Why would I want to do an EYPS?

[KatyMac]

I am doing my personal statement......help??

Bump

Very quick reply, will come back later. A lot depends on your background, what experience you have and which pathway you are applying to do.

Off the top of my head you are applying to:

• identify gaps in your practice
• cpd
• you have a commitment to improve your own practice and others
• it would have a positive impact on your setting

Thanks

So far I have:
As is now a self sustaining enterprise it is time for me to move forward and plan my continued professional development. I am ready to consider my next challenge and as an experienced childcarer and manager of a setting an EYPS is the next goal I can aim towards.

Although I attend lots of training and my setting is often used for training by other agencies there is so much about pedagogy that I don?t know and this would be a good way of continuing to learn about current childcare practises.

As a practitioner I use outdoor space extensively, meeting the EYFS in innovative and imaginative ways creating ?communication friendly spaces? and encouraging an ecologically sound grounding of knowledge for the children I care for; however nothing should remain static and training to improve my provision is always essential.

& my supporting info is:
Children at XXXX are cuddled, cherished and encouraged to grow and learn through play. We aim to put into practice our core values: Nurturing, exploring & developing independence.

We create a calm, relaxed atmosphere for your children, emphasising the social aspect of mealtimes and recognising the importance of a healthy diet. Both free play and structured play are integral in our daily activities along with music, dancing and lots of fresh air!

We work together providing high quality childcare in a home environment. We have a dedicated playroom, child sized cloakroom, quiet sleeping & homework area, large dining kitchen, a small office, a covered enclosed play area and a large safe well equipped garden. The light and airy playroom is filled with all manner of toys and resources, from wooden toys and a computer through to a climbing frame and a wide variety of books. We also have a cat and 2 chickens. My employees and I listen to parents and adapt our provision to enable the service we provide to be tailored to each individual child.

We are open between 7:30 am and 6:00 pm for 50 weeks of the year and there are no additional charges for meals. It should be noted that in over 8 years we have only closed for 4 days due to illness and unforeseen circumstances. We run an ad-hoc service for parents who need more sporadic childcare. We also run a small out-of-school club for children who attend school or live locally.

Working in rural XXX with relatively high unemployment and comparatively low wages; our children are predominantly white and a mix of Church of England and Methodist. We have a mix of single and two parent families

I am an OFSTED Registered Childminder working with a team of registered childminders and assistants providing high quality childcare in a home environment. I consider registered childminding to be an invaluable service, and as a professional childcarer, I am proud to offer a flexible home-based service to children and their families. I have received Outstanding at my last two inspections and I really treasure these.

Since I moved to this area I have been very impressed with the spirit of community that exists within my village. XXXXX, the community, the churches and the school have provided me with invaluable support and help during the time I have been running my business. There are a wide range of companies which operate locally; by sourcing my products and services from them I am able to help other small businesses to succeed and participate in the local micro-economy. If I try to obtain all the products and services I need locally, I can fulfil my green ideals and minimise my carbon footprint. I often deal with companies that employ the parent for whom I childmind, thereby contributing to the local economy in two different ways.

But I think supporting info should be less than personal statement

Hi KatyMac, glad to hear things are going well (or self-sustaining at least!)

I don't know about EYPS but the normal standard for personal statements is just under 500 words.

I think you could do with some proof reading when you get a bit further - for instance 'an EYPS' does not make grammatical sense, in fact when first mentioned you should write in full as '... and manager of a setting Early Years Professional Status is the next goal I can aim towards.'

Pedagogy is unnecssary jargon (and a horrible word).

Don't say 'lots' (unprofessional), and give at least one example when using 'often' and similar words.

... most of your supporting information should stay out of your PS but I would pull in and adapt the information in this paragraph:

I am an OFSTED Registered Childminder working with a team of registered childminders and assistants providing high quality childcare in a home environment. I consider registered childminding to be an invaluable service, and as a professional childcarer, I am proud to offer a flexible home-based service to children and their families. I have received Outstanding at my last two inspections and I really treasure these.

I lied

Is the rest of the supporting information OK to go in supporting information

I think so. I would also put details of all the training/CPD/reference visits etc. you have participated in to back up the example(s) selected for the PS.

I would rephrase as:

Rural XXX is characterised by relatively high unemployment and comparatively low wages. The ethnic balance of the population using childcare is predominantly white British; Christianity (mainly Church of England and Methodist) is the prevalent religious background. We have a mix of single and two parent families.

Like....."by other organisations (UEA, City College, JobCentre Plus, Local schools, Childminding Network, nurseries and childminders)"

I'd list them all out on a separate sheet(s) with dates (just months, or even years) - I'm assuming you can add as much supporting information as you like?

No I've only got about 3/4 of a page & tbh I'd be had pressed to find that information

I mean I have it all archived......in the attic

Well I sent it

I can't do OU this year as I'm broke & they may not let me do this because my OU won't be marked until 5th Feb so I may or may not have a degree

Hi KatyMac
Not been around much for a while & came to this too late to help you, sorry. Looks like Mr Anchovy has all bases covered though. I would have said to keep 'pedagogy' cos no matter how horrid a word it is, it is also the 'in' word and used a lot in EYP, or was when I did it (accredited Oct10).
Who are you applying to do it with now OU have lost the tender? I mentor for Chichester and OU but their last cohort are just doing their setting visits now & that will be it with OU :(

Best of luck with your application and your degree results... Let us know how you get on

I would have said to keep 'pedagogy' cos no matter how horrid a word it is, it is also the 'in' word and used a lot in EYP, or was when I did it (accredited Oct10).

That may be true, sorry if I have given you a bum steer. Many interviewers (for anything in general) like to pick up on jargon words used in an application and give the candidate a tough time proving that they really know what they mean and haven't just picked them up as buzzwords so I would always advise to stay clear unless you have rock-solid background knowledge and are uncrackable under pressure.

Oh and good luck!

Oh I left it in.....I am shameless

But it's a word I use with my parents quite a lot; it's invaluable in explaining that 'learning though play' is exactly that "learning" & that I spend a significant amount of time 'directing' or 'fostering' the supposedly free play that the children do to to achieve aims that I intend

I have actually "studied" something rather than making up up as I go along or working on my experience

... well you probably tick the 'rock-solid background knowledge and are uncrackable under pressure' box anyway

Eastern Leadership Centre???

Sorry cross post

marking place. back later !

Ooh Katy Mac thinking about filling in my EYPS forms. Now you've got me worried

OK I can't do the short graduate pathway unless I have a degree; it starts on 30th January, my degree results are out on 4th February

So I can't do it

Mine will start in Sept I think ... if I go ahead

Which pathway