Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Schoolies- Help please

8 replies

Pinner35 · 18/11/2010 21:09

I'm a newly registered CM and all the mindees I have are pre/post school (which works perfectly for me). I'm aware that I'll have a 6 month OFSTED inspection which will be due in December so I'm trying to make sure all paperwork, etc is in order. My question is what, if any, short / med / long term planning do I have to have in place? The parents don't want the children to do any structured activities and its very hard to get them to even look at their guided reading books, let alone anything else. All they want to do is stickers, drawing and dressing up.

Any advice would be most welcome.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
carongasper · 19/11/2010 03:27

This is the problem with Ofsteds text book approach to childcare.

In my experience inspectors use alot of common sence when it comes to childminders so dont worry to much about your inspection.

Do as much or as litlle as you can with the children communicate the reasons why you are doing your activities, negotiate if you have to reward them for active participation and be sure to document your evidence with photos and observation forms.

There is a balance to be struck between ticking the boxes for ofsted, pleasing the parents, meeting the children where they are at so they are happy in your care and not burning yourself out.

You can only but do your best i am sure you will do just fine!

bmz · 19/11/2010 08:26

are you looking after children over 5 because if so you don't have to follow EYFS.
you don't need to write things down but i do just so parents have an idea of what they have done while with me.

MJB66 · 19/11/2010 10:08

I mainly look after after schoolers too, but I have a 3 1/2 yr old who is at a Montessori Nursery 9am - 3pm every day.. he's so tired when he gets too me, trying to work to the eyfs with him is very difficult he just wants to chill like the others, when we get in!
I just make sure there is a craft activity for them to do if they wish, drawing implements if they'd rather do that or Play Dough and the T.V will be on in the lounge too chill out too.

MJB66 · 19/11/2010 10:10

I ment to add I have a daily diary/learning journal type thing hor said 3 1/2yr old but theres not much in there, hes simply not here long enough to put lots in?

RosieGirl · 19/11/2010 13:09

Like you MJB66 I have twin boys for 30 mins before nursery school and 1.5 hrs after. In that time I have lots of other children and after Nursery I cook for 5 children. I too find it difficult to do anything "constructive". I mean they have been at nursery all day so they don't really need to do much, I have lots of toys/puzzles available and pens/drawing stuff on the table, which I have to remove for dinner, but struggle to even stand and take photos and note what they are doing while I am actively busy with their needs and cooking dinner, and because I don't have them until the end of the day, I have to do their, learning journey/diary in the evening.

Any OP sorry for hi-jacking. I think as long as you can justify what you do and how you do it. Try and do some basic planning, such as noting things down like "Christmas", "Seasons", leaving it open to allow the children's own interests to show. As someone else has said, if they are out of the EYFS (30th September following their 5th birthday), then you won't need to worry too much.

But remember even dressing up and making dens can be shown to be educational, using their imaginations and construction skills.

Pinner35 · 19/11/2010 17:17

Thanks for all the replies. One mindee is 4.5 and the others are 6 so its just the 4.5 yo I need to think about. I have done some basic planning but I was worried that it wasn't enough, especially as I only have them 3 days per week.

OP posts:
Danthe4th · 19/11/2010 17:58

A quick and simple way to show that you plan for children that don't attend much is by using postit notes. Have a sheet of paper divided into the 6 areas of learning and when you observe the child doing something then write it down and stick it on the area that it most relates to.
This way you can show that you can cover each area and also if you see an area that needs a bit of work then that can feed into your planning.
It shows that you are thinking about the activities available and that you do vaguely plan. I find it works well and takes very limited time.

Pinner35 · 19/11/2010 19:02

Oooh, Danthe4th, that sounds perfect, thanks.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page