BibTeX
@MISC{Thomas_supply–,
author = {Amanda Thomas},
title = {Supply – but no demand?},
year = {}
}
Share
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
OpenURL
Abstract
The ethos of this new curriculum is that children should learn through first hand, experiential activities and that play provides the vehicle to do this. The curriculum is tailored to meet individual needs and is stage appropriate rather than age appropriate. The Foundation Phase emphasises the use of the outdoors as an additional classroom and states that children should be learning outdoors everyday in all weathers (WAG, 2008). There needs to be a balance between child-initiated activities and practitioner-led activities with the holistic development of the child paramount. In order to implement this curriculum it has been proposed that a ratio of 1:8 staff to pupils is needed in the age range 3-4 years and a ratio of staff to pupils 1:15 in the age range 5-7-years. However, the Welsh Assembly Government is keen to emphasise that this is not statutory but in reality all practitioners working in the FP agree these ratios are needed to implement the curriculum successfully. As a result, there has been a big increase in the demand for Level 3 practitioners, with that level being the legally recognised minimum level to allow support staff to work independently with children. However, with schools now having employed these „extra ‟ support staff for the FP there is evidence that schools
Keyphrases
age range 5-7-years big increase minimum level additional classroom extra support staff welsh assembly government individual need new curriculum child paramount age range experiential activity practitioner-led activity foundation phase support staff holistic development child-initiated activity first hand
