Just some encouragement to cm's - your doing an awesome job !!!

[MUM2BLESS]

I am a cm myself.

I am really amazed at how cms have been pull down recently.

Susan Gregory Ofsted General Director for Education and Early Years has made some very unwelcome comments on c/ms and any other attacks which we've had.*

We know the role we play in the childrens lives
The long hours we have worked
The mountain of paperwork we have gone through or still going through
The joy on the kids faces (today the little one was really laughing)
etc etc etc

Would love to hear from parents who have an awesome cm, and cms.

I will not stop doing what I have been doing for over four years now.

One of my mindees parents bumped into another parent I know from toddlers and said she was very happy to hear about how happy her little boy is when he is with me. She made it all seem worthwhile :)

I have a fantastic childminder who has some equally brilliant helpers. I dropped DD off this morning and she couldn't get away from me fast enough, arms straight up for a cuddle with CM's helper.

But also because I know she'll be happy and have fun today.

Sorry that sounds a bit now I've written it down...

I have a fab CM. She will always help out, nothing is too much trouble and she is lovely with my DS's. It is a real home from home for them

I have 2 wonderful CMS, mopther and daughter team. They are fabulous, they've been looking after my DCs since DD1 was 8months old, and she's nearly 9 yo now. The DCs are safe and happy with them, my CM has a dog, which we can't so the children get to 'have' a pet with them. Both of the CMs are so helpful (will drop off children to the house if I'm at home with a poorly one for example), I just don't know what I'd do without them - they're like the extended family we don't have where we live!

Oh, and when I lost DD3 in the playground recently, she just wandered up to the daughter CM and said 'Have you seen my mummy? She's got lost.' I love that the DCs have that extra layer of people to care for them.

have had 2 fab CM and have another one currently - hard working, flexiable, and wonderful with my DCs - keep it up everyone!

Thank you so much.

I had to take a break just to check what comments I had on this thread... (doing an invoice) so glad I did.

The comments are so lovely and very touching. I wish the whole world could read the awesome comments.

Today I had a little one who was feeling a bit sad. During the day it was lovely to hear her laughing..........I trust she will remember these times in years to come!!

Recently I attended a talk on choosing childcare. It was very interesting to chat to parents and listen to their experiences and what they are looking for. It can be a daunting job to find the right person to care for your little gem. I feel honoured that my parents have choosen me.

Keep the comments rolling in Will check this thread tomorrow as I need to continue with my invoice. thank you

My childminder is superb, utterly outstanding in my opinion. She's just been downgraded by Ofsted because of some stupid policies that as a parent I couldn't care less about. My daughter loves her, and I trust her absolutely
Thank you

I LOVE my CM. My DS, just turned 1, always goes into her house with a smile on his face. I think he thrives on the fact that she is his sole carer and she is flexible, friendly and she has been able to tailor the care to suit him rather than more rigid nursery schedules. She is also much, much cheaper than nursery was for DD1. She really is the next best thing to us or other family having DS and he is so happy there.

I'm in the process of picking a cm. I can't decide between two because they both seem awesome!!

Keep up the good work

Parents thank you for your wonderful words about cms. I wish we would have this braodcast on sky news this evening for all to hear.

Sometimes the people who are bringing in the changes and making comments do not really know what greats things are taking place between the parents the children and the childminders.

Keep them rolling in.

A friend looked after my oldest years ago. As a cm I can really appreciate what she did for me, so long ago. My son use to be at her house around 6 in the morning. I will not stop the calls I make to her as she is so special in my life.

Oh yes, I have a brilliant CM who spoils my DD rotten. She's being going part-time since she was 4 months old so you can imagine how much of a pull that was. But the CM has been nothing but great - flexible, accomodating, gives lots of cuddles, cooks great food. DD is absolutely thriving. Total peace of mind for me, and very much appreciated. One of the hardest jobs there is, IMO - at least in a nursery you get coffee breaks, not so with CMing!

I think Susan Gregory's comments are all about successful compliance with EYFS. But, as a parent, I don't really care about EYFS. Not one bit. I send my young children to childminders to be cared for before they are old enough to be formally educated. So, they show up in nursery/reception not yet having been taught to read, write, etc. Yeah.... so what's the problem?

I don't think the EYFS is the be all and end all for rating the quality of childcare. In act, I'd be quite happy if they removed it for under 4s. My toddler doesn't need to be observed and documented. I just want to know if he is happy, well, and (okay, I want to know if he ate his veg because I'm a bit obsessed with nutrition).

There is a lot of talk of deregulation. But when I look at what is being said it seems like more and not less.

