Oct 29, 2022
Cafe Astoria
Zürich • Täglich 2 Konzerte
~ ProPra
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Cafe Astoria
Zürich • Täglich 2 Konzerte
~ ProPra
TM Apartment by Studio Arthur Casas | HomeAdore
Work Experience
Friday 27 April 8:30 - 11:45
18 present | 8 absent – Miss Henry, Selma, Miss Aisha and Miss Iqbal
Mrs Chilton was conducting interviews today as Kayleigh will be leaving the nursery in a few weeks time.
We set up a playfoam activity for the children, where they make X amount of ‘currant buns’, this combined maths and their creativity. I sat with the children doing this, they enjoyed making their buns so much they began singing their 5 currant buns song as they made them.
Later, a few of the children wanted to do sticking (glueing), so I collected a bunch of items of different sizes and textures for them to use, and they all created multi-coloured sensory collages using buttons, pom poms, buttons and pens. SEN child joined in with the collage, she sat next to the other children and enjoyed sticking the different buttons on her paper which was nice to see as she doesn’t often get involved in the activities the other children are doing.
In the Butterflies room, they had the headteachers dog visiting for the day, I popped in whilst the Dragonflies had their snacks and taught the children how to call the dog. They copied my actions and words and they were super happy when the dog went over to them, even the children who were unsure of the dog wanted to call it over and join in as I showed them how to stroke the dog nicely too.
Today was my last day and I was so sad to be leaving. In the morning, I asked Gemma if I could come back after my deadlines to which she was very excited about and said she will inquire as to whether they have long-term volunteers with the other headteachers. When I was leaving, they all gave me a box of chocolates and a Thank You card as they thought I wasn’t going to be coming back, but they all said they were happy I was going back - the parting gift and card really made me feel valued and that my time here has been worthwhile. When going home, I met the head teacher as we took the dog back over to the main school, the girls all spoke highly of me and Karen (the headteacher) said I was absolutely fine to return after I had completed my uni work. So, I was super happy I can go back for a while longer.
Leaving message from Gemma and the girls
Half an hour after leaving to go home, I received a call from Karen asking me if I would like to be a temporary member of staff until the end of July, as Kayleigh’s replacement in the Butterflies room. I was honestly gobsmacked that they all thought I was good enough to go back and volunteer more, let alone be offered an actual job! I accepted as I was committed to returning anyway so was thrilled when she said I could go back and get paid for it. It will be full time, not something I am used to as I have only been doing mornings, but I am confident that it will go well as I have loved the morning sessions. Obviously, I will have a more legitimate role now but I’m excited as it will give me an even better experience as I will have to complete paperwork and the children’s learning journals and host activities that combine creativity, maths and English. I now need to get another DBS as I will be paid staff, and the DBS I had prior to starting was for volunteers. I am going in on the 9th May for an informal chat and to finalise the details of the temporary employment.
I will begin officially on either the 10th, 11th or 14th. I am super excited, it will be a fun new environment in the Butterflies class and I look forward to getting to know all the children over the next 10 weeks or so. Of course, I am nervous as it’s an official job, and no long volunteering, but the girls, Gemma and Karen have made the decision that I am capable of doing well so I will continue to work hard and continue to build a strong relationship within the school. I have learned so much during my voluntary work and am so pleased with how it has gone, it has definitely altered my thoughts of a career as I now believe I have what it takes to be a primary school teacher in the future. But for now, I will be a temporary nursery officer which will provide me with invaluable experience and a strong reference. My time here has been so beneficial to me and I am really looking forward to starting back as an official member of staff!
Work Experience
Thursday 26 April 8:30 - 11:45
20 present | 5 absent – Mrs Chilton, Selma, Miss Iqbal & Miss Aisha
I prepared sheets for a maths/paint activity Mrs Chilton was doing with the children today, all linked to the “5 currant bun” song the children have been learning – they used the ‘buns’ I drew to paint X amount of currants on.
