Calling all you experienced CMs - help for a newbie. Mum coming tomorrow, am I ready?

[mumnosbest]

Ok, it's been a long wait but I have finally got my first mum and 2 children coming for a visit tomorrow. I'm excited but nervous and just want to check I have everything I should have ready.
I'm expecting it to be a chance for them to get an idea of what I'm offering, chat and questions. What should I giving them to take home? Mum has already asked for fees, so I have a copy of them ready, but what else? I have so much in my folder but don't want to overload her on her first visit.

Show her your:
Ofsted Cert
Public Liability and Motor Insurance
First Aid Cert
CRB

Give her a copy of your
Policies
Procedures
You may have a Portfolio with these already in?
Holiday dates for next year

Erm

Having a think

Back in a bit

Thanks boys, I'll be here a while. Organising and reorganising paper

Are you expecting to sign her up there and then ?

Not a CM here but a mum - two of the things that impressed me most about our CM (who was the first I met of two, although that sounds a bit lazy I felt she was right for us) were:

• a written document about her policies which answered a lot of questions I would like to know the answers to but would find it hard to ask, such as discipline and restraint and but nicer things such as going out as well

• when I first met her, taking then 6 month old ds round, she asked if she could hold him - he cried when I let go of him but she quickly reassured him and engaged his attention in playing with a toy

BoysAreLikeDogs' suggestions sound good, I would have been happy with those but don't get so caught up in paperwork that you forget to interact with kids and mum.

Not sure, she sounds very eager/desperate, works long hours and her CM has given notice. Thinking of suggesting she go away and think about it so neither of us agree then regret it, that'll give me time to fill in details on a contract too. What would you normally do?

thanks elkie, good to hear a mums point of view. I'm quite ready to play and chat and get to know them a bit but got a bit worried about the more formal stuff.

Thank you elkie, always always good to hear a parent's point of view

Well I would get contract/child record form all to hand and ready in case you decide to go for it.

As elkie says, have a go at interacting with the children, and be
Professional
Friendly
Think of your body language too - open gestures/eye contact/smile (not too scarey har har)

You may want to think about whether you can do super-fast settling-in - if previous CM has given notice she may be wanting to get them settled with you asap.

[ponders]

Think that's it.

Good luck

She's taken annual leave so doesn't need them to start till Jan, which suits me too, as things are getting quite hectic here, xmas, birthdays! Will have to practice a non-scary smile before bed

Let us know how you get on

will do and thanks for your help

Just wanted to say good luck, let us know how it goes

Thanks all of you who gave me advive and wished me luck. The meeting went well, even though the whole family appeared on my doorstep! I now have 2 children starting straight after Christmas

Great news, well done