nursery/infantTEACHERS, what do you think of the EYFS for childminders?

[smeeinit]

just curious to get a teachers view.
cms are obviously not keen for ofsted to introduce the EYFS, so what do teachers feel about cms having to follow these lines?
TIA.

[smeeinit]

anyone?

[smeeinit]

bump

[smeeinit]

x

[smeeinit]

anyone??????!!

[StrawberryMartini]

They obviously all think it's high time we childminders do some real work.

[Littlefish]

Not ignoring you - just cooking supper and will try and be back later. I'd love to have this discussion with you, as a Nursery/infant teacher and as a parent using a childminder.

[smeeinit]

pmsl @ strawbs!
ta littlefish!

[smeeinit]

blimey,no opinions???

[Katymac]

Not a one

Sad isn't it

or are they not telling us something?

[smeeinit]

hmmm......
maybe there are just no teachers on here katy?!

[Katymac]

Maybe they just don't want to play

[Littlefish]

So sorry ladies - real life took over! I really do want to talk about this. I'm hoping to get online tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday). Will you be about?

[Katymac]

S'OK Littlefish - we were teasing (mind you, you can't be the only teacher on MN)

I don't know about Smee, but I'll be around (apart from when Heros is on tonite)

[CaptainUnderpants]

Not a teacher however work in a playgroup setting and have just had the training on it. As we never really worked with Birth to three and followed the old Foundation stage then in that respect the EYFS will not be that much differnt for us .

We observe and assess anyway and plan .

HOWEVER what will be differnt is the planning , as we will have to plan more for the indivual , will we need to be more up to date with asessmenst and observations.

Also we will have to change our policy and porcedure files as they are currently linked to National standards and very Child matters . Although this is covered in the new EYFS it will mean a re write.

I believe that OFSTED staff do not know as yet how they are going to assess under the new EYFS, howver I stand to be corrected on that.

Will be interesting to see what other people think on this thread.

[Littlefish]

Right - just a quickie, because I've got to finish planning for tomorrow .

Personally, I don't think that childminders should be inspected against the EYFS. I think it could be helpful for them in terms of guiding their practice - ie. the principles. I think that given the smaller numbers of children in their care, childminders naturally and intuitively provide effective challenge and support for children at whatever their age or stage. The EYFS is in fact trying to encourage practitioners in larger settings to think in the same seamless way that quality childminders already do.

As a parent (with a child cared for beautifully, creatively and sensitively by a childminder ), the care, support and personal attention my child receives with her childminder could never be adequately measured against the "development matters" in the EYFS.

Does that all sound hideously waffly? I have to stress that I haven't received my official training yet in EYFS, so this is just based on my own reading of the guidance etc. I'll be really interested to see what's said on the course about implementation by childminders, and I'll report back if there's anything useful.

How do childminders feel?

[Katymac]

I think most of us are concerned about the amount of additional paperwork (observations/planning) on top of an already complex paperwork load (policies/permissions/register/insurances/milk claims/daily diaries)

Also with very limited training I feel we are expected to impliment something that headteachers and nursery managers are doing

To be blunt "most" childminders struggle to cope with the paperwork already necessary and this will tip the balance for a lot and they will find other less onerous positions

I work 2/3 hrs a night plus 6-8 each week end just to keep up

Currently writing risk assessments which from Sept next year need to be recorded, and devising a method of recording fridge/freezer temperatures along with the core temperature of sample foods that I cook as we are also becoming 'food premises'

[CaptainUnderpants]

For nurseries, playgroups, preschool and infant school the new EYFS will not be such a big change.

You seem to be doing alot anyway that you say nursery managers etc do by doing polices , risk assessemnst etc .

Is it the planning and observation that is the concern ?

[Katymac]

Exactly as a childminder I should be sitting on the floor playing with children not being required to plan, observe formally, do written risk assessments etc

Or if we are we should get more than £3 an hour

I really think the changes coming in in Sept 08 with EYFS etc (not just the planning but the other changes) will alter childminding as we know it

[CaptainUnderpants]

well I certaintly feel that your pay should reflect the amount of work set by OFSTED, etc you have to do. If the minuim wage is £5.35 why on earth are you charging £3.

Observing formally will not take up all of your time , you will still have time to play with the children. I dont think planning has to be complicated either.

there is extra money available to settings for staff to have further training on planning and observation , perhaps should enquire with your the local council etc as to what childminders can get.

[Katymac]

Oh we can have free training - as much as we like on week days between 9 & 5

If we don't work we don't get paid and then parents feel we are letting them down as we keep withdrawing care in order to meet OFSTED's requirements

It is now manditory for have a food hygiene certificate - so that's another days training - so 3 sets of parents have to take time off work

[mrz]

Sorry just found this thread ~ as a teacher and a parent I think it is ridiculous that childminders should be spending time doing all this paperwork. I chose a childminder for my daughter because I wanted a home environment for her rather that an "institution". IMO EYFS should be guidance only and childminders should be free to be a "parent figure" not a "pen pusher".

petitions.pm.gov.uk/OpenEYE/