This visit was very similar to previous visits therefore I had started to form a routine while at the nursery. The morning briefing had shortly discussed the Ofsted visit on the Wednesday. I had later asked how it was out of interest, and was told that it went well however was not told much more as the deputy head said that it is confidential until the report is released.

During the morning preparation, I was told that the focus of today was role play, specifically visiting the doctors. Children who chose to pretend play as doctors and patients were encouraged to use words such as: stethoscope, syringe, vaccine, patient, nurse, doctor, doctors’s surgery and appointment.

It was very interesting to watch the children play together as if in a real life setting. Every now and then they would ask me to explain what something was named and its function such as the hammer used to test joints and reflexes.

During the day, I was asked to observe a particular child’s verbal development/speech as this was his key workers learning outcomes for him. I found this very interesting as I was with this child during play at the ‘surgery’. Later in the afternoon he had decided to go outside; since it was after lunch a lot of children play in the garden instead of the room. When I went outside, he was in the ‘cafe’ serving drinks and asking for payment with T guiding him.

When T left, he continued to play seeming comfortable with my presence. However, when one of the male key workers approached him for conversation he went silent and continued to pack away since it was nearing the end of the day. He had not responded to the male key worker, so when the key worker left, the child started to sing and participate in private speech.

Themes: Free-flow Play, Role-play,