ncms quality first

[oldandfat]

has anyone done this, what does it entail, is it hard? should i do it?

I think it's more or less the same as those of us who have joined a networking group, as we all have to work towards the NCMA quality first standards. I don't really know how the NCMA one operates itself - so I'm not being much help, sorry!

With the network, it entails us doing a minimum amount of training per year (includes short courses, workshops etc.) We get regular home monitoring visits by our local network co-ordinator, access to an equipment loan scheme, etc.

I think it is a great way to raise your profile with parents looking for childcare, as it demonstrates that you are aiming to be as professional as you can.

I am doing the NCMA quality first at the moment.

It is in the form of a file you read and fill in, you can choose to go for level 1, 2 or 3 and should take you approx 12 months to complete. You also attend 10 workshops to help you along the way and you also have a mentor you can ring.

It is quite intense and is individual to you and how you run your business (although obviously some of the sections have a minimum amount of content you have to include eg safety, confidentiality, equal opps, child protection etc).

I started mine in September last year and am finding it a bit hard to find the time so get it done along with all of the other training I am doing, but I am sure I will be glad I have done it when it's all finished.

I've been doing it at Level 3 for 2 years ...

I did mine in 2004, i entered at level 3 and this is what i was awarded. It took me 4 months to complete and almost that long to get verified. I found the easiest thing to do was go through the whole file and fill in all the pages that you can do without having to think too hard and then go back and do all the others. Enter at level 3 if you dont get it they will give you a 2 or 1 but if you only enter at 2 then you cant get a 3 without having to re submit later. if you decide to do all your work on the PC and then print ( this does look very professional)please remember 1 thing and that is SAVE everysingle page of work as you complete it as their software is a little dodgy and you could end up losing big chunks, if not all, of your work, as i experienced on at least 1 occassion.