Trap

The Childcare Trap

Today the Daycare Trust publishes the results of a survey into childcare costs in the UK. Over 4000 parents were interviewed in spring this...

2:17 AM

Good Practice in Autism Education

Features that represent 'good practice' in autism education have been identified in new research published by the <a href="http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">Autism Education Trust</a>. The report, which was written by a team from the IOE's Centre for Research in Autism and Education, examined practices in schools which Ofsted had judged to be 'outstanding', with a view to making recommendations for other institutions. Among the features identified were a <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/go/news/article/1088556/key-features-quality-autism-education-revealed/" target="_blank">unique curriculum and the importance of staff training and support</a>. The full text of <a href="http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/%7E/media/AET2/Main%20site%20images/resources/AET%20good%20practice%20report0308.ashx">What is Good Practice in Autism Education?</a> is available now. If you have an interest in this topic, then these previous posts from <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2008/11/educational-provision-for-autistic.html" target="_blank">November 2008</a> and <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2007/04/autism.html" target="_blank">April 2007</a> should also be useful.

Good Practice in Autism Education

Features that represent 'good practice' in autism education have been identified in new research published by the Autism Education T...

3:19 AM