Second Block Placement

My second block placement was located in a local authority two-form entry school in Kirklees. This experience has allowed me to work and develop a healthy level of empathy for children living in a deprived area. My placement has taught me the fundamental values that personal, social, health and emotional needs must be met for all children so that they can gain a rich and broad education. Prior to this placement, most of my teacher training was spent within the early years and foundation stage. I became familiar with the development matters framework and didn’t have as much experience or knowledge working with the national curriculum. I was giving the position of teaching a year one class. During this placement I focused on my previous target;

I wanted to extend my subject knowledge over the summer holidays so that I would feel confident teaching and planning lessons on future practise. My year one block placement was in a school nursery therefore, I based my activities around the development matters framework. In contract my second block placement was teaching in a year one class, most of my children were working under the national average meaning that some of their work was based at a reception standard. Alternatively, I had children who were working above the national expectation meaning that I needed to have a secure knowledge on year two expectations, so that I could extend the lesson further if needed. Consequently, I have worked hard to develop both my curriculum and development matters knowledge so that my class would be challenged and motivated within their

Therefore, I will continue my professional development

Conclusion

My summative report evidences that I have progressed in terms of subject knowledge. During this block placement I had requested to participate in any training sessions that would enhance my own education. I will take this idea into final year placement and ensure

I understand the importance of having a secure subject knowledge so that children are taught correctly, avoiding misconceptions in their learning. I feel confident in teaching a wider range of subjects after my experience in a key stage one class. According to Alexander (2010) to be a successful teacher, we must be ‘qualified, caring and knowledgeable’. Therefore, I am happy with the improvements I have made during my second-year placement but would find it beneficial to keep this target throughout my teaching practise.

Action