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 ...

No, you silly mare, it did stand for undercovermum but everyone called me UCM so I changed it.

I just tried to CAT you but failed.

Never tried to do it, so haven't a clue as to why!

You don't accept anything from MN. Don't blame you but would love to have talked to you about this whole thing as a mum.

It isn't deliberate! What do I have to do to change it?

Ooh, think I've done it!

Cat me and we can discuss

Not sure!!! Any other MNS
[email protected]

That is my email BTW

I am going to bed now!

Me too (possibly), will check out all this technical stuff when it's a more sensible time!!

With regards to joining a network my support childminder has actively chosen not to do this as she feels it presents a false impression to parents, creating an "elite" of childminders. As places are limited (40?) she doesn't like the assumption that anyone unable to get on the network is rubbish.

Normally as a network becomes bigger - it divided offering twice as many places in a smaller area

EG Liverpool netwrok would become north and south liverpool, then south liverpool might become garston and aigburth

So they can expand (if they get funding) and currentl;y as OFSTED intends to visit every 3 years I think parents need all the support and reassurance they can get

Don't slam my geography....it's been years since I lived there

Any childminder (good or bad) can be a member of the NCMA ? All they need to do is to pay their subs and sign their agreement to uphold the standards which the NCMA have great pride in stating as over and above those of Ofsted.
Just because someone isn?t on a network doesn?t automatically mean that they have poor standards, no policies or no interest in self-development/training. Their absence from a network may be because of political reasons, and I for one ? although joining my local network (necessary if I wish to be accredited to provide early year?s education) ? certainly do not subscribe to the supposed eliteness of network minders just because they are part of a network. I have studied for my NVQ3 and built up a business I love with excellent references from parents without being either a paid-up NCMA member or a network member (and it is possible to be on a network without having to be a member of the NCMA). As a self-employed person I am uneasy about my autonomy being eroded/controlled any more than is necessary. Ofsted is necessary but don?t be fooled into believing that all network minders are fab and all non-network minders are crap. Childminders are actually perfectly capable of running very good childcare without interference from the NCMA and some don?t need or want to be checked up on all the time to keep someone in a job and to generate more funds for the NCMA. Parents visit me at all times of the day and I would always credit them with enough sense to recognise good or poor quality care when they see it.

Goosey, agreed. Am actually in the process of joining my local network as I am a new minder and would love the support of a more experienced minder visiting regularly. I am, however, very sceptical about the supposed eliteness of it and if I felt more confident I think I would probably not join.

Goosey - I agree totally with what you say about networking childminders being no better or worse than any other childminders. I've had my wrists slapped for "joking" about networking c'minders being seen as the "elite", but, I'm afraid that I do think we're being touted as being "better" or more professional. I joined my local network as it was yet another string to my bow, and I certainly use it to my advantage if prospective parents visit me. However, I do feel rather guilty for posting all this negative stuff - but I think there is a bigger and bigger divide, and I wonder if parents will start believing all the hype.

Yes, there are brilliant childminders out there who don't do courses and don't write endless policies, but their care of children is fabulous. They don't get the recognition from anyone but the parents they mind for, and I wonder how OFSTED will grade them when inspected.

We don't have a network in my area so have no choice but not be a member of one

Oh dear ....it may have been very nieave(sp?) of me but i thought that i was getting out of all the in house politics when i decided not to go back into nursery work and do childminding instead. Obviously i was very wrong

Why dont you see if you can set one up Helly, there would be funding for it.

I don't think us lowly childminders can set up our own network, it's a bit too heavy-duty!

When i go to training when the network lady is there she is always saying that we can get funding for setting stuff up.

Of course you can set up your own network

I was going to when I was going to be thrown off the netwrok

First you get at least 6 minders
Then you decide on minimum standards acceptable
Then you employ an NVQ assessor to monitor you 6 to 8 weekly (one day a month say £90-between 6 +£15 a month)
Then you split the cost of the assessor between you or apply for funding from a variety of people (incl Surestart/Early Years at your council/NCMA)
Finally you give it a name

Sorry - you will also need to do a quality kitemark scheme (NCMA do one so do your council - Prob)

I didn't realise that there were only so many places for NCMA CM's. So sorry about that. I would like to stress though, that, having left my son in a strangers care, I am glad that there is an NCMA.

If I was leaving him with a neighbour/friend, as I did to start with, I wouldn't need this stuff.

But to leave my 1 year old son with his minder, whom I didn't know, I can honestly say that the whole thing was better because if you are networked then you are pretty much answerable to every other childminder on the network.

It IS NOT elitist, it's just getting the best care I can for my son.

If I were a childminder, I would not have a problem with being checked every 6 weeks.

If I were a mate doing a favour with someone who already knew me, then that would be different as well. If a friend was doing my childminding, I would not be even bothering with this conversation.