Quality Circle Time training in East Yorkshire – some brave children and very positive adults

The other day I was inivited to work with a cluster of schools in Yorkshire on an INSET day and the schools requested a Quality Circle Time training day.

During that day, I was reminded of how brave children are… and how good natured. I started the term off with a training day for a cluster of four schools. They wanted to focus on circle time and, as usual, I asked them if they could bring back a couple of classes of pupils on the inset day.

This is often hard for schools to arrange because of the holidays and the possibilities that the parents may be doing something else or forget. So, as sometimes happens, I ended up with two very small circles – one circle of children from reception to year 2, about 14 of them and a circle of years 4, 5 and 6 children – 11 of those.

We had at least 50 or 60 teachers and TA’s observing. So there they were, this little brave band of children sitting on small chairs with me, someone they have never met before doing circle time in front of lots of strangers. I just can’t tell you how much I respect children’s courage and resilience. When I was little, I was very shy (I know you wouldn’t believe that now!!!) they all however tried their best, they all responded to everything I did, chatted to puppets, came up with ideas to help children’s anger problems, reflected on how good the golden rules were, weighed up whether their rewards and consequences systems were working or not and contributed 100%. We must always remember how lucky we are to work with children and we all need to learn from them. I often say on my course, I don’t know whether I have earnt my left wing views. Would I ever have been brave enough to stand up against apartheid? Would I have marched with the suffragettes and risked my family’s safety? Children who are given the right support, to speak up and the confidence through doing it regularly, seem always to be incredibly brave and speak their truth. I wish I’d have had circle time when I was little!

Website Editor’s Notes

1. The training day described below came about due to a forward-thinking headteacher attending a Jenny Mosley training day at Watercliffe Meadow school, Sheffield. This is one of Jenny’s Golden Award Schools and the day there is always fantastic and informative, and everyone receives a warm welcome! The 2016 training day at Watercliffe Meadow School is on 6th October 2016 where delegates can see the Golden Model in action on a school day – details to be posted shortly onto our website or phone 01225 767157 to find out more now.

2. Jenny Mosley delivers keynote speeches, seminars and workshops at conferences and training events including headteachers’ conferences. For further information about Jenny’s work and availability please phone 01225 767157, email circletime@jennymosley.co.uk or see our training section.

3. For all enquiries about Conferences, Closure (INSET) Days and Working in School Days for positive behaviour, social and emotional skills develoment, staff well-being, circle time and lunchtimes and playtimes in mainstream and special schools – click here.

4. Jenny Mosley’s training, consultancy and conferences are for teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers, midday supervisors and everyone who works with children in primary schools and early years settings.

5. Jenny Mosley’s Golden Model and training helps to promote positive behaviour, pupil voice, calmer lunchtimes and playtimes, SMSC, PSHE and British Values.

6. See details of one of Jenny Mosley’s latest books ‘How to Create Calm Dining Halls‘.

7. To see all resources for schools, dining halls and playgrounds – click here.