HERE WE GO ROUND: Quality circle time. By Jenny Mosley and Helen Sonnet. (Positive Press, 18.95, 01225 719204)
Reviewed by Tina Hendy, childcare services manager, Westwood Nursery, University of Bath
This book sets out how to introduce quality circle time to pre-school children. Previous books written by Jenny Mosley tended to concentrate on circle time in schools, so it is a welcome addition to her publications.
A member of my staff recently attended an early years conference based on Jenny Mosley's ideas and was so inspired by the concept that she has introduced it in our nursery. All early years practitioners using circle time or thinking of introducing it will benefit greatly from this book.
The book has three parts. The first part explains how quality circle time works and how to set up sessions successfully. The second part gives practical advice on how to introduce the concept to the children in your setting and gives examples and suitable phrases to include. The final section explains in detail how to link circle time to the six areas of learning and covers each area in depth, showing learning objectives and suggested topics. Further activities to explore are also included.
This book is clearly set out, with lots of simple diagrams and easy-to-read text. If you have no idea what circle time is about then this book will take you step by step through the process. But if you are already familiar with the concept, don't ignore the book either; it has lots of practical ideas to extend your knowledge and improve your sessions.
