Okay, next point for discussion.
The centre i work at has grown gradually. When i first began working there the rooms were small and consequently so were the groups. Usually 3-4 children in a group with a conductor and 1/2 assistant (depending on children of course). At this point the grouping was not under my control and of course, neither was the size of the rooms. Gradually over the past few years we have created larger groups - and have now got the space to do so.
There have been many reasons for the way in which groups have been set up - the main reasons are as follows;
1. The restrains of building/room size
2. The management's (not a conductor) desire to have only one conductor in a group and then to have assistants with them
3. Other conductor's views that small groups are suitable or visa versa that large groups are desirable
So my question is to you reading this blog. What do you prefer? or think is best?
The circumstances in our organisation have altered this Septmeber and we are working with one less conductor (hopefully temporarily - anyone looking for a job?). In order to manage (and i mean manage) in the short term we have had to rearrange the groups by putting more children together in larger groups (usually of between 8-10 children) with 2 conductors where possible and additional assistants .
As i said, the management in my organisation struggle to understand that having more than one conductor in a room is NOT a waste of resources. They find it hard to see that since one of us knows all we need to know (!) then we simply need 'pairs of hands' to provide our CE. We have very gradually tried to show that this is not the case and that often one conductor may be able to faciltiate as well as two unqualified assistants. I have not, since qualifying as a conductor had the opportunity to work within a large group of conductors as we did when training and expect i am not alone in this situation.
Also, i have worked with conductors who prefer to work as single conductor with assistants in small groups - however i personally do not think this is how we should be working.
We were often told when we were training about the big groups of children at Peto and saw large groups at NICE also. Do these groups still work in the same way? are they still the best way of doing things? And what do parents think? i suppose it is difficult for them to see some CE in small groups and others in large groups. Maybe they will feel short changed if they move from a small to a larger group - although it is the conductor's responsibility to make sure they understand why the group is the most suitable for the child. Any thoughts?
I do of course know that the answer is that it depends on the child/ren in the group and how best their learning must be encouraged but i am interested to know other peoples thoughts on this matter and if people think there are better or worse reasons for doing one over the other.
Well... these are my thoughts for today. What do you think?
Jules
1. Group size
ReplyDeleteHave a look at what Susie Mallet wrote on this a few days ago:
http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/08/quality-should-always-come-first.html
and at how I replied:
http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/08/leanstern-spartan-resources.html
What do you think?
2. 'Assistants'
Unless they are truely CONDUCTIVE assistants then there is a danger that they will help the child rather than the learning.
They are then a countervailing force.
I wonder whether your 'management' can be brought to understand this, and to appreciae what they should be soending money on.
Andrew.
Just one of the few points that I would like to make is that the bigger the group the easier it is to do everything especially individual programmes. With a group of five clients and only one conductor you cannot divide the group up so one group is crawling and rolling, another walking in ropes and another out on the stairs or in the playgroud. One conductor can not be split into four and you can't give this work to an assistant who is responsible for the organisation of the room and equipment. That is not what parents are paying for, as Andrew says above there is a danger of helping the child and not the learning.
ReplyDeleteWith fifteen children, three conductors and two student conductors and no assistants anything is possible!
I think the quality of the conductive work is almost always better when more than one conductor is in a group, but only when the group is big enough. Big enough could mean anything but in my experience any group larger than 3 needs two conductors and the only assitance brought in would be to move those incredibly awkward and heavy plinths, the bain of a conductors life and back!
As for the restraints put on the work by the building and size of rooms. If the group is too big for all to work on plinths then the carpet is rolled out. If there isn't enough space on tables for all to paint then the wall bars take over as easels. If there isn't enough space for the walkers to get a good run at their slalom and rope walking, most rooms have a door and most children have coats. There are gardens and streets, corridors, fields and fences galore. All of which are much more fun than a cramped room and relate far more to a child's real world than do plinths and wallbars!