Guest Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Hi, we started using objective lead planning, after discovering ABC Does, recently. We have had a visit from a County advisor today that felt the planning was just an opportunity for observation. After much defence of our new day structure I eventually sat back as a new daily timetable was drawn up for me and my colleagues, allowing very little time for us to be in amongst CP as we are busy dragging groups off to do focus activities. I am right in feeling completely dejected and fed up?! Is anyone using Objective led planning and finding it successful? For the few days we had it up and running we found it really liberating and felt like we had spent much more valuable time with the children, sometimes it might have been an individual, sometimes a group...and always in a different area! Soooo very different to 'group activities'! (Oh this is in a reception class). Thanks tasha
Guest Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 Obviously, I mean led not lead. It's late and I'm tired ;-)
Guest Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I have been reading about it and thinking about it....... Our early years advisor also talked to me about it too....... It just seemed such an obvious way to do it after someone had told me about it. Yesterday I thought I would give it a go... So we used a maths objective and you are right it is liberating!!!!! I felt fired up and full of excitement and I think we definitely saw more than if we had done a standard focused activity!!!!! So whilst I am hooked I now need to look at my planning and alter that to suit this shift in practice and that's where I feel stuck. Making sure the planning is manageable, easy to access and useful. I am in a nursery setting.
AnonyMouse_30128 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 what does your head say about this? talk to them explain your situation and present a plan....well thought out and researched. Tell them that you want to have X amount of time giviing it a go///plot the children's progress so that you can prove it's effectiveness. Then he can tell the ADVISOR where to go!!!!!!
SueFinanceManager Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Well here is an FSF article from the man himself As he says in the article, maybe start small and then see if you can win your LA advisor over but sorry you are feeling fed up
AnonyMouse_5970 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Thanks for the link Sue. ABC's article is a really concise way of finding out about objective-led planning. There is a lot more info on his blog and it goes into a lot of detail, but I'd recommend the article for anyone looking for an overview. We're going to take the plunge in the next few weeks! 1
AnonyMouse_13789 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I have been working like this for about 5 years and I am an advisor...try it and make your own mind up. Not all the advice you get is right. If you felt it was really working for you and your children then carry on and see how it pans out. I definitely think that our children are more engaged, motivated and independent than other settings I go to that don't do objective led planning. 1
AnonyMouse_31752 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 we're in a pre-school so not sure if it will be the same or not, but we use it and find it amazing and brilliant and liberating. Staff confidence is soaring and most importantly the children love it and are progressing beautifully. It has also helped us define for parents what we are trying to do the play dough table is no longer just playing with dough the craft are is no longer just messing with paint, we can clearly state what we are trying to achieve. (I know we should have been able to do this before but just seems easier now) we have more time with the children and consequently they are progressing better as we are 'there' to extend opportunities. I would be tempted to go back to what you were doing give it more of a try and then let the proof be in the progress (but don't know if you can do that in reception class) after all you know your children, your staff, your parents and your school better than county 1
AnonyMouse_2268 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 We use it too (preschool) - building on what the retrospective planning we already had in place...still tweaking here and there but loving how it takes the learning to the children rather than expecting them to break off what they are doing and join a random activity just for the sake of it. It has also encouraged staff to think more about what they provide and why in terms of resources... Definitely worth fighting for! 1
Guest Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 As everyone else has said, this is only advice. Try your way for a set amount of time and then evaluate it. If you can show it works better for your staff and children then it works. I wanted to use it in one of my reception classes but had some similar issues, though with the head. Ultimately I wasn't going to be able to get the TA on board in the short time I had to implement so I left it as it was (mat cover position). In my next short term role the head and TA were totally on board and loved the way it worked.
AnonyMouse_39592 Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Does anyone else find it easier with Mathematics rather than Literacy? this is the bit I'm finding trickier.
Guest Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 I would really like to try this, does anyone have any experience of OFSTED's thoughts on it?
Guest Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 We haven't had Ofsted in since changing the planning but we had a local authority review last week and the 2 people who observed us, our practice the environment etc said it was fab!!
Guest Posted February 11, 2014 Posted February 11, 2014 thats great news :1b seems like the perfect way to demonstrate characteristics of learning etc
Guest Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Does anyone have examples of objective lead planning templates they could share. I am with most in this, so we must be right - just not really sure how to Proceed ( and was definitely inspired by Alistaur Bryce Clegg )
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