Implementing the Foundation Stage in Reception Classes
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Research Report No 350 Implementing the Foundation Stage in Reception Classes Taylor Nelson Sofres: Susannah Quick Clare Lambley Emma Newcombe University of Warwick Professor Carol Aubrey The views expressed in this report are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department for Education and Skills. © Queen’s Printer 2002. Published with the permission of DfES on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to The Crown Copyright Unit, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ. ISBN 1 84185 749 1 June 2002 CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2 BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY ....................................................... 11 2.1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 The Foundation Stage ................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2 The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies (NLS/NNS) ....................................................... 12 2.1.3 Background to the survey ............................................................................................................. 13 2.2 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................................ 15 2.3 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH ........................................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Data collection .............................................................................................................................. 16 2.3.2 Sample source and structure ......................................................................................................... 17 2.3.3 Response rate ................................................................................................................................ 18 2.3.4 Questionnaires .............................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.5 Reporting ...................................................................................................................................... 20 3 SCHOOL AND RECEPTION CLASS CHARACTERISTICS .................................................. 21 3.1 NUMBERS OF RECEPTION CLASSES AND RECEPTION-AGED CHILDREN ................................................. 21 3.2 SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS .......................................................................................................... 23 3.3 ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE ........................................................................................... 23 3.4 MIXED-AGE CLASSES .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.5 NURSERY CLASS PROVISION FOR CHILDREN BELOW RECEPTION-AGE ................................................. 25 3.6 PHYSICAL LOCATION OF RECEPTION CLASSES .................................................................................... 26 3.7 SUMMARY OF SCHOOL AND RECEPTION CLASS CHARACTERISTICS ..................................................... 27 3.8 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 28 4 HEADTEACHER AND RECEPTION CLASS TEACHER EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING ............................................................................................................ 29 4.1 HEADTEACHER AND RECEPTION CLASS TEACHER EXPERIENCE ........................................................... 29 4.2 QUALIFICATIONS OF HEADTEACHERS ................................................................................................. 30 4.3 TRAINING OF HEADTEACHERS IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE ................................................................ 32 4.4 QUALIFICATIONS OF RECEPTION CLASS TEACHERS ............................................................................. 35 4.5 ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF RECEPTION CLASS TEACHERS ........................................................ 36 4.6 TRAINING OF RECEPTION CLASS TEACHERS IN THE FOUNDATION STAGE............................................ 37 4.7 SUFFICIENCY OF TRAINING FOR RECEPTION CLASS TEACHERS ............................................................ 39 4.8 TRAINING OF OTHER TEACHERS .......................................................................................................... 41 4.9 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 42 5 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................... 44 5.1 MONEY SPENT ON THE FOUNDATION STAGE ...................................................................................... 44 5.2 FACILITIES FOR RECEPTION-AGED CHILDREN ..................................................................................... 45 5.3 THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN .................................................................................................... 47 5.4 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 49 6 THE EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP ..................... 51 6.1 EXTENT OF CONTACT ......................................................................................................................... 51 6.2 CLOSENESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP RELATIONSHIP .............................................................................. 52 6.3 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 53 7 THE FOUNDATION STAGE TEAM ........................................................................................... 54 7.1 FOUNDATION STAGE CO-ORDINATOR ................................................................................................. 54 7.2 FOUNDATION STAGE GOVERNOR ....................................................................................................... 54 7.3 ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECEPTION CLASS TEACHERS ....................................................... 55 7.4 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 56 8 SUPPORT STAFF ........................................................................................................................... 57 8.1 NUMBERS OF SUPPORT STAFF ............................................................................................................. 57 8.2 QUALIFICATIONS OF SUPPORT STAFF .................................................................................................. 57 8.3 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 58 9 ADMISSION PROCEDURES ........................................................................................................ 59 9.1 POINTS OF ADMISSION ........................................................................................................................ 59 9.2 CONTACT AND INFORMATION GATHERING BEFORE ADMISSION .......................................................... 61 9.3 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 62 10 GENERAL EXPERIENCE OF THE FOUNDATION STAGE .................................................. 63 10.1 GENERAL REACTIONS TO THE FOUNDATION STAGE ........................................................................... 63 10.2 COMMITMENT TO THE FOUNDATION STAGE ....................................................................................... 65 10.3 BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS .................................................................................................................. 67 10.4 PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE FOUNDATION STAGE ........................................................... 74 10.5 CHANGES IN WORK AS A RESULT OF THE FOUNDATION STAGE ........................................................... 76 10.6 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................... 77 11 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOUNDATION STAGE ........................................................... 79 11.1 PLANNING TO TEACH THE FOUNDATION STAGE IN RECEPTION CLASSES ............................................. 79 11.2 CURRICULUM ORGANISATION IN RECEPTION CLASSES ........................................................................ 83 11.3 CHILD-LED AND SPONTANEOUS LEARNING ......................................................................................... 85 11.4 GROUPING PUPILS ............................................................................................................................... 86 11.5 LITERACY AND NUMERACY ...............................................................................................................