This month’s posts have been very focused on the End Point Assessment process and why I believe changing to SS Educational Services could only be of benefit to your business. As a niche End Point Assessment Organisation I understand your setting, your sector, and our Independent End Point Assessors all have extensive competence and experience in the sector. If you are considering a change, this article on FE News may aid you with your decision.
During October our social media posts have covered World Mental Health Day – World Smile Day – and other events. However, unlike September, when I posted about ‘The Importance of Reading for Children’ and ‘Disability Awareness Day’, this month has been sadly lacking in child related posts. So today, I am going to look at Halloween – Samhain – All Hallows Eve.
The traditional festival was Samhain, celebrated by the Celts several thousand years ago, when bonfires were lit to ward off ghosts. All Saints Day began in the 8th century on 1st November, with the 31st October becoming All Hallows Eve. And then, very recently Halloween evolved into the activities we know now.
I have used the Early Learning Goals from the Early Years Foundation Stage to show the ways development can benefit from Halloween:
- Communication and Language – Describing the costumes; talking about the events; words to describe any new tastes
- Physical Development – using cutting equipment to carve pumpkins
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development – understanding if houses do not have pumpkins to not knock on those doors; sharing sweets; being polite when knocking on doors;
- Literacy – ‘Room on the Broom’; ‘The Witches’
- Mathematics – counting out sweets; door numbers; how many houses visited
- Understanding the World – how Halloween originated; visiting a pumpkin farm; age dependent conversations about the different beliefs and how it is celebrated differently throughout the world
- Expressive Arts and Design – carving pumpkins; choosing an outfit
In November we will be continuing our mini-series, this time concentrating on the Level 4 and Level 5 Children, Young People and Families Standards. If you would like to know about these, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to use the Contact Form available.
