AnonyMouse_2157 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hi all just wanted to pcik your brains as mine is like a tin of mushy peas at the moment We are holding a coffee morning for our Nursery parents next week and wondered if you have any lovely ideas that could add to make it more social and informal. I have done a powerpoint with key things to discuss and hopefully have injected some humour into that. We intend to have some music on in the background, but would welcome anymore tried and tested suggestions thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3139 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Can they do an activity? Are their children going to be there? I know its an old one, but making playdough is good. You can talk to them about the maths involved, CLL if you've got an instruction card, social etc. How about painting on easels or printing, loads to talk about there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I was just going to suggest some messy play activities too! How about a builder's tray full of gloop - or, as Rea suggested, making playdough and give them lots of things to add like glitter, colurings, essences, etc. When I've done messy play in parent workshops, they've LOVED it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Ive got parents to take part in messy activites I did challenge them to paint a picture of themselves.... not as easy as it looks, prehaps they would be "more appreciative" of their childrens efforts in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_8466 Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Ive got parents to take part in messy activites I did challenge them to paint a picture of themselves.... not as easy as it looks, prehaps they would be "more appreciative" of their childrens efforts in the future! On this note, give them great big, fat, chunky felt tipped pens, tell them to hold it in a palmar grip in their non-writing hand, and then get them to draw a detailed picture of themselves - including pupils in the eyes, eyelashes etc and then write their name at the bottom. On a piece of paper no bigger than A6.... Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 This is probably going to sound a bit of a silly question What is the reason for your coffee morning? We had an open day before we opened to drum up business.....but since then, apart from christmas etc we don't do anything like this. It sounds like a good idea though, which is why I'm asking. Do you have the children present?Is it included in a 'normal' session? Do you advertise to invite new parents along or is it just done for the parents with children there already/ sorry for all the questions!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3139 Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Mrsb, we used to have parents in to raise money (the coffee wasnt free!) to have informal chats, to allow them to see what went on, to strengthen relationships, to get business, pass on local school info, and generally have a get to know you time with new parents. Playgroups have, in my opinion, a greater tie with the parents than in nurseries where the parents often work wich is why the children ar ethere in the first place. Playgroups have always recognised the need to have a good relationship with parents and to involve them in all aspects of the setting which is why nurseries may not do this thing very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2157 Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 Thanks for all you lovely replies and questions By the time I have read them I've dropped out od the top 10 on the home page so do hope you get my message of thanks! The children won't be coming in as it really is for the parents... the first thing is that it is mainly to strengthen relationships in an informal way. We have already had an induction day but we thought it would be good to invite them in to go over a few points, look at the EYFS through pictures and matters arising e.g. reminder of names in clothing, appropriate clothing jewellery, events comgin up, assemblies with the main school etc. Although this kind of stuff is in our Nursery prospectus it never ceases to amaze me how few actually read it It also gives me a chance to talk about potential full time places (which everyone wants... we are a 52 PT Nursery have 55 on the F Time waiting list and only 8 FT places to offer... ooh some are going to be dissappointed Anyway, I love the idea of a messy activity and thought I would make some slime with them all and give the recipe to take home. Unfortunately I haven't got time this year for everyone to make it (Coffee morning is on Thursday) but I might turn it into a bit of Ready Steady Cook with the red tomotes and green peppers... i.e. get 2 parents out to have a go at making slime... thanks all for inspiring me! Mrs B... we have another session with parents and children at our Inspire workshops at Christmas and in the summer term... this ones just for the grown up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Apple - can you tell me a bit more about your Inspire workshops? I keep coming across this phrase at the moment - I know it's something to do with family learning and involving parents but can you give me any more info or tell me where I can find some...it sounds like the kind of thing I like to do!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3139 Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 They do insire workshops in some Birmingham council nurseries Wolfie. It usually ends up with 2 parents and 2 babies/toddlers who dont normally attend the nursery. They spend the morning in one of the nursery room painting, gluing, making dough, having a snack and thats it. I was invited to be involved in one session and I was to go bowling with parents, luckily it fell through, I thinkthose kinds of things need to be with people you know a bit at least. It really must be nore to it than that buit i suppose it depends on ho many parents they get attending. Interested to hear what they are like in other settings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2157 Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 i Wolfie. Inspire Workshops are the brain child of a lady called Beryl Bateman (I think thats's right and will check if it isn't) They ahve been going in Birmingham for many years... certainly over 10. At our school we do them twice a year from Nursery through to Year 2 and I know that the Juniors next door do them to. The original idea behind them was for parents, children and teachers to work together on creating something that could be used at home to develop skills; initially these were connected with literacy and numeracy but over the years we have expanded into science/KUW and creative development. Also the intention was to produce a game/activity that could be made at home on the back of a cornflaked box (or something that didn't require specialist equipment) If it did then the school set out to proved everything they would need. Another major aspect of the Birmingham Inspires was that no child would be allowed to aprticipate unless accompanied by their parent/carer. This is a hard rule to swallow at first but is essential to the success as it is all about parents supporting their children at home. If the parent cannot attend on the day we can try and fit them into the other classes workshop or send the activity home. The child will then go to another class while the workshop is going ahead. We don't seem to have too much of a problem with this as Inspire has been such a part of our culture that parents are used to them and so very rarely don't attend. However, I am aware for schools starting up it can be a problem. Birmingham City Council used to allow council employees time off for these workshops but I am not sure if that still stands... It was in the days of Tim Brighouse and much has changed since then. Anyway this would be how we would organise a typical Inspire Firstly we would let parents know the dates as soon as they are booked into the school diary obvioulsy the earlier the better Nearer the time reminder letters are sent out with a tear off slip saying if they will be attending The head gives eeach year group time to plan, prepare resources - we have a separate box solely for our Inspire workshops that contains enought scissors, pencils, crayons, gllue sticks etc for the workshops and it is the responsibility of the last person who used it to keep it stocked for the next workshop Tea and coffee are arranged and a creche rota is organised (we pay our lunch time supervisors extra to cover this)- we have a box of toys for the creche On the day the class teacher talks to the parents about the purpose and focus of the activity while the T.A has the children in the classroom. She might be going over with the children the activity to be done or reading a story. The children are then brought up to the hall and the workshop commences. Tea and coffee and drinks and fruit are served half way through. The teacher is on hand to chat and support anyone that needs it. When the activity is finished that parent can take their child home (we also arrange that any siblings can go home early too - we usually aim to finish a little before the final bell). Examples of Inspire workshops in the past- Nursery Christmas cakes and a simple number game Reception- keyword game and discovery bottles Year 1- More and less number game and planting sunflowers/making a measuring stick Year 2- puppet making for extending narrative and times table game Hope this helps and throws a little light into how we do our Inspires Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Thank you so much for that explanation, apple - it all sounds very interesting and "inspiring" (sorry!). We're not a million mioles away from Birmingham (Walsall) and are a Children's Centre, not a school, but could maybe apply some of the same principles in some workshops. The problem woulb be taht most parent using the nursery in the Centre do so because they need childcare for work and therefore would have difficulty attending. But it's certainly given me food for thought - so thank you again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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