I then supervised outdoor play again, the children were really hyperactive today, again a lot of snatching and hitting, I found multiple children coming up to me at once to tell on other children – this was really difficult to listen to them all at once and it was also difficult to explain that I was sorting out one situation first.
I joined the children in sandpit play and also read some books to those who asked me to. I enjoyed making sandcastles and decorating them with shells with the children, they got really upset if they accidentally knocked one down so I would have to tell them its fine, we can use the sand that fell over to remake it – they seemed pretty happy with that once we started remaking the sandcastle. To the point that they started doing it intentionally for fun.
Before hometime, we took the children to the big school playground to play, I had to assist a child who had wet himself. I wasn’t sure what to do in that situation so I asked Mrs Chilton, she advised me he would have a change of clothes in his bag, so to find those and get him to change himself in the bathroom. Which I did, I’m glad I asked because I really wasn’t sure how to deal with that kind of situation.
I’m quite upset that tomorrow will be my last day as I have grown fond of the children and staff at the nursery.
Also today, one child made a comment about a SEN child that I did not like. It literally made me speechless as I was shocked that they could be so mean. I told the child that it was not a nice thing to say and told her to go and sit down as I didn’t know what else to do. It really unsettled me, and I thought I needed to pass this information on so asked Mrs Chilton for a word after the activity she was doing. I explained what I had heard and how I responded, she then took the child aside to talk about it. I felt like it wasn’t my place to discuss the comment with the child and believe I did the right thing in that situation. I acknowledged it, made her know it was not nice and then disclosed it to Mrs Chilton – had I not told the child it was not a nice thing to say before telling Miss, she would not have understood what it was all about.
Work Experience
Wednesday 25 April 8:30 - 11:45
Butterflies (2-3 room) 8 present (1 additional needs) – Haley and Kayleigh
After the children had arrived in Dragonflies, I was asked to support in the Butterflies room as 3 of the children were crying and they also had a new child starting.
As soon as I went in, I took one of the crying children to the sandpit and started playing, she then stopped crying and joined in with me. Haley and Kayleigh were calming one child who has additional needs and another child who was also crying. Eventually, peace was restored.
I spent the morning playing outside with the children, they enjoyed water play the most, I showed them how to make footprints on the floor by making a puddle, stepping in it and playing their feet on the dry floor – which they enjoyed.
Haley and Kayleigh were recording observations for the children’s learning folders as they played ball. We then went to the library for a story and songs before heading back to the nursery for snacks and play. I sat with the lego blocks getting involved with play and encouraging creativity, soon half the class were with me as we made towers and castles with the bricks.
Today was a new experience for me as I have never had to deal with small children before, they are easy to entertain but hard work when crying and when tantrums start. I think I handled it pretty well, I even took cleaning up urine off the floor in my stride.
It was nice to meet the younger children and spend some time with them playing but it was an assurance that I wouldn’t want to work with such young children in my future career, I prefer the Dragonflies class as they are much more inquisitive and their personalities and creativity are a little more advanced.
Through my time here, I think its made me seriously think about teaching. I really enjoy my days here and it is such a busy, fun environment, you don’t get time to dwell on anything. If I was still thinking about therapy, like I have for the past five years, I don’t think I would cope. It’s too close to home and I know I wouldn’t deal well with traumas and difficulties.
Today I had bad chest pains in the morning, but when you have a room full of kids to support you don’t get time to even acknowledge it, you have to get on with it. This is something I struggle with usually when I am feeling unwell but my time here has helped me overcome this. This is definitely something I need in a career- something I enjoy that enhances my life and the lives of others.
Work Experience
Friday 20 April 8:30 - 11:45
22 present | 4 absent – Mrs Chilton, Miss Brotherson, Miss Aisha, Selma
Today I was supervising outdoor play, the children were generally mischievous today, there was a lot of snatching and hitting so I had to make the children share, and apologise to who they have hit and tell them they were not being well behaved. I also had to clean children’s shoes from climbing in wet mud and help them change their dirty clothes. Both things are something I’ve had to get used to quite quickly as I wouldn’t usually tell anyone off but it has been necessary for me to do so within reason.
