Feeling awful. I haven't done a learning journey (cm)

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Please don't make me feel worse than I do. I have been minding a lovely boy for 1 day a week (7 hours) for the past 9 months. I stupidly have never done a learning journey for him, Parents are really nice and happy that he has a lovely time with me and have never asked about one. All my other mindees have one but I think because I only have this child for a short time i never got round to it. Now i keep having panic attacks as I know he should have had one all along. How can i sort this out?

Just cobble one up together, hand it to parents saying something like Look at this, here's little Johnny's LJ, it's been hanging around for yonks, I keep forgetting to show you it and make sure that you keep it up to date from now on

You should have photos, maybe notelets, lift info and WOW moments from the daily diary when the child is next in, to bring papaetwork in line, not forgetting Next Steps etc

Can you get something together? Is he leaving your care soon?

Thanks for not being judgemental. I keep waking up with a hot sweat. 9 month is such a long time. How many entries do you think I need?

Sorry lunar x posted. No he isn't leaving.

Dont panic if hes staying, you can get something started and some back dated bits. Have you got pictures of him?

It will be fine! Just make time to sit down one evening and go through all of your photos since he arrived, stick any photos in in order, any pictures he's done that you still have, and write a little vaguely educational comment below it.

I never got one for DS and he was with his childminder 2 years, I don't care about his "learning journey", he was having great care and his CM really loves him and that was what was important to me. I expect if they haven't asked about it they don't even know he's supposed to have one.

Fill in what you can find and just start doing it with the others from now on. I bet they won't even notice.

How many entries? At least one a month, with some exemplars of Next Steps undertaken. So maybe, 15 tops.

You are such lovely people. I am definitely going to sit down next week and sort it out. He and his parents are so lovely I feel like I have let them down.

Ah you'll be fine. The parents will be delighted. Everyone will be smiling.

Thanks

If my DD's cm said this to me I wouldn't give a crap. She loves her cm, she is well cared for, well fed, and I trust that the cm actually cares about DD and wants her to be happy. If you're going to forget something, the ofsted rubbish is the best thing IMO.

This makes me so sad. You sound like a wonderful cm. If my ds were in your care, I'd much rather you spent your time looking after him and yourself than faffing with paperwork.

Just tell them you're sorry you haven't started one yet, as you were getting to know him, and start it now.

Don't worry about it. The time to worry about it is if ofsted knock on your door and you don't have one, but I'm sure you can put something together. I sometimes get a bit behind on them but soon catch up once I think about it.

I don't put photos in either. I have been inspected about 12 months ago and she didn't seem bothered by the lack of photos. Apparently they are only there to bring it to life. Well, as the parents aren't bothered about what I have written and haven't ever commented in the book or read it (last time I gave it to one family, they gave it me straight back and said they would probably lose it, so best to keep it at my house) and when the children start at nursery or school, the teachers haven't wanted to see it I don't see that it matters if it is bought to life or not.

I never know how often to write in books either. Sometimes it seems like there is an entry every day for a week, other times, nothing for a couple of weeks. Depends what we have been doing.

I have never heard of a learning journey (my CM mustn't do it!), but am sure it's not important for most parents, as pp say it's the care thatmatters!

Blimey. If my CM presented me with learning journeys, I'd tell her to stop! Please, spend the time planning something fun for the children, or even recuperating with a cup of tea for another busy day running round after my children.

Don't give it another thought.

His parents won't be expecting one. If you decide to start, don't backdate it. Just present it to his parents as a "new thing".

If you were my CM I'd want you ti soend time playing with my DC during the day and spend time with your own family in the evenings.

I think OFSTED can stick learning journeys" where the sun doesn't shine.