I think parents are able to choose their children's carers without the meddling bureaucracy of governt regulation.

I have always felt I am like a family member to those children that don't have close family around (which is why parents use me). They see me at the schools and in the village and wave excitedly. I love that they don't really know they are going to "childcare", they are in a family home with normal things going on around them as well as lots of other activities and outings and friends to play with.

A few years ago one of the children I cared for made me smile when he said "Mum's at work - it's lucky you don't work!". Now it does sadden me that in trying to stop all the paperwork and bureaucracy impacting on the daily lives of the children I care for, and trying to make it seem to them that we have some sort of normal family life and some good old-fashioned fun, that I end up doing all this "stuff" to keep OFSTED happy in the evenings and weekends that I would rather spend with my own children. Something has got to give! When I see childminders cynically or thoughtlessly rubbished like this I wonder why any of us bother.

That rant was on the wrong thread really. Sorry Mum2Bless, it's been a long day!

My cm is fab, my two dcs love her, feel safe and happy with her and thoroughly enjoy the time they spend with her.

I trust her, value her and feel 100% confident with my children's care.

She is flexible, caring, understanding and excellent value for money.

She has OFSTED due soon and deserves outstanding, but is a bit scatty with paperwork so will probably get satisfactory- this is ridiculous, but I know her true value!!

Thank you so much.

Less paper work would be great.

Imagine working from 7.30 to 18.00 (Mon to Fri) the when the kids leave you see to the needs of your own family. I will not complain. On top of that you have to find time for paper work, house work , your spouse and not forgetting yourself.

Looking after children is a special job as you are teaching, caring, nursing, feeding, correcting etc etc.

I adore my cm and luckily so does dd. She's completely brilliant and I find her a real support to me (am prone to losing my confidence as a parent). I really want to tell oh that I'm working but instead just stay at the cm's too

I trust these comments will bring a smile to someones face.

Parents thank you so much. I know that in 2012 there is so much pressure on working parents, especially mum with little ones. Its great that you have peace of mind that your gems are in good hands.

Strix as a CM, I find all of the parents I have worked with think the same. They don't care for the EYFS, and tbh, the longer I do the job, the less I care for it too.

This is not a popular view though amongst many CMs. I'd quite happily have Ofsted come in and say "what sort of activities do you do?" (Role play, reading, garden), "do you use safety equipment" (yes) and to do bw done with it. No observations, policies, procedures, risk assessments, learning journeys, planning, environmental health registration, ICO registration, accident logs, medication forms, permissions for everything...

I have always loved my DCs CMs.
DD had a lovely husband and wife who were happy to carry her and cuddle her. They had older twins who taught her to walk by one holding each hand. They had a huge garden and their house was like a great big happy family home.
They'd retired by the time I had DS and I was anxious that I wouldn't find anyone so good but I have. My current CM goes out and about a lot to various groups, park, outings which DS loves as he's an active little lad. I've been impressed how well she knows all her mindees and thinks up things to suit each one. She is also great support to me (I've cried on her shoulder more than once!)
I just want my LOs to be well cared for and loved not educated and observed. I'm fine with school runs and supermarket trips (within reason) as I just want them to have a normal life like they would if they were home with me. I think a bond with one carer is the most important thing and I'd never consider nursery for under 2s. I think a CM is positively the best choice for this age group (or a nanny if you can afford it) and they should be supported and valued.

I'm about to start my dd with a cm who I think is wonderful! She's the ideal carer for dd - kind, patient, enthusiastic and intelligent. It's scarey for any parent to leave their child, but I have absolute faith in my cm.

Remember, people tend to post the bad cm/parent stories, those of us who are very happy parents/cms don't need to ask questions etc.

Nice one, thanks for the lovley encouraging comments.

Nearing the ending of 2012, I trust that 2013 will be a better year for all childminders and the families they are dealing with. Your all doing a GREAT JOB. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

My childminder is so awesome I can't believe our luck. My 19mo has been going for about 7 months and it's like her second home and she loves it. She adores the CMs 2.5yo daughter and her 10yo son has the patience of a saint playing with the two girls for ages.

I genuinely think the CM loves my DD rather than just 'minding' her and I'm so grateful for that because it makes the necessary evil of working so much easier knowing she's so happy.

I don't give a stuff about daily written reports or the EYFS (although I when the CM texts me photos of her playing whilst I'm at work )

I thank my lucky stars every day that we found her. I love her so much we're keeping my daughter with her when we move even though it's a half hour drive in the wrong direction!

Flisspaps - My parents say as long as their child is happy, they are happy, and I feel the same as you and Ive only been CM for 4yr 9mths, now that is sad :-(