to find it interfering and even slightly sinister that my childminder wants to communicate with the school?

[parakeet]

She's given me a (sealed) envelope, asking me to give it to my child's teacher. It has a note (to me) on the back saying she'd like to know about their lesson plans.

I asked my childminder what it was all about and she said Ofsted had told her to do it, so she can coordinate educational activities with the school. My (five-year-old) child is normally only with my childminder for two hours a day, two days a week (apart from school holidays). So I'm not really expecting my childminder to do anything educational with her, just pick her up after school, give her tea and let her wind down after school.

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't see the need for other professionals to be bypassing me to communicate about my child. She doesn't have any SN. The teacher gives parents weekly sheets giving info about what they're doing that week and I offered to give a copy to the childminder each week, but no, she wants the teacher's lesson plans. I have a feeling the teacher won't particularly want to do this either, or is this standard?

Speaking as a childminder I dont think it's sinister, but I personally wouldnt have put it in a sealed envelope, I would have shared it with the parent. Having said that Childminders are advised to liase with schools/nurseries etc to offer continuation of care. We have to follow the same guidelines as nurseries. I agree with the mums who want the children that attend a childminder after school just to come as if they were at home, have a snack and a drink and a play/rest, and tbh that is what most childminders would prefer ( of course I can only speak for myself and the ones I know). I want my home to feel like a home for them, but we have so many rules and guidelines and paperwork, it's getting a bit out of hand. I do my job because I love children.

I feel sorry for the CM, probably just sealed it out of habit and is only doing what Ofsted told her to do.... which is ridiculous anyway imho, as A) plenty of teachers haven't got the detail down until last minute, and don't want the faff of regular copying to others, and B) CM shouldn't be asked to do more than most parents would do in same situation with an afterschool child on premises.

Friggin' Ofsted & EYFS.

My jaw hit the ground when I read this thread title - doesn't often do that!

I will be back when I have a minute!

Oooh is chabbychic the cm in the OP?

Right I am back and despite the fact that this thread has died I am determined to have my little rant.

I am appalled by this thread and am very offended.

I am going to comment on some of your RIDICULOUS statements.

"Your child's education is YOUR affair, not the CMs and the CM is in YOUR employ" Er fuck off. I work for myself. I am registered as self-employed. Education begins at birth. Of course it is our affair. Plonker.

"I wouldn't especially want a childminder to be an educator, particularly if they only look after the child for a couple of hours after school. I would want somebody bosomy and kind who knows their way round a fish finger sandwich" Do you REALISE how offensive this is? Quite apart from the fact that there are MALE childminders.

"I dont like this at all. You will have to watch her and make sure she does not overstep the mark" She is doing her job. She is liaising with other professionals about the child in her care.

"squeakytoy Mon 04-Jul-11 20:01:09

I would be furious that the babysitter that I hire and pay to look after my child for a couple of hours was being involved in my childs education." Fuck off squeakytoy I am not a babysitter. I am actually a graduate, a qualified teacher and currently doing EYPS (know what that is?! Thought not).

"clam Mon 04-Jul-11 20:15:19

I speak as a teacher, and there is no WAY I'd be handing over my plans to any childminder, Ofsted recommended or not.
And I know what my HT would do with such a request." Well you clearly know nothing about liaising with other childcare providers. No I don't ask for lesson plans but I do ask for termly plans and work my planning around them.

"this behaviour seems utterly bizarre and somewhat creepy. she works for you!" As I may have said before.... Fuck off.

Of course my afterschoolers watch tv if they're tired. But we do plenty of other things and they are always having fun and PLAYING. You can learn through PLAY.

No wonder 12 childminders a day are leaving. No respect.

RANT OVER.

If 12 childminders a day are leaving, I suspect it might be less to do with "no respect" and more to do with the ridiculous and unnecessary requirements made of them by Ofsted.

"Well you clearly know nothing about liaising with other childcare providers."
I refer you to my post of Tue 05-Jul-11 13:47:59

I didn't say I agreed with all the paperwork. I am saying the cm in the op was doing her job, and doing it very well.

I have a link book between myself and the teacher/nursery worker which the Ofsted inspector thought was great. I got Outstanding.

chabbychic, the only post that made my jaw drop was yours! Such language!

God forbid that someone should swear on mumsnet.

You naughty girl chabby

I don't know a lot about it but part of the EYFS thing is that childminders should monitor childrens progress up to 5 (or when they leave reception? not sure) And having a strong link with the school makes this a lot easier. Okay, so parents aren't asked to do this so I suppose and arguement could be - then why do childminders? But childminders are not parents, they are doing a professional job just as any other self employed person who you may engage would do (only it's about the most important job there is!) If they want to do it to the best of their ability then I'm not sure what the problem is.

I hand over my most treasured possession to my childminder every day, I'd be more concerned if she wasnt interested in her education at all.

Your childminder sounds great OP, if you want a childminder who doesn't give a shit and sees her role as that of fishfinger sandwich provider then you could always go elsewhere.

But as you said, your childminder is really good, so I don't see why this should bother you.

I am seriously falling about laughing at this thread, presumably all the people saying 'Oh my god it must be something sinister' and 'teachers wont communicate' are parents and haven't got the foggiest idea what is required from childminders and teachers BY LAW!
This is a result of the Every Child Matters papers and is one of the ways professionals work together for the well being of your child. Childminders, health visitors, social workers, nurseries, preschools, reception classes etc all HAVE to work together under the EYFS rules. If your childminder wanted to do something 'sinister' she could communicate directly with the teacher or social services and by pass you completely...

If you are worried about what is in the envelope, open it, its your child. You will probably find its nothing more than a permission form and request to share data.

DS childminer had to prove 'what' she was doing with when he was in her care. She had him an hour (max) before/after school.

We drew up our 'own' list. eg road safety, fine motor skills etc as areas of development. Some days she walked him home from school and I'd collect him 15 minutes later as he was still having a snack.

Your CM is just getting a little to zealous but is doing the right thing. I agree though the school is the main service provider.

And anyway I'm presuming your DD has 3 weeks of year R left? Well she won't be doing EYFS after that,

At an inspection the OFSTED inspector WILL ask us CMs how we go about sharing information with schools etc. There is nothing sinister/untoward about it.

As a CM I would have explained this in a bit more detail to the OP, as she didn't know exactly what it was about understandably, and was dubious.

As to whether the teacher will share anything/a little is a different story, the CM can at least tell OFSTED (when asked) that she has requested sharing of information... FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILD IN HER CARE. Whether she actually receives anything from the teacher is out of her hands.

And for all those that think CMs are glorified babysitters... please DO read up on all a CM needs in place today, professionally, personally, resource-wise, course-wise etc. before (ignorantly!) responding to a thread as this. Loads needs to be in place to provide this important service, trivialising is highly unfair and inaccurate.

For those who missed it the op did open the letter and it said exactly what the cm said to her.