Help please! Need to get paperwork, policies, etc sorted asap and I am clueless

[chloemegjess]

Hi. I am a new CM and I have just taken out my insurance from MM.I am hoping to purchase contracts and a few other bits from MM tomorrow when DH gets paid.

Somebody has very kindly offered to build me a website this weekend, so trying to get my arse in gear today to try and get a lot of my paperwork sorted. I want to put my policies and procedures on their so parents can view them from home.

I am so confused about what paperwork we need to do. I want to make myself a list of EVERYTHINHG I need to do for CM so I can start working my way through it. Since spending time on here I keep finding out new stuff that I didn't know I needed to do! I bought an A4 ringbinder as well as a file with different sections etc in to help me organise it all.

Can anybody help me work out what I need? Right from policies, permission forms, diaries etc. I just need a list so I know what I need to work towards iyswim? Don't want to miss anything!

Since you already have a file and if it's in the same five sections as the EYFS Statutory Framework (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; Suitable People; Suitable premises,environment and equipment; Organisation; Documentation)you should look at the EYFS in Practice website here for their pack of policies and procedures. Its been mapped against all the 'Musts' and 'Shoulds' of Welfare Requirements and also has Risk Assessments, permission forms, parent questionnaires etc as well as all you need to set up your children's Learning and Development records.

I just have a normal file from Asda! Didn't realise there was a spefic one! I have looked at that website, but it said it was £20 have an example of a policy. So I assume you still have to write it yourself?

I just think it is soo confusing! Too much paperwork if you ask me!

If you are a member of NCMA there are a lot of example policies on their website

Sorry I am with MM rather than NCMA

I thought MM did something similar but now can't find it on their website?

I've just bought the EYFS in Practice file and it's a lot of money to pay out but having gone through it today I think it's worth it. Yes, you do still have to write your own poicies, but you can use their templates to put you in the right direction. It also tells you how to link everything to the welfare requirements, without having to trawl through the official EYFS document. There's also the Bromley CHildminding Association webby (type BCMA into Google), they have tons of stuff and ideas on there (wish our local authority had something similar). You can print off and adapt their policies to your own setting and you can sign up for newsletters. Even if you aren't an NCMA member you can still access and print off their policies and other info - they don't ask for membership numbers or anything. Good luck - have been minding 3 years and still haven't got my head round it!

I will go on the BCMA site etc now. Thing is with ordering something is ideally I wanted to get it done tonight and maybe tomorrow, as my DH is off to look after DD, the weather is crap and also I want to get my website up and running ASAP so I can start advertising it.

That BCMA website is brilliant!

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

BCMA has all the info you'll need and more as well as childmindingforum.co.uk

Take the time to learn your craft, it'll pay dividens in the long run.

I first got the idea to become a CM dec 06. started Cming 10 weeks ago and achieved a 'good' in all areas last month. My policies and procedures are water tight, all parents, wheather they engage my services or not comment on how professional I am.

ncma also has policies and procedures, there not just for members, you just have to use the serch option on the website.
imo you really dont need to spend money on theese things. its all free if you search

ncma also has policies and procedures, there not just for members, you just have to use the serch option on the website.
imo you really dont need to spend money on theese things. its all free if you search

Thats good to hear.

Still not really sure on what I need to do though. I am happy to do them myself, I just could do with a list or something to work from.

I have been looking at the Bcma ones but there are sooo many! DO I need to do all of them?

It isn't actually writing them I am struggling with, its just having the undertanding of which ones I need. For example I had no idea we needed to do daily risk assessments until the other day when I read a thread on here. I don't want to miss anything out!

If you look at Part C of the Ofsted SEF, it lists (and numbers) all the Statutory Requirements. You need evidence to show that you are complying with these, that includes policies and procedures, risk assessments and L & D records. There is more info in the booklet 'Are you ready for your Inspection' on the Ofsted website.
The best thing about the EYFS in Practice Pack is that it is written by a childminder in plain English and contains everything you need. Yes, you need to adapt it to your own setting, but you need to do this whatever source you use, or you could get caught out if asked a question about it at your inspection.
I agree with 'ActivC' in that you do have to learn your craft - there are no shortcuts to quality, but sometimes an example of what it looks like helps!