having a bit of a panic

[booyhoo]

i met an old schoolmate today and wehn talking about what we are doing with ourselves these days i told her i was doing my pre-reg course for CMing next week. she said "oh, you're brave". i laughed and said, "i love children, i can't wait to get started" assuming that's what she meant but then she said, "no, i mean, what if someone accuses you of hurting their child or even worse, you could never work again".

it hadn't actually crossed my mind that anyone would do that but i have been thinking about it now and am wondering what the hell am i letting myself in for. i know this is a silly wobble to have but it is really playing on my mind that looking after children leaves me vulnerable to such a thing happening.

It's standard practice to have a child protection policy that should cover what happens in the event that someone accused you of anything.

I suggest you ask on your course and they should tell you what the policy should say in order to cover your back.

But honestly it is a minor detail, you don't need to woryy.

you will have policies and procedures in place to protect yourself and you family, as well as the children you will care for

It'll be fine, you will find out much more on your course

i know. i do know that i will have a policy etc but it's just the whole thought of going through something like that and well, you know, mud sticks and all that. it's just a scary thought of how open you are to it when you are looking afetr someone's children.

Try not to worry too much, the fact that you are aware of it, shows you will take due care with any children you care for.

Anyway the other daily worries will overshadow this such as:-

seeing every play area as an arena of injury

Seeing everything as a possible hazzard/risk (which you can't forget about as OFSTED will remind you

becoming anal about fitting car seats in and making sure they fit the appropriate child

feeling really horrid when you have to hand over a damaged (only minor usually) child and explain to mum why her DC has a lovely graze on his/her knee

ha, thank you rosie. yes you are right, i will have forgotten all about this worry by teh end of my first week!!