Inspectors say no thinking allowed

I own two nursery schools, and at a recent management meeting my team and I decided to revamp our forecasted planned topics because we felt they were always similar year in, year out, with themes such as 'transport', 'minibeasts' and 'all about me'.

We decided to add some more in-depth subjects to stimulate the staff as they researched new teaching methods, activity ideas and games, as well as to create exciting new learning aspects for children. We came up with many topics such as 'forces', 'materials', 'pastimes', 'North and South Poles'

and 'nutrition and health'.

Each topic is broken down into four-week planning, and then a monthly schedule is sent home to parents giving them a detailed day-by-day breakdown showing the coverage of all Early Learning Goals.

Imagine my suprise when our teacher mentor informed us our new topics would be torn to shreds by an Ofsted inspector, who would mark us down on such 'ridiculous' ideas.

By trying to instigate change, progression, interest and stimulation, am I stepping over the boundary and trying to confuse children? Who has the right to say what three-, four-and five-year-old children are capable of learning, if we don't at least try to broaden their learning experiences?

Any topic I allow my team to plan would, without doubt, cover every area of learning, and be age-and stage-appropriate. What I do not appreciate is being told to stick to the 'tried and tested' as there is no need to make change. I disagree. I think we should continue to make change because without it we will never progress.

Sue Jones. Warrington, Cheshire