New CM - could I pick some brains please?

[OopsDoneItAgain]

I just wondered what record keeping other CMs do? I was planning on having a daily diary to jot informal day to day stuff in that can go home with the child etc, and then something else for keeping observations in that maybe goes home termly? Does that sound reasonable? Just not sure on how to organise it all, and my first mindees don't start for another few weeks so its all a bit theoretical at the mo! Any ideas or info about what you currently do would be great. TIA.

Hi,

As A Nanny (its a bit different) but I have a communication book on each child... then there is a section for Each day which had a section for general activities and a section for observations. It also has table at the back so at a glance parents can see: nappy changes/food times/ what the children ate/times of sleeps etc so you get a visual routine.

Also have a section for first aid administered & complete a slip to ensure it goes home with the child. Also make sure you log this in your first aid book.

Hope this helps!

Chelsea x

Have a look at babysdays - online software that does it all for you and your parents can log-in at home and see the diaries and make comments. It's so easy - I don't do any paperwork now!

Oops email me at nanny 475 at hotmail dot com and I will send you the pack I have that I give to my CM Mentees

Shoshe's stuff is fab, she let me have a look at it too

Hello my lovely how is it all going?

Hi Shoshe - having good days and bad days . Bad days partly due to health issues too. Fibro flare up and have got chest inection so feel awful
How are you doing?

I have a daily dairy for children aged 3 and under. I put nappy changes, what they ate, naps and what we did. That goes home with them every day.
Then each child in EYFS has their own folder with all the observations and individual planning, permission forms, comment forms etc. That goes home once a term for parents to put comments in . But they are free to come and see it at mine at any time.
Then I have a separate folder for group planning where I put ideas for each month. Another folder for risk assessments.
And another one for any other miscellaneous stuff that doesn't fit under any categories.
HTH

babysdays looks very erm professional but I dont have time to be filling that in all the time. I have 1 journal for each eyfs child, basics go in there, plus observations inc pics, gets returned to parents each day where they can write in and leave comments etc.(takes me say 10 mins a child, usually do when sleeping) Once a monthish I link the observations to eyfs using the guidance notes and highlight the areas in each childs learning folder, this then enables me to plan next steps which are written on a next steps planning sheet, all kept in learning folder with contracts etc

ps, i looked at shoshes too

I have a daily diary for parents and all of my planning, obs, days events and milestones and next steps goes into that narrative..

another file for risk assessments etc..

i got good at Ofsted but havnt got the time or inclination to be going for outstanding over my paperwork..

Thanks loads for your help everyone. Will be e mailing you shortly shoshe, and checking out babysdays too chabbychic

I know it looks complicated but honestly I can do 3 diaries in less than 10 minutes!

sillymilliesmummy - do you subscribe to Babysday? I had a quick peek and saw it cost £9.00 per month. Is that per child or in total for the package?

I am in the processes of becoming a CM and would be interested in Babysday. Have you shown this to Ofsted and if so how did go down?

oops have emailed you love.

Jaffa it's for the whole system so even nurseries with loads of children still pay the same amount.

Ofsted loved it - one of the reasons I got Outstanding.