CM - do you suggest what activities parents should do at home

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I have just had the Early Year lady round to go through my paperwork to get on the local authority network.

She suggested a few things to me which I knew I needed to work on. More to do with planning and next steps.

She said after I had done my next steps to tell the parents of activities they can do at home to work on areas of learning that needed improvement.

I am not sure if I could tell a parent what to do at home with their kids re: learning, has any other minder done this. I just don't feel comfortable doing this, I know the school and nursery give you info about what to do at home to help but that is with my own children.

Not sure how I would broach this with mindee's parents!

I do this by adding it to the my learning picture (are these used nationally?) summary sheet that parents sign, I just put suggestions to give parents ideas of what they can do to help

You could explain that this is part of what you need to do to get Early Years Funding, which will help you keep fees down.

I tell parents what the next steps are, but I think assorted inspectors are getting carried away with giving pre school children homework.

I just add a short bit to the bottom of "My Next Steps.." sheet saying " I could try this at home..."
I only give one or two examples of simple things they could do with their children such as looking for numbers when out and about or suggest they share number rhymes together. I don't think any of them see it as homework, it's not like I check up on them!! But they do sometimes give me feedback about how the children got on.
When I changed my paperwork to include it I just said to the parents that I'm not patronising them but I have to now include it and they're all fine with it. A couple have said it helps to have an idea of what they can do at home.

I do something very similar. I might just put something like "Freddie has enjoyed doing some wooden puzzles today and has completed some up to 12 pieces without help- perhaps he might like to do some at home during the holidays"

Aaaarrrgggghhhhh - i wish we could just get on with looking after the children without all this need for paperwork!

what doughnut said!!!

i'll say in conversation what they have enjoyed doing, parents ask for ideas of things to buy their kids and what toys they like playing with when they are with me but im sorry im not about to start completing yet more forms and giving 2 year olds homework!!!

I think it's a great idea to include it, it's not homework and I don't think any of the parents would see it like that. I have ordered some stickers from Ncma so will be using them on the daily link book section to show what type of activity it is.. And am definitely going to say it is a requirement to cover working in partnership with parents

I am thinking of a way I can do this, without creating any extra paperwork. I was thinking of a 'try this at home' note in my diary (which the parents can ignore).

I will not patronise my intelligent, hands on parents, who already do lots with their children as they are working during the week. Most seem to do more than me Unless I really feel they need a little bit of help or direction, I would offer it, but otherwise most of you have said you are only doing it for OFSTED's benefit.

Here children at reception level are only sent home with a book a week to do with parents.

Where was the cut in paperwork with the new EYFS??

I have never done, and wouldn't consider this.

Parents don't need - or want - me telling them how to spend time with their kids. If I had a CM, I wouldn't appreciate it and it'd put me off at the first meeting stage if this was something they did.

I also got outstanding for partnership with parents without it!

Thanks for replies, I always write in the daily diary xx counted to ten today or recognised his shapes. Anyway I got an e-mail and I didn't get on to the network not sure if I want to now (I hadn't done enough planning or next steps).

I don't really want to turn my setting into a nursery which is basically what they want me to do.

My planning for today is to have fun my next step is to have more fun!! Yesterday was to eat as many pancakes covered in honey and jam. Kids loved it. All this was written up in their learning journals last night with photos.