Wish childminders could just mind children.

I was interested to read an article in Early Years Education today that, if we're following the EYFS, we should be doing about 20% adult-focused activities and the remaining 80% should be self-chosen.

Ken - the obs/learning journal/diaries/photos are all the property of the child/parent. The learning journal should go with the parent.
there is some information us minders need to retain - like accident and incident forms, contracts - the 'official stuff'.

The LJ (should) build into a similar record to what many parents develop from birth - a record of milestones, acheivements, special moments etc. Well thats what mine look like - with kids scribblings in, their pictures etc.

A good CM will do that and the planning/obs/paperwork goes on unobtrusively. It can even be applied retrospectively.

All this guidance is basically to ensure that the children have age-appropriate toys, that the CM knows what their next developmental stage should be and can encourage them towards that, that parents and other setings are kept informed of what's going on and ensure the environment is safe

Unfortunately it take 199 documents and twenty trees worth of pages to do that.

What annoys me isn't CMs doing all this, it's the amount of time and effort which has to be spent justifying it and the pressure it put them under.

I am not disappointed with my "satisfactory" rating. I am a new childminder, I knew I was lacking in certain areas so I wasn't expecting outstanding, although a 'good' would have been appreciated!

What came as a shock was the underlying tone of the report and the number of actions and recommendations. Also the depth of the observations required and the amount of planning I am expected to do.

To be fair, the Early Years Team is not to blame and neither is the inspector. There is a criteria against which I am measured, and in some of these criterias I am/was lacking.

I do daily diaries. I do write observations and so on, but apparently that's not enough. I need to plan for 'next steps'. So for example, it is not enough to say, "x pulled themselves to standing, next step is to stand unaided". I have to describe in detail how x stood to standing, what steps I am going to take to encourage x to stand unaided, what equipment I need to make accessible to x to make that possible and so on. I am expected to do this with all the children in my care, even with the school-aged children. This causes further difficulties, as I am expected to 'communicate' with the school, who are not see keen to reciprocate. I was told that so long that I can prove that I have done all I can to engage with the other setting, that would be enough. Which is easier said than done but that's another thread topic.

There were several 'key words' and sentences in the report. 'Self-evaluation' is a big one. 'Information sharing' was another. "develop further systems" and "to ensure effective x, y, z" were frequent phrases too.

The parents who use my services are happy. It is the children that keep going and because I am blessed with the most wonderful mindees and parents, who think that I am "the best" despite what any report says.

I told my CM that I wasn't interested in seeing any of the paperwork on him. He's three FGS - if he's not happy, he tells me. As far as I'm concerned, it's for OFSTED's benefit, not mine

BB, diaries/daily sheets for under-5s are considered good practice but it's not compulsory

I don't get a daily diary - are CMs supposed to do this? Mine is very laid back (but that's why I like her ) Only area where I wish she'd be a bit less laid back is car seats, but DS hardly ever goes in her car anyway. (All legal etc just not the car seats I would choose)

I am that sort of childminder. :) That's what my mindees parents want. And since they are the ones paying me, then they get what they want. I do do obs and planning but it's all very loose. When mindee first started we discussed what info they wanted in the daily diary the parents told me they'd seen some friends ones with pages of writing and loads of photos, and said they didn't want all that, they wanted me to spend the time looking after mindee. When i pointed out that most of it would be written up etc when mindee had gone home the response was that I shouldn't have to spend my own spare/free/ie unpaid time doing that.

My mindees parents are extremely happy with the care he recieves here. They know he is well cared for, safe, exposed to lots of new/learning experiences in all the everyday things we do. My last grading was satisfactory - parents said i should've got a good.

IMO children in a nursery need more structured activities because they are in one environment majority of the time so need the special attention to planned activities/ trips etc. I could not work in a nursery, being in one place would drive me mad, I like variety, I like to be spontainous, I like to be able to use the facilities and activities on offer in lots of places. IME as a childminder children get much more variety so it matters less because things that happen out and about trigger conversations/ trips/ activities etc

eg today while on afternoon school run we drove past the library, 2 of the dc's in my car asked if we could go there once we had collected the other 2 dc's I said yes we could once we had nipped home had a snack, juice, toilet stop/ nappy change.
Another example is this morning my dd2 started singing the alphabet song so my 3yr old mindee joined in then 2yr old mindee also hummed the tune and clapped then following on from that I sat with mindee and we made the alphabet out of playdough.

None of this was planned, all I had planned for today was school runs, toddler group (I go to one each morning or soft play or a garden centre or park and I consider what each place offers, todays offers a large hall with ride on toys, construction, slides, basically somewhere they can burn off some energy and socialise with other children) meals, naps/ quiet time. Imo you need to allow time for flexibility and to run with childrens ideas which after all is what EYFS is imo.

that is bizarro, isn't it

Cory, a childminding colleague also had a comment regarding ICT. Hers was: develop more ways of extending children's basic skills in turning on and operating some information and communication technology (ICT) equipment.

Which was odd, because her home is full of ICT equipment which her mindees have access to.

Ken I couldn't agree more

The views of the parents are worth more than anything

so whilst at nursery a visit to the shops is definitely going to be a learning experience (because it's structured) a visit to the shops with a cm might be because she'd forgotten to get dinner that night and needs to stock up... it's only the prospect of Ofsted that prevent this being a regular occurrence... Or make it into a learning experience because she can do an observation at the same time...

