Anyone else got opinions about Birth to Three Matters?

[ThePrisoner]

I've attended a couple of evening sessions re. the Birth to Three Matters stuff. It is causing several childminders to seriously consider giving up minding. Has anyone else attended any sessions/courses yet? Did you come away feeling positive/negative?

We were informed that childminders will be "brought up" to the same standards as other childcare professionals (like nurseries) without any thought seemingly given to the fact that, perhaps, parents have chosen a childminder instead of a nursery because they prefer the (possibly more?) laid-back, home-based setting, particularly for babies/younger children.

We've come away with the feeling that we've all got to do more planning, write down said plans, make observations of children, do more writing based on observations, so that we can do more planning for the next stage of development ... and on it goes. We've obviously got lots of time to do this. Ha ha.

Yes, we mentally do all the things that they want us to do, but now we have to put it in writing. The general feeling amongst minders I know is that they don't want to have to do this, parents don't need us to do this, but OFSTED will expect to see this level of input if we want a decent grading on our inspections.

And we've also been told that the CCP (Certificate in Childminding Practice) is being stopped, and we will be encouraged to do a new NVQ. I'm so pleased I spent so much time on my assignments ...

I have attended a 1 day introduction course and a 4 day elements course

I loved it

The trainer spent the hole time telling the nursery staff to be more like childminders and saying how C/Mers do b23 already as they are child centred (ie we change nappies when they need changing, we have snacks when children are hungry etc - we know that the most important toy in the room is us)

It was the first training in a long time which praised C/Mers

You do one observation a week on a post-it note (on one child)and one page of planning a week - based on that observation - it doesn't even matter if the next week you use the same child for the next observation - because all children benefits from all opportunities

No themes - no topics all child led oportunities

NO activities only oportunities

ie John gets a train for his birthday and brings it in - so we spend the week doing trains

the next week we see a bird in the garden sio we do birds

Very unstructured - very easy

I'll come back to this later - bit busy now
KMc

Would you recommend getting on a course on B23?

Oh Gawd, i haven't been on the Birth to Three course, but I do sense a general feeling that the paperwork is set to increase. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, in fact I trained as a teacher about 5 years back but there's no way I'd consider a school job because of the high level of admin involved. In fact the reason I wanted to childmind was the higher level of autonomy and freedom to concentrate on the children's needs rather than working to plans that don't leave room for the children's interests. (Comes down off soapbox...)

Oops have just read Katymacs post! It seems that whoever delivered the training is wildly off the mark for either ThePrisoner or Katymac?

I'm not a childminder/Nanny but a very proud parent who attended her DS's nursery for a parents evening last night (he is only 20mths!!!) and was overwhelmed at the work and care taken with DS's personal file (Birth to 3 matters was stamped all over the place, I'm glad I know what it is now!) and the range of imaginative play organised for him.
I was really impressed and amazed with it all.
From reading this thread I now know how hard it is for the childcarers to prepare and train in all of this...I am really grateful

As a parent, I'd hae to support ThePrisoner's post here. WhenI had my fist child (DD) I used a childminder because it was more relaxed and home-like atmosphere. As a parent,I also want a childminder to fucuss on playing with my baby and not filling in some red tape forms for the ofsted visit. Also, childminders are (usually) a bit cheaper than nurseries so I don't think that making their overheads more expensive is a good thing... unless of course you all think your profit margins are too big.

I think that the government can set the curriculum when they want to pay the bill. So long as I am footing the childcare bill, I will choose who looks after my child and how (within reason).

This proposal does seem to be getting a lot of backlash. Hopefully that's a sign that it isn't going to go very far.

DS's report is very relaxed though...they have recorded instances where DS is doing something new to highlight how he is developing and then have written a few lines on how that fits in with guidelines...there are often phtos there as well.
I appreciate that that is extra work but I loved to see the record of DS grow as an indiviual and socially over the last 7 months. He only attends nursery 2 days per week and I wasn't expecting to have such a record to look at.

Theprisoner - I don't really know what's going on as I've been on no course or anything but my mum phoned after hearing something on the news and sent me this link

Is this what you were told?

I really must read through my Birth to Three matters!

I'm really confused now!

Is Birth to Three the same as this curriculam for babies thats in the papers today?

I got told about birth to three at my ICP last November (And I've still not done it - Hopefully soon)
If it is the same then why is it only now that the papers/TV are going on about people objecting when the course has been going for at least a year?

I'm confused too - think it's something about making it law????

Who can confirm?

Theprisoner, i think its a good idea, as although yourself and many others feel you're already doing it in your 'heads', there are many cm's out there who just aren't and wouldn't know where to start.
I think its great that it brings everyone up to the same standards.
I remember from my days in the nursery when Ofsted first took over inspections that what appears like a sudden load of paperwork taking you away from the childcare aspect can feel quite daunting. But as you get used to it, you do find yourself getting quicker at the paperwork, and appreciating its benefits.

Im confused too!!! I thought the thing in the news today was seperate to birth to 3??

Well i am very very very worried as a former nursery worker and a prospective CM i thought i was getting away from the cirriculum turnouts but no such luck it looks like, The more i look at this whole issue the more i see that OFSTED are indeed heading towards the same educational and paperwork for CM's as there is for nurseries. I am soooo against this for 2 reasons.....
I always thought the reason a parent choose a childminder over a nursery was often the home away from home atmosphere and now it look like we are gonna have to be dotting the i's and crossing the t's on yet more paperwork for OFSTED.
Also a lot of CM's work alone. They dont have the support of others around them during the day so they can do paperwork or write up observations etc like nurseries. As it is most CM's work a 10/12 hour day then have cleaning/business paperwork etc on top of that. Most CM's i know average around 14 hours a day actual business related work ....and now they want MORE!!!

