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Original poster

Early Years Foundation Stage - Anyone doing training?

31 replies

Mum2Luke · 18/10/2007 22:34

Have just finished the 2nd part of my EYFS training and the general feeling is we cms are getting fed up with the likes of OFSTED forcing us childminders to do more paperwork.

We look after the children, take them to tots groups and do activities when time allows, we feed them and give them all the love they need so why more? We are not paid to do observations and assessments, nursery nurses are and if they wanted that the parents would use them, but they choose us because we have a home from home environment and family atmosphere.

Tonight they were saying OFSTED may mark us down if we don't make files, take endless photos and do obs. I look after a 20 month old and a 4yr old, I am losing the baby as his mum is having a baby and not returning to work and the 4 yr old is at school all day. I've not had a phone call for minding for months, I'm going to have to give up and look for part-time work. I have an NVQ Level 3 but cannot fill places as I am in competition with 3 private nurseries in close proximity (within 1 mile) to my house. I want to do all this but when I've no kids in the day I don't go to tots as there's no point.
Am going to look for a job in a creche/nursery as a bank nursery nurse that fits in with my own 5 yr old child.

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bloodsuckingLOONEY · 21/10/2007 15:19

Yes.....see thread set up to send to OFSTED.....I've now set up a group on Facebook too

Original poster
Mum2Luke · 21/10/2007 13:35

Hey, thanks for all your replies, I agree with Looney, lets set up a petition from all of us childminders and send it to OFSTED. Maybe parents might sign too if they agree that we are doing more than our share of (non-paid) training and mounds of paperwork as well as trying to look after children.I don't know about you other cms but it is costing me a fortune in printer inks and laminating pouches printing out photos, doing policies and laminating things like place mats that the children have done.

I can see alot of very good childminders leaving the profession simply because we are exhausted and people doing it uninsured and unregistered. We don't earn enough to buy nursery-type furniture etc and not everyone has room for a conservatory/playroom to put all the toys anyway.

The other evening at the training session the quality team were suggesting ways to do obs and using evidence but what do alot of parents do when you guive them what the child has done? They leave it in the car or worse still in the bin! They don't see the point in all of this stuff we do and nor do we!

OP posts:
Megsdaughter · 19/10/2007 22:24

yes

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 22:24

Of course we'd all include their inconsitancies!!!

I'd be well happy to set up an email address and send them a copy!!!

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 22:22

TOTALLY AGREE.

Actually.....I reckon we should start a thread about how childminders are NOT nurseries and about all this paperwork and ask all childminders and parents what they think, how important it is for the care of their children etc - could be very interesting and if it go big enough - we could email it to OFSTED from 'Mumsnet Childminders Club' or something?!!!

Megsdaughter · 19/10/2007 22:22

it was really demorilizing especially as when the 'Good' came in as the highest I had the only good in this area for a long time, and had worked hard to get there

Katymac · 19/10/2007 22:21

My previous inspector refused to inspect me, becasue she said she wouldn't be allowed to give me O/S

She asked her boss to inspect me (apparently)

It is so inconsistant and applied badly

hennipenni · 19/10/2007 22:20

Perhaps we oughht to start a petition asking that inspectors all work to the same guidelines, not to their individual whims.

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 22:20

Megd - you're not exactly gonna strive for it when told you'll never get it though!!!

Megsdaughter · 19/10/2007 22:18

my Inspector told me it didnt matter how good I was I wouldnt get a Outstanding from her, as she had nevr given one and nevr would, she believed there was alwasy something I could improve, and If she gave a Outstanding I wouldnt strive for that.!!!!!!

hennipenni · 19/10/2007 22:15

Katy, one of our minders (network-very good, always up to midnight doing paperwork etc etc) had a trial inspection for the new framework, she got a good whereas she got an outstanding in her "proper" inspection. She said it would be bloody hardwork to get an outstanding.

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 22:08

I totally disagree with them. You should be outstanding based on your setting etc. and not based on what you were doing before, seems so unfair

Katymac · 19/10/2007 22:06

They have said that even if I am the same as I was last time - I will only get 'good'.

In order to get O/S again I will have to be better than I was in all areas - that is so scarey

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 22:05

I always stress too I do understand though, it must be great to get an outstanding but then you don't want to loose it!

Katymac · 19/10/2007 22:02

All they will expect at that stage is an overview & a committment to attend (or have attended) courses

You know me tho' - I stress about everything (also I think OFSTED will mark me harshly because of getting Outstanding last time iyswim)

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 21:40

Well around Oct 08 I THINK!

Katymac · 19/10/2007 21:37

WHen is your next inspection due?

Mine is Nov 08 & I am well scared as I should have 2 months of 'stuff' by then

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 21:35

I know katy but I may want to have assistant for a few months which by my calcs means be here when it all first starts!

hennipenni · 19/10/2007 21:28

I've been to a briefing session and came back thinking about yet more paperwork, how you have to show what outcomes are gained through the activities that we do. I have got myself in a tizz about all the new headings/outcomes blah de blah de blah. The only positive thing that came out of it to me is that we actually do most of it ourselves anyway it just needs tweeking a little when being recorded. We did quite a bit on planning using photos etc but not alot about observations.

Katymac · 19/10/2007 21:25

EYFS won't be in until sept next year - so you should be OK Looney

Megsdaughter · 19/10/2007 21:22

Im dreading it, I intend to retire in a few yeasr (its shosh by the way) but I am wondering if that day may come quicker.

I love Childminding always have but Ofsted will close more and more of us down by the paperwork.

When will they realise this?

When we have no Childminder left!

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 19/10/2007 21:21

Oh TP, it's got silly hasn't it!!! I've just booked myself onto the briefing session on Tuesday night, it's my week off but I've got to go sometime! Not done any training yet - dreading it! Do you think we should start a petition??? I don't know one person who actually thinks all of this is a good thing and makes us better childminders! I'm not sure if you've heard my news but as a result, I'm looking at getting an assistant for mid next year but I'm very worried about how much this new EYFS stuff will entail and that it may put potential assistants off?

{{{ hugs }}} as you sound very fed up!

ThePrisoner · 19/10/2007 21:10

... probably not!

I've been reading through my EYFS pack, have attended a briefing session and, although I know that this new system is (technically) better as it draws everything together ... well ... I just totally and utterly despair of what I am now being asked to do.

I have prided myself on being a good childminder for years, and have dutifully produced everything we have been asked to do, and more. I do daily diaries, always chat to parents at the end of the day, do monthly newsletters, give parents photos ... but this isn't enough for the new system!

I started making a list of how much of my own "free" time I spend on childminding-related work (bills, newsletters, accounts, committee meetings, mentoring, planning, courses and training, general paperwork, extra paperwork for network). It has really got me down. None of it makes me a better childminder.

I still come onto MN every day, but really don't have the enthusiasm to be enthusiastic-enough to post!

Megsdaughter · 19/10/2007 20:47

Are you still alive in thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ThePrisoner · 19/10/2007 20:37

... doing my paperwork ...

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