Eng: 'Bold beginnings' - Reception teachers are failing a third of five-year-olds, major Ofsted report finds

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

This is an important report in England. It suggests the need for some serious reflection of previous early years guidance and ethos, and training and changes of approach and practice, for the four to five year olds:

Reception teachers are failing a third of five-year-olds, major Ofsted report finds

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/20 ... um=twitter

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is a link to the Ofsted report:

Bold beginnings:

The Reception curriculum in a sample of good and outstanding primary schools

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... ssible.pdf

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is a related article in Nursery World by HMI Gill Jones:

Making the most of Reception

30 November 2017 by Gill Jones, Ofsted Early Education Deputy Director

https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/nursery- ... -reception

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is a piece in the TES where the author, Helen Williams, disagrees with the report"

'My response to Ofsted's new report on Reception teaching? Best retire now'

Helen Williams

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/br ... retire-now

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is a simple report of the Ofsted paper in SchoolsImprovement:

https://schoolsimprovement.net/ofsted-r ... -children/

Ofsted: Reception year a ‘false start’ for too many children

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Quirky Teacher writes about the 'Bold Beginnings' report - I couldn't agree more!

https://thequirkyteacher.wordpress.com/ ... rst-place/

To boldly go where we should’ve gone in the first place

DECEMBER 3, 2017

This blog post is a shake-down of the latest publication by Ofsted. Before I begin writing in more detail, let me tell you something a young and recently qualified reception teacher said to me at a phonics CPD day I attended this week:

“You know, I’m finding that whole-class instruction is really effective and I love teaching phonics like this. I just think these kids really need me to teach them what they need to know and no other method seems to work as well, even for other subjects. But, our SCITT trainer would totally disapprove of all this – she told us that the best methods of learning are child-initiated, play-based – preferably free-flow environments. A teacher teaching a whole class is an absolute no-no.”

True story. I was somewhat horrified that SCITT instruction is still perpetuating all the old mantras!

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is another negative response to the Ofsted report published in Nursery World:

Ofsted’s Reception report ‘narrow and political’

11 December 2017 by Catherine Gaunt

https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/nursery- ... -political

The publication of Ofsted’s Reception year report ‘Bold Beginnings’ has been met with dismay by some teachers and early years experts, particularly those concerned about the push of more formal learning from Key Stage 1 into the EYFS.

I think part of the problem is the use of the word 'formal'. This can be linked to negative overtones or implications.

What if words such as 'structured', 'explicit', 'systematic', 'fit-for-purpose' were used instead?

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is a very interesting development following publication of the Bold beginnings report - a meeting between representatives of various early years organisations:

https://www.early-education.org.uk/node/1791

Following extensive negative feedback from the early years sector, in response to Ofsted's Bold Beginnings report, representatives of Early Education and TACTYC thought it was important to open a dialogue with Ofsted. A meeting was arranged with Gill Jones and Lee Owston of Ofsted, attended by Beatrice Merrick, Chief Executive of Early Education, Sue Allingham, trustee of Early Education, Nancy Stewart, Vice Chair of TACTYC and Jan Georgeson, member of the TACTYC Executive Committee.

It was a very positive dialogue and we are grateful to Gill and Lee for engaging with us, and agreeing that the notes of the meeting could be shared. We hope that they will support a constructive dialogue in schools about improving all children's experience of the Reception year.

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Here is another response to the 'Bold beginnings' report:

https://firestartingblog.wordpress.com/ ... k-is-best/

To boldly go where we think is best.

DECEMBER 15, 2017 / FIRESTARTINGBLOG

[Debbie_Hepplewhite]

Di Chilvers response to 'Bold beginnings...':

http://watchmegrow.uk/2018/01/bold-2018 ... cy-makers/

Being Bold in 2018: New Year Resolutions for Ofsted, the DfE and policy makers