Happy New Year, what changes do you want to make (c.m.'s)

[MUM2BLESS]

Hi everyone.

2011 was an interesting yet challenging year for me. I have been doing some serious thinking about what has taken place (reflective practice)

I welcome your tips and ideas.

What I need to change:-

paperwork. I am quite a thorough person, but would like to do whats necessary without creating too much work for myself. I would like to do the regisiter without too much paper being used.

Need a quick ticklist for daily risk assessment

Late payment when I first started I did not ask for payment in advance, yes I know I should have. My newer parents pay in advance. I will be addressing this in my newsletter shortly.

House rules I will be reinforcing these. Had some not nice behaviour in 2011.

Late collection of children will be reinforcing this too.

My hours of work I did very long hours without really taking any time out for myself, got very tired

What went well:-

Positive feedback from parents who returned their questionnaires I sent out.
Learning Journals looking good.
Development of the children
Good time keeping , even though I was extremely busy
Good relationship with the parents

I am a mum of four and I childmind seven.

How many kids do you childmind and what went well and what needs changing.

Daily risk assessment ticklists become a waste of time after about an hour of work - I had one, and it involved things like checking the hook was on the utility door (and I pop in and out several times a day), check the stairgates are closed (again, once you've been through it after you've done the ticklist, it's a waste of time)

It adds extra unnecessary work to your day. Honestly, I wouldn't bother :) See your point no.1.

The rest of it seems like a good plan.

Are you a member of childmindingforum? I have to say, that is the one place where I get most of the helpful info and advice from when it comes to CMing.

My CM change for the new year is to do absolutely no CM work until September (hopefully) as today is my first proper day of Maternity Leave

Hi Flisspaps

Congratulations, all the best....

I miss read what you wrote. I thought you wrote

My CM change for the new year is to do absolutely no paper work until September (hopefully). Then i noticed cm work. It made me laugh

Thank you for your comments much appreciated.

I also intend to do no paperwork so in a way you read it right - no CMing = no paperwork to do!

Flisspaps

Look forward to hearing from some more cms.

I'm going to get rid of loads and loads of toys that never get played with, but manage to clutter up my house, and replace them with more interesting stuff. For years I had a constant supply of new equipment because my own kids were young and kept getting Christmas and birthday presents, which everyone played with. Now they're getting older all my equipment seems a bit samey. Out with the old and in with the new!

Ofsted coming this year, so will have to review all my paperwork, and make sure I've got their latest address on my noticeboard (how many times have they 'moved house' in the last 3 years? Presumably hoping that a moving quango is hard to axe).

Large when they have left. Not in working hours obviously.

• Toy update
• Paperwork review
• Keep accounts up to date
• Notice when my 12 yr old DD walks in from school
• Prep 5 children ready to start school

• I'm sure there's more ...

changes: lj's...i do too much...always chasing my tail....this year i Will find a system that works
I will stop moving the playroom furniture around, its never going to be perfect but it works for the children as it is...now
something i'm going to keep a close eye on: the revised EYFS- I Will Not over-react

I'm going to stop giving dinner. The one child I do feed ATM has to eat a different meal to my own due to dietary requirements and she doesn't eat it anyway. I know her mum feeds her at home if she's still hungry so I'll stop.

Good thread!

I think sorting the toys is a great idea. Like Answeringwhyetc, my toys have also just evolved as my son has grown. So I have too many of one type of toy and not enough of another type (i am reluctant to say too many boys toys and not enough girls in case I get slated for being sexist but despite my feminist tendencies, I will argue til the cows come home that boys and girls GENERALLY and MORE OFTEN THAN NOT like to play with different types of toys).

I am also taking up CM computer package by They-who-shall-remina-nameless once again in case I get flamed! I am so far behind in paperwork that in effect I am just swamped.

at PP who said one of her (?) aims was to notice when her 12 yr old came home from school!

Thanks again everyone.

Is anyone up to date with paperwork and got their housework all up to date? Love to hear from you, get some tips

three out of four kids are nearly ready for bed. I have papers etc all over the place.