Kindy Questions for a newbie
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Kindy and Beyond
Forum Description: So you've survived the sleepless nights and toddler tantrums, now the fun really begins! Talk to other parents of older children here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27669
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 7:12pm
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Topic: Kindy Questions for a newbie
Posted By: pepsi
Subject: Kindy Questions for a newbie
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 9:54am
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Alyssa started Kindy this week (3 times a week, afternoon sessions).. And I have been told there is about 23 kids in that session and they have 3 teachers..although every day I have been there this week it seems only 2 of the teachers looks after this group and I don't see the other one. I am reasonably happy with how it goes in general and plan on dropping her off to be alone there next week.
The thing is, my mum went along to yesterday's session (since she will be picking Alyssa up), and her opinion is that there aren't enough teachers and that they aren't really watching the kids properly.. All because she saw a little boy with a pipe who hit another kid but no teachers saw it happen. I think she is a bit overprotective, and she thinks maybe I should consider private Kindy where she thinks there is more "care" for individual kids. Her ideas are based on taking me to private Kindy some 30 years ago! I personally don't know the usual ratio of Teachers to kids at Kindy.. This is a public one, and I assume they are about the same? I don't feel like they are there to watch the kids like a parent would, just supervise. I know they get in and interact with the kids so while they are busy with some, then yes they are sure to miss some incidents. What is the teacher/child ratio at your kids Kindy? What do the teachers at your Kindy usually do..as in, do they play with the kids or do they stand and watch to make sure everyone is ok? |
Replies:
Posted By: sarahm
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 10:27am
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the ratios at public kindy are 1:15. The kindy I worked at had 42 children with 3 teachers. We as teachers would love to have more teachers but the powers that be think that this ratio is ok. We used a lot of parent help each day to be an extra set of eyes!!
Yep we did miss things as its hard to for example be running an activity with one group of children while still keeping an eye on what everyone else is doing. At most kindys one teacher will be inside, one outside and one what we call float who moves between the two, answers the phone etc. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 10:31am
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our kindy is public and there is three teachers, plus the odd trainee (think there is 2 or 3 at the moment). The rule is one teacher is outside, one inside and the other a floater who goes where needed. they set up activities and quite often will sit at one of the activities (this is inside) and help when needed, they encourage the kids to write their name on their artwork, or do it for them if they cant yet. i certainly would expect them to do more than just stand and watch. the outside teacher pretty much goes where she is needed but they cant see everything and be everywhere. the idea behind kindy is that they learn through play so they dont actively teach but they do encourage them. when they go to mornings after they turn 4 it changes slightly tho to get them a bir more prepared for school. oh but they do have themes. at the boys kindy they are big into recycling and have worms and let the kids paint any outdoor equipment that is new or needs an update, gives them pride in their kindy...
oh and generally they try and teach the kids to approach a teacher if they have been hurt too, so even if they cant see everything they hear about it. i have quite a good rapport with the head teacher at my kindy and always ask her if i think something is wrong...and she encourages that too. they like it when parents are involved. novel over....  ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 2:09pm
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Kindy ratios are high at 1:15. Im not a kindy fan because of the ratios Brae goes to preschool were ratios are 1:8 & we also do Playcentre were the ratios are even better at 1:4. At his Preschool the teacher interacts with the kids, when neccessary to extend their play & language, same with PC. I believe if the teacher/parent gets involved the children will too & thus will keep them interested in the activity for longer. I also like the structured environment in preschools coz PC is based on free play.
Just my 10cents ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 4:54pm
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I like public kindys because of the unstructured play ------------- susie |
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 5:21pm
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our kindy has aoug 42 kids in the morning sessions and there are 4 fulltime kindy teachers and if a teacher is away there is always a reliever....and we also have 2 student teachers, so there is normally 2 outside, 2 inside and the students float ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 05 August 2009 at 6:55am
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Kindys have very high teacher to student ratios (which is one reason Issy & Eli won't go), however they usually have students or parents helping out so the ratio is lowered at some stages, however those helpers are more "babysitters" than teachers.
There are pros and cons to kindy so you have to weigh them up and decide whats best for you ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 05 August 2009 at 4:32pm
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Our kindy has about 23 kids in the afterrnoon session too. They have 2 teachers, 1 teacher aide & ask that parents try & do a couple of parent help sessions each term. 1 teacher is inside while the other is outside. They keep a general eye on things, but also interact with the kids - do different activities with a group that is interested & build on themes that the kids have started etc & always make sure that no-one is just sitting on their own doing nothing. So yeah, I guess while they're busy with one group, they may miss something else going on. Matt absolutely loves kindy though & his teachers are lovely. It's been fantastic watching him come out of his shell a bit & make friends. He can't wait to get there each week. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 06 August 2009 at 7:19pm
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Well I'm happy with how everything is going at Kindy and it seems to work out fine with 2 teachers. There are often parents around as well as a roster for parents to come in at least one day a term which is fine by me too.
Alyssa just loves going, and although she is generally a loner and likes to do things on her own -she looks forward to going and loves the activities available to her. I think they do a great job 
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Posted By: LovelyMummy
Date Posted: 11 September 2009 at 7:54pm
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That is great that Alyssa is enjoying kindy
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