What do you do on the training courses when starting as a childminder?

[Ripeberry]

Hi, hopefully will be going to the pre-registration briefing next week for childminders.
They say that there will be 7 week course "introduction to childcare practice and also first aid.
Just wanted to know, what do you do in these classes for 2 and half hours? Do you do lots of role-play? or is it just the tutor dronning on and on?
Or does it vary?
Are lots of essays? or is it all book based work?
Just curious!

I am doing mine at the mo!!

How far have you got and did you start quite soon after going to the pre-registration meeting?

not much, tres dull in my case and a bit like teaching grandmother to suck eggs.

The Introduction to Childcare Practise in unit 1 of Level 3 Dimploma in homebased childcare (you with me for now? lol )

The course length depends on the local authority (minimum 12 hours), and is probably best to contact your local childrens information service who will put you in touch with the co ordinators for your area who can explain in detail (its explained on the breifing), but ours is 4 days and this is what it consists of

Day 1
Establishing a safe and healthy environment for young children
Providing basic play and other activities for children
Day2
Establishing routines for the childminding day
Settling children into the childminding session
Treating children with equal concern
Using positive methods for managing childrens behaviour
Day3
Starting a childminding business
Initiating relationships wth parents
Safeguarding children
Day4
Early years foundation stage
Developing a portfolio for home based childcare
Policies and procedures
Childminder support and quality assurance schemes
childminders working with childrens centres

hth

Today was my second day of the 4, I was lucky to get on the first course after my briefing session (there was only 15 places) and my briefing was about 3 weeks ago

It's all basic common sense stuff and yes it's mind numbingly boring!!!! You do a multiple choice paper at the end and TBH if you don't pass you should never be around children!!!!!

The first aids good, it's based on babies and children, so the resuss techniques differ quite alot, covers everything from minor scalds to 3rd degree burns (hopefully that will never happen!), cuts and grazes to broken bones!!!! The choking techniques vary according to age too.

It is exceedingly dull, there are no essays, just a multiple choice questionaire at the end.

If you have an ounce of common sense you'll be fine!

Thanks, was wondering what other childminding sites were talking about when they mentioned DHC.
Lucky that you can have it spread over a week like that.

Thanks everyone, i just hoping that it would not involve grown adults sitting on the floor pretending to be a stropy toddler and doing role-play.
Can you tell that i can't stand role-play, but i love playing silly with kids