But surely it IS a learning experience whether it's structured or not? Everyone needs to shop, children learn by observation, they're going to get a lot more, IMO, out of seeing things happen naturally (like because the CM forgot to buy dinner) than by going on a "structured visit".

Ken the point of the observations is to see what the child can do, and offers opportunities to consider which aspects need more support, which aspects are secure, what the child is currently interested in so that activities can be tailored to that child's interests; so yes it can pick up developmental issues but also makes the time the child is at the CMs more enjoyable if they have access to stuff that switches them on. Of course you would expect a good CM to be responsive and alert to children's reception of activities and abandon if it's not working/change tack

New2cm I will start a new thread for you to ponder/mull over stuff etc, we'll chip in to help x

This is exactly why I think parents should be able to choose if they want to use an 'Ofsted Registered' Childminder or not - fine make it an option, but don't make it compulsory.

I for one would much rather have someone like Kendodd/MaureenMLove/New2CM (and anyone who thinks along the same lines) minding my children than someone doing all the crap that Ofsted insists they need or some other parents want.

I wouldn't want or need everything to be a guided learning experience, I wouldn't want every footstep out of the front door to require a risk assessment, I wouldn't want 'activities' thrust at my child. I'm happy for them to eat as they do at home, I'd be happy for them to share a handtowel - I wouldn't want or need a daily diary.

Let them be kids, leave them be!

Make it an OPTION they are our children - why can't we choose if we use an Ofsted registered person or not?

Our most conscientious childminder was criticised by Ofsted because she did not provice sufficient IT equipment- for a child of 3! The parents thought the child was better off playing in the sandpit, but no, they had to ensure that "all areas of learning and development are given equal importance". Bah humbug!

Imho it was precisely this constant fussing over all areas of learning and development that made ds go selectively mute for a long time at the CM's. It was just too intensely educational, all games had an agenda, it was too much for him.

Apart from making me dread my next inspection (you poor soul new2cm), it just shows how much paperwork is taken into account, surely the view of the parents and how you work with the children should be more important..

I had no idea we were not allowed to give anything with ibuprofen in, it didn't come up at my recent first-aid course and I have been giving nurofen for children to 2 different children this week alone(sent with the children and all the necessary forms filled out) does anyone else know about this, or is it just me .

You know what boys your right her early years team is letting her down, but I have been childminding 3 yrs in March,
I have had 2 calls from my early years team, as asking if I need any help, twice Ive left a message on the answer phone saying yes please and thats it.. Ive not heard or seen them since.

Im not looking forward to my next inspection,
Especially if it was Like my grading inspection,
when I had the inspector and her
inspector, inspecting my inspector,

sitting at my dining room table, for 4 hours(which I will add is not near the lounge with all the appropriate toys at that time to play with)
talking about my inspector!!! the little one
(8mths) and I sat at the table with them, playing, until his sleep time.
Not once did they ask to see any paper
work, porfolio, policies etc which I brought in from the lounge.
It seems to me, the few questions they asked me at the end, were an afterthought Imo.

I received a Satisfactory.

There are so many, it will take all day to type them out!

Here are some vague details:

-Review assessment systems to ensure that all areas of learning and development are given equal importance and observations are analysed consistently to plan for the next steps in learning

-develop further self-evaluation and review systems, in order to identify and plan continuous improvements to the childminding service

-develop further the systems for children who attend more than one setting, to ensure effective continuity and progression by sharing relevant information with each other

-develop further systems that provide a summary of children's achievements to ensure their progression

-consider extending opportunities for children to develop their awareness of diversity

-develop self-assessment and reflective practice to improve outcomes for children

-consolidate the maintained records of risk assessments by including assessments for specific outings and for the individual animals in the home

-obtain information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to the provision, regarding who has legal contact with the child, and who has parental responsibility for the child

-improve the frequency of the evacuation procedures to ensure all children cared for are able to become familiar with them

The list goes on and on.

During the course of a conversation, I said that I had given Calprofen to a child with parental permission. I was advised that childminders are not allowed to adminster medicines containing Ibuprofen. Hence, there a significant comment about the administration of non-prescribed medicine.

As the inspector said, it is a case of reading through and implementing the guidance.

new2cm I would point a finger at your early years team for not supporting you and guiding you as you started out tbh

What sort of things were you 'picked up' on - give vague details if you like - we might be able to offer resources or help

I was "that sort" of childminder until my inspection.

I thought my inspection went well until I received the action plan.

I was shocked tbh. I won't go into details because I could go on and on. It was one of extremes - on one hand I was highly praised on some of my practice with lots of 'excellents', but on the other hand I was slammed on certain other aspects.

The undertone of the report is basically, "shape up in terms of your paperwork and knowledge of the EYFS, or you won't be a childminder for much longer."

I got satisfactory overall. However, unless I implement the action plan (that is, actions and recommendations) I could well fail my next inspection which is probably why "that sort" of childminder no longer exists.

I currently only look after school aged children.

I CM for 2 brothers. Neither eats anything unless it comes out of a tin.

OFSTED say i should be encouraging them to eat healthy food and prepare healthy meals for them. So I do that, then they just sit there refusing to eat.
So - do I elt them go hungry so i can comply with OFSTED, or do i do what they eat at home - tins and then they at leat hav efood?

disclaimer,for those that think i am unprofessional, and worry about things that childmidner do in their rest (ha ha what's that) time I don't have any mindees until later today, thank you