Newly registered childminder

[gallifrey]

Hi there, looking for a bit of advice, I have been registered for about 2 weeks now and have just signed up my first mindee :)
Anyway I feel a bit like I have just been left to get on with it! I am a member of NCMA and registered with the local council but I have had no support or contact from anyone. I'm sure they link you up with a childminder in your area but this morning when I phoned up the council she just took my details to go on some courses for the revised EYFS.

Is this normal? I would just like to chat to someone and see if they can help me to go through my huge pile of paperwork!

gallifrey, hello and welcome

If you have a childminding group its worth joining, or if you have a local childrens centre give them a call and see what training is available.

I started cm in 2008 the same year the EYFS started, it was a daunting at first.

Have you got a childminding buddy, if they still have them, if yes give her a call.

In herts, young in herts run training courses for those in early years, I did my training with them, a while ago EYFS (revised).

Let us know what paper work you need help with.

All the best.

If they haven't given you an experienced minder to support you, then go to the CMs drop in and pick everyone's brains.

Oh ... and ask us too

thanks everyone :)

There is a childminder drop in on fridays at my local childrens centre I could go to.

Yes that's what I want is a childminding buddy, I thought they set you up with one?

I just want help with everything really, the risk assessments and my policy's and procedure's.
I am doing the course CYPOP5 and I'm struggling with that too, especially now it's all changed and I don't even have the updated EYFS stuff although I have just sent for some from NCMA, my local council haven't got anything to send me at the moment so I've had to pay £20!

I've been feeling this way too. I had my initial training but no support after that. I was overlooked before my first Ofsted inspection and although early years team found out about it (I was doing a observation course at the time) the support given was only in email which was overwellming in such a short time. Even though I tried my best I got a Satisfactory. The early years team was disappointed.

Now I've been childminding for a while now and want to do the level 3 diploma. I went to the interview and was told that they would pay for it but I would have to join the childminding network and become accredited in this year. So I have taken steps asking the network co-ordinator if I can join it only to be told I need a Good or Outstanding grade. Since I'm not due a new report done until 2014 I have to get my report done early and have been given a list of Good and Excellent Examples of Childminding Provision which I can send you if you like. It really is an eye opener to what is looked for by Ofsted. It has certainly helped me.

Join NCMA Local in your area. If it is up and running there will be a facilitator organizing meetings for peer support and for you to meet colleagues, if no facilitator yet you can still blog and ask for support to those registered on it (which area are you from?)

I have met so many c/ms that feel they have been left to get on with it just as you need the most support...good luck..we can always help you here !!!

gallifrey

My policies and procedures are

1 Working with Parents Policy
2 Safe Guarding Children Policy
3 Complaints Policy
4 Inclusion and Anti-Bias Policy
5 Behaviour Management Policy
6 Accidents and Emergency Policy
7 Uncollected Child Policy
8 Lost/Missing Child Policy
9 Sickness Policy
10 Confidential Policy
11 Emergency evacuation Policy
12 Health and Safety Policy
13 Payment Policy
14 Nappy/Pull up and Toilet Training Policy
15 Children in other setting policy

I introduced some policies due to my experience ie late payment pol (late payment fee)

Will introduce more if necessary.

You can have policies for almost anything.

I try to update these atleast once per year. I email them to parents to save time and paper, with a slip at the end for them to sign and return.

thank you so much MUM2BLESS, how do you know what to write?

I'm not normally this clueless honest! I just go blank whenever I try and think of what to say

Might be worth having a look at www.childmindingpaperwork.co.uk for help with paperwork. Really good reviews.

gallifrey

You kinna learn as you go along. When I first started my policies were very basic. You experience things and also look at what other cm have written, you have to adapt it to suit yourself. I like to keep things to the point with the important info in.

For example for safeguarding, you write it in line with what it covers. When changes take place you update your policies if necessary.

Some cm have touch policy, you can have policies for almost anything.

YOu can also get ideas from other cms too.

Im a 2008 Young in Herts Childminder too
They gave me a mentor when I first started.

Bromley Childminding Association (BCMA google it) Ive looked and adapted some of my policysfrom there) is a good one too.

This part of the forums is good
In the past Ive had help form the ladies and gents on www.childmindinghelp.co.uk