Need help from childminders! Pre reg visit tomorrow <<aaaaagh>>

[gigglinggoblin]

Have had less than 48 hours notice she is coming and am now panicing. Taking a break to feed ds in between desperately trying to sort out house.
Do I have to have a fire blanket and extinguisher? Now? Or when registered?
Can I ask her questions or do I need to pretend I know it all?

Doing risk assessments tonight, policies sorted. Anything else?

Help really appreciated, I have joined a cm forum but they wont post my stuff straight away til I have so many posts and I need help now!

have just been registered so can help. You dont need to have lots of equipment but you do need to tell them what you will need, i.e stair gate, fire guard, walk your home and make a list to show you are aware of any dangers, also garden

You dont need lots of policies and proceedures but its so easy to down load them and tweak for your setting and it looks professional.. concentrate on Health and safety.

You will need car business insurance and personal insurance but again you just have to demonstrate that you know these things.. you get a free fire blanket IF you join NCMA.. ALso they will provide you with all the start up documents you will need and are legal requirements to have...

Get in good cake (rocky road)..and best of British....

I had mine a few months ago and it was much less scary than I thought. Try to tidy the house a bit - mine went in all the rooms and some of the cupboards! but in terms of toys etc and safety, they are happy if you can tell them what changes you know you need to make. Also have a flick through the EYFS as she asked quite a bit about that. Good Luck!

Make a list of all the things you are planning to do before you start minding (fire blanket, etc).

YES ... Do ask them questions. They are there to advise us, as well as register us. They will be much more impressed by someone who is willing to change than someone who knows it all.

You don't need policies and procedures for a pre-reg visit, but you could let her know that you're aware you will need them - for an idea of what have a look at the BCMA website (Bromley Childminding Association). The pre-reg visit is just to check your suitability and your home, and mine was quite informal - although it was almost 4yrs ago. Just mention things like EYFS, risk assessment, observations and assessment - I've never known anyone who was refused registration yet! The big thing at the moment apparently is inclusion and diversity and working in partnership with parents and other agencies (nurseries, schools).

I had a list of things I was aware I had to do (fire extinguishers, socket covers, stair gates etc) and also a list of questions - some of which the inspector couldn't answer . You'll probably think afterwards 'why was I so worried'! Good look - hope you enjoy being a cm!

If you don't have everything yet a "wish list" of things you plan to get is a good idea. Eg. some "girls toys" if you only boys or vice versa, things for older children if you only have baby equipment or again vice versa!

You don't have to know everything at this stage, and the Inspector might be able to answer some questions but your Local Authority Early Years people are the ones there to give advice and support so it's a good idea to try them as well.

And remember, despite popular rumour Ofsted Inspectors are human and most of them have probably had kids of their own so they do inhabit the real world! Take deep breaths and you'll do fine!

This wish list I wrote out for new CMs,it might be a help.

Safety Items Needed:

Stair gate on bottom of stairs.
Dog Gate in Utility

Lock for Garden Gate
Fencing for Dog Run

Equipment Needed.

1 Highchair.
1 Booster seat for dining
I Double Buggy
1 Set of Reins
2 Travel Cots
2 Travel Blankets
4 Travel Sheets
6 Hand Towels

Anything else email me on nanny 475 at hotmail dot com

I go off line tomorrow night for a couple of weeks as moving house.
6 Face cloths
1 Handwash Bowl
1 Set of Children?s Drawers
1 First Aid Kit
1 Travel Fist Aid Kit
3 Drinking Beakers
1 set of Childs Beakers
3 Sets of Children Cutlery
3 Sets of Children?s plates, bowls
Fire Blanket

Toys Needed

Baby

Soft toys
Books
Texture toys
Musical Toys
Mirrors
Pull alongs.

Toddler

Books
Cars and Garage
Dolls and Pushchair
Play Food
Kitchen
Dressing up

Play dough and Cutters
Paint and Brushes
Glitter and Sequins
Glues and Spreaders
Paper and Card
Chalk Board
Chalk
Wax Crayons
Pencil Crayons
Pencils

Threading Games
Sorting Games
Matching Games
Dominos
Jigsaws
Blocks
Bricks

After School

Books
Jigsaws
Board Games
Lego
Knex
Hama Beads

Garden

Sand Pit
Playhouse
Ride ons
Slide
Rocker
Balls

Wow, thats all fantastic, thank you!

Love the wish list, will deffo get some questions written down, VERY glad I dont need everything bought and in place! Am glad its not common to be refused, she told me on the phone that its possible I may be refused and that if that happens I would never be allowed to work in child care again! Fab way to settle nerves lol

Could anyone give me tips for for emergency fire procedure? Obviously we all get out asap but am wondering if I have a baby asleep upstairs and a couple of preschoolers downstairs how I go about it, front yard is not secure so if I had to go that way I couldnt leave them alone to go back in for baby but also wouldnt want to trail them all upstairs. Any ideas?

Also one of the questions I might be asked is how I avoid leaving minded kids alone with unvetted visitors - I do have friends round occasionally and wondered if its enough to just say I would ask them to go and make a cup of tea while I have to leave kids to get them out of the room, I dont really know whats expected.

Right, going to have a go at risk assessments and flick through EYFS again. Much calmer now you have reassured me it doesnt have to be spot on yet

Dont have any cake, should I bake???????

I dont know how I typed my email in the middle of that list, i thought I had put it at the end!!!!!!!

Relax, you will be fine.