ROLL OVER ‘I thought I had heard them all until I heard about the microwaved toilet roll’ said Ofsted national lead trainer Angela Dyer at the recent NDNA conference, describing a setting which believed it was demonstrating its no-nonsense approach to germs. Ms Dyer also confirmed that there is no need to use plastic gloves to change nappies.
FROEBEL’S GIFT? A glimpse into the past of Nadhim Zahawi, minister for children, revealed an unexpected link with an early years pioneer. He arrived in the country from Iraq in 1978 at the age of 11, unable to speak English, and was then sent to Ibstock Place School, which was formerly connected with the Froebel Institute. He told MPs that his lack of skills and propensity to hide at the back of the class meant his teachers assumed he had learning difficulties. ‘Within six months I had picked up the language,’ he declared. ‘I guess I am the embodiment of what speech, language and communication skills can do for a young child immigrant in this country.’
MATHS TEST A revealing exchange on Twitter over the newly revised early learning goals saw Helen Williams, early years maths consultant, ask Kris Boulton, director of online platform Up Learn and former secondary maths teacher, why the review group he sat on had removed shape, space and measure from the maths goals. ‘I’m not sure I understand the question,’ said Mr Boulton. ‘There was pretty wide consensus between the experts that the assessment should focus on number.’ Dr Williams persisted, adding that her early years and primary maths colleagues had not seen this iteration of the ELG until published and asking who was on the group that decided this. Mr Boulton replied: ‘Please accept my apologies, if that information isn’t already publicly available, then I don’t think it’s my place to say.’ Dr Williams said: ‘If you were expert enough to be invited to become involved in the review, why wouldn’t you be able to comment on or explain the resulting document? I’m not sure I am asking anything sub-judicial here am I?’