Nannynick - remember helping me with layout etc last time........well, I've adapted that letter. What do you think? Please ignore layout, can't be bothered to adjust as fine on actual letter.
If anyone else has any feedback, please fire away!
Variation Request
February 2007 to end December 2007
Reason: parent struggling to find childcare (part
time hours)
Start date: end February 2007 (date TBC)
End date: end of December 2007
As Child A starting full time school after Christmas.
Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Hours: 8.30am - 2pm
My Own Child (age in February 2007):
A ? xxx (my son) ? very nearly 4 years (date of birth ? xxx)
Minded Children (age in February 2007):
B ? xxx ? 19 months (date of birth ? xxx)
C ? xxx ? 2 months (date of birth ? xxx)
D ? xxx ? 4 months (date of birth xxx)
I was recently granted permission to look after 4 children under 5, on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I?ve had a change in circumstances and one of my mindees is leaving on xxx February 2007, therefore invalidating my certificate allowing 4 under 5?s.
I have a lady, xxx, who is desperately searching for childcare in our village and is having no luck so far and is worried she will be unable to return to work as planned. We don?t have many childminders in our village and the ones we do have, don?t have any vacancies.
Due to the short hours this lady requires childcare, I am writing to ask permission to look after her child. This would mean looking after 2 children under 1 between 8.30am and 2pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. My son attends nursery every morning until 11.30am so there would also be 4 under 5?s in total for 2½ hours on those days. Obviously there are the school holiday?s to consider but most of the morning is spent at local baby and toddler groups which my son also loves so I feel very confident about looking after these children in the holidays too.
Both Mrs xxx and Mrs xxx are confident in my abilities and are more than happy for me to do this.
I have enough travel cots, so that there will be adequate facilities for the young mindees to take naps, providing separate cots and bedding for each in this manner. The cots will be placed in the spare bedroom. My son very rarely has naps now he is older but when he needs one, he can use the sofa with his blanket. I also have a sofa bed in the playroom.
I have a dedicated playroom with various children?s toys (for all appropriate ages), soft toys, and numerous books. I also have boxes stored away and rotate the toys on a regular basis. So that the children can have a change, we also visit the library and toy library and the children can agree between them what they would like to borrow.
I have a sterilizer, highchairs and suitable booster seats, so that they can all be safely seated at the dining room table during meals. I have sufficient child cutlery and beakers so that each child can have their own.
As I have been caring for (counting my own son) 3 children under 5, the necessary safety equipment is already in place (such as door catches, stairgates, nappy changing facilities etc).
I have a 7 seater people carrier and sufficient car seats suitable for the age and weight of the children in question. I also have a double pram suitable from birth to age 4 and a baby sling which I would use for the youngest mindee. This means that 2 children would be in the pram, one baby in the sling and my son would walk with me whilst holding onto the side of the pram. We currently walk with a single pram for the youngest and the older ones hold onto the sides of the pram, so it would be the same but just a bigger pram.
We have sufficient floor space to allow all the children to play. The playroom includes a small child sized table and chairs to allow older children to draw, or play games at this in my sight without putting small pieces on the floor which may be unsuitable for the babies. In addition there is the living room, currently used as a room for quiet activities, and the dining table which can be used for similar purposes.
I have a garden which has sit on/push along toys, bikes/trikes and a big wooden play house with many roll play toys, aswell as a chalk board and area for them to draw, paint etc. We also have a nice new park behind us with lots of green for the children to run around.
Currently, the children all have the same meals and snacks, and at the same time which means that I would only need to prepare meals once for all children. Parents will provide me with milk and food for the babies, should the variation be granted. I propose that the babies will nap at slightly different times. This I believe would allow me to give them more personal attention, as they would both have a period of time when the other was asleep to be given more concentrated attention.
If any child was in danger, I would deal with them first. Then I would comfort any child who was hurt. I would then comfort the remaining child if necessary. Where possible, I can pick up and cuddle 2 children at once provided I am sitting down, and as long as neither are hurt or ill, I think that distraction cuddles and a story or song are often enough to settle them again. Hopefully sitting and playing with them and the other children on the floor for the majority of the time, will avoid too many instances like this in any case. Attention and distraction often prevent tears and squabbles over toys in any case and if I am constantly interacting with them, I will be able to see when they are getting bored of an activity and it needs altering slightly to maintain their interest. Provided I choose activities that can be varied to suit the older children, or ensure that they are all in the same room, I can divide my attention as and when required to ensure that all children are playing purposefully.
I currently attend baby and toddler sessions, which I would continue to do as it allows the children to interact with other children of varying ages, and introduces them to new toys/equipment and experiences to help their development.
I trust you will give my request serious thought. Myself and Mrs xxx would be very grateful if you could confirm whether or not this variation will be granted, as soon as possible as she is due to start her new job in 3 weeks.
Yours faithfully
xxxx