30/08/2026
I saw lots of people try this a while ago so here are my 5 (potentially controversial) things I don’t do as a Reception Teacher!
I don’t spend ages creating a themed role play area - for me the time and effort out weighs the gain! I prefer enhancements and open ended resources that can be used to be anything! If you love doing a themed role play then you absolutely should continue! It just isn’t for me!
I don’t stay quiet if I think something isn’t beneficial or developmentally appropriate - I just can’t do it, it hasn’t always ended well but if I don’t agree with something I need to say.
I don’t print things off to evidence learning - what’s the point? Who is it for? Who will benefit from it?
I don’t formalise learning to get them ‘ready’ for year one - this one has always been a huge bug bear of mine. Developmentally appropriate practice should not change, doing what’s right for the children should always be the most important thing and year one needs to get ready for the children they are getting, not the other way around!
I don’t force children to apologise - a forced apology is meaningless, it’s just words. Instead when the children is calm I ask them how they feel they can fix it, sometimes they say by saying sorry, but sometimes it’s by giving a hug, or tidying up, mending what they have broke. Then we check with the other child and ask if that would help them.
So do we think they’re controversial? Do you agree?