Enough is enough i say .....but hey just my opinion and i dont think little old me is gonna change things huh

The Birth to Three Matters pack was sent out to childminders a couple of years ago, and lots of childminders have probably binned it all as there was no explanation as to what it was for.

The last session I attended on it was for mentors (I am one) so that we can explain all about it to new childminders in our area. The ICP course is being scrapped.

I am pleased that katymac felt her course was positive, as it certainly is good news that maybe childminders will be given some recognition for the job that we do.

I have started talking to some of my minding parents for their views. They've seen the news and read their newspapers, and now they get Big Mouth (me!) Without fail, they want their babies to have fun. Yes, this is what we do all day long without thinking about it. However, it is anticipated that we will now plan it all a bit more, and put it in writing. And yes, nursery staff can do their paperwork without having to interact with the children at the same time.

Katymac - I am really interested in your comments about only doing one observation/week and one page of planning/week. Is this what you were told? I think we get told different things depending on who is doing the training!!!

I currently mind five children aged under 3 years each week, which includes two under 12 months. I already write a daily diary for these children and, believe me, that already takes up enough time, which I worry about as I'm not directly interacting with those children when I'm writing. I send the diaries home each day, it is not something I can do in the evening. I can probably expand these diaries to do exactly what we're now being asked to do, but I have no intention of telling parents how I plan to "educate" their babies. My diaries talk about how much porridge they managed to get in their hair, how radioactive their nappies have been, who they played with at toddler group and whether they were sick in the box of Duplo etc. I do not feel the urge to say anything about what I intend their next milestone should be.

Yes, I am being very very negative, and there are probably lots of positive things that I'm ignoring, but what about a bit of choice?

B23 is also to become b26 and will replace the foundation stage as there is too much paperwork and too many tick lists and too much education for these children

That's got to be good I think Foundation stinks

I think these people who make policies like these need a firecracker up their arses so that they can get up and go find a job that does not involve thinking up excuses to justify the one they do now.

They are the same inbred types who come out with a new directive for teachers every time they fart eventhough they have never stood before a dozen set 4 14 yr olds.

HTHs.

oh, i am not a cm & dd goes to nursery but one which i chose b/c they let children play!

This does allow children to play!

I just think it ensures that those cm's who at the moment are not doing such a great job in stimulating and encouraging development, start doing so!

Those of you who feel you are doing this already don't need to worry - yes a little extra paperwork but as i said, that soon becomes part of the routine and quick to do.

I think we need to look to places like sweden where children are allowed to be children and do not attend any formal education until they are around 7. The swedes also have higher levels of big achievers and I am sure it cannot be co incidence and that the two are linked.
We are in big big danger of fitting children in this country into boxes of perfectness almost like a super race it will not work because-
some children will not get home input.
Readiness piaget had it spot on children cannot do tasks until they are ready to do- them not because some document says so.
At the end of the day it is all job justification.

I agree totally Hattie.
A Birth to Six curriculum is a natural progression from the present system of birth to three and foundation stage. It marries the two so that they don't appear so daunting to get to grips with and allows unlimited scope for interpretation whilst giving a useful reference for planning. I do birth to three folders already and they really are a 'celebration' of the babies achievements. It isn't prescriptive at all and doesn't expect all children to be little robots in any way. It gives helpful ideas on how to plan play activities for all children including those with special needs.

Childminders who don't write out "plans" or do observations are not necessarily "bad" childminders. Many childminders don't want to do courses, and that doesn't mean they're no good either. Parents should have the choice as to what they want for their children (nursery, childminders who write essays on a regular basis, childminders who don't).

I think I do a pretty good job, I take advantage of any available courses (in my own time), and I already keep diaries etc. And I have to do it by myself. However, it is not a "little extra paperwork" to write down what I've done with, perhaps, four children in a day. Even if I wrote just one page per week, I'd still have to make notes during my working day.

I'd be interested to hear the views of parents of other childminders, it can't just be mine that aren't happy!!

No but it must depend upon how you 'sell' the new system to the parents, and if you already decide you are not happy about it, that must show when you discuss it with the parents.

i didn't mean that cm's who don't write out plans are bad. I mean those who stick their children in front of tv all day long and have no understanding/interest in stimulating and helping the children 'learn' how to play and encourage them to develop.
And those sorts of cm's are who will benefit from the new system.

I am sooooo with you ThePrisoner.

My childminder is 'old school'. She acts as mum while I am not there. She takes my DS & one 3 yr old to toddler group (different one every day so they go Monday to Friday). After school she takes the 2 older girls to dance class, often walking my little one with reins and apparently he tries to join in. They do loads of painting in her house, the entire ground floor is dedicated to kids. Her poor DH sits trying to watch tv in a small corner of the sitting room.

She sure does loads of walking, even letting my DS walk the dog for 10 mins every day.

If she gave up childminding because of this, I would be bereft.

Oh I forgot to add, she is deemed as a bit of a let down from other CMDs because she doesn't charge as much. But as she says (to a CMD friend of mine) I do it because I love children). She is 48 and a godsend.