I was asked to encourage some of the children to sing/talk into a voice changer and take photos for their learning journals, this was easy for most children as they wanted to make as much noise as they could. 2 of the children refused, I explained to Mrs Chilton and she said it was fine, one of the children doesn’t speak and the other had only started nursery this week so is still settling into the swing of things.
Mrs Chilton did maths activities in small groups, there weren’t really any other activities happening other than Selma doing observations on children for speech and language.
Although we did nothing in particular the past couple of days, I have enjoyed just interacting and taking part in imaginative play with the children.
I said to Gemma before I left that I will be finished next Thursday but I am happy to go in on Friday again to finish the week as I have settled into the routine over the past few weeks. They are having issues with staffing currently so she was appreciative to be having my help if only for an extra day which made me feel like I must be doing okay! I said I can always come back after my deadlines and help out as it benefits both them and me.
I feel like I’ve got better at being firm this week in order to get the children to listen first time. It’s a case of telling an instruction rather than asking and failing to get them to do something.
Work Experience
Thursday 19 April 8:30 - 11:45
24 present | 2 absent – Mrs Chilton, Miss Brotherson (covering for Miss Iqbal on a course), maternity cover (Selma) and Miss Aisha
The children played outside today as the weather was nice, I stayed inside with the children who didn’t want to go outside. We did cutting and sticking, I encouraged the children to cut out the animals from the paper and we went through the names such as crocodiles, elephants. I taught them the word ‘collage’, and explained when you do cutting and sticking to make a new picture, this is a collage.
I spent 10 minutes outside, encouraging the children to dig, bury and discover the numbered shells in the sandpit – enforcing learning through play – and also using different tools in the sand pit for different things.
I was so much happier today as I spent time with the children. Three children wanted to say inside so I stayed in too. We chatted whilst collaging. One of the girls is new to the Dragonflies as she has moved up from the Butterflies, she has been struggling with the transition so she stayed with me all morning to make pictures for her mummy and daddy. Yesterday, she asked all day when mummy was coming. Today, she asked once as she was so happy to be making her pictures. I felt an odd sense of pride as she said she is not going to cry today and mommy will be so happy. We chatted about mommy smiling and she seemed to really enjoy her time at nursery today as she smiled, talked and laughed with me.
After nursery, one of the children was at my bus stop, he said to his mom that I am one of his teachers. It made me realise the professionalism doesn’t stop just because I’m out of the classroom, you have to conduct yourself appropriately in the surrounding areas as a representative of the school.
Work Experience
Wednesday 18 April 8:30 - 11:45
Miss Henry (3 new children)
Mrs Chilton was back today but it is a non-teaching day for her, so Miss Henry was back for today’s teaching.
I missed the morning routine as I was given jobs to do. I spent most of the day laminating resources which was extremely boring and unenjoyable as I like to be involved in the children’s play and activities.
My castle had already been put together as they think OFSTED will be coming very soon so they wanted to get it up and ready just in case.
I was glad to go to the library today just to actually participate in something with the children. Miss Henry read the children a story, then the children all go and choose a book each to look at. The children were bringing their books to me to read to them which made me feel better that they wanted my help as I’d been too busy prior to going to the library.
Today was my worst day so far, I just felt like I wasn’t part of anything. Even though the children would come up to me to show me their dress up for castle play and ask for my help, it was rubbish to be unable to properly engage.
I’m hoping tomorrow will be better. Mrs Chilton will be teaching tomorrow (she is the pre-school teacher, assistant headteacher of the school and head of early years). I haven’t yet worked with her so I am feeling anxious about it, probably due to her level of authority but I am just going to continue doing what I do and see how it goes. All the other staff I have worked with so far have said positive things about me but I can’t help worrying!
Mrs Chilton knows I want to do art with the children as she has set me up to do my previous activities so I am hoping to host an activity tomorrow.