I have to agree with purepurple. When I started as a childminder many years ago, all I had to do was give my details to the Council and they came and checked stairgates and fireguard. I didnt even have to do a first aid course for ages. I had 5 children to look after within weeks and had no idea what to do with them. I used to put reins on or have them in pushchairs and take them out most of the day. Another minder I knew back then had the same story - before she took up minding she had no experience of looking after other people's kids and she kept hers in a playroom all day long.
I dread to think what would have happened in those days if I had had a safeguarding issue or a bad accident with a child, I was lucky.
I do agree we usually have a natural instinct for how to care for children - but in this day and age being sued or accused by anyone for anything is a real possibility and we have to cover ourselves by having good policies and procedures and up to date knowledge through courses. If heaven forbid we had to go to court for anything we would have a good defense if all the above is in place and agreed with the parents.
With the observations and pictures issue, I do think if you keep these to a minimum, only recording the real 'wow' moments, its not too bad. I have a lot of kids (15) at the moment, but I only have to do obs on 4 of them as these are the only under 5's I have. I do find giving parents a pic and a sentence or two about what the child's learned and what I am going to do next is quicker than having to stand at the door at home time reliving the day for interested mums and dads.
The parents take this sheet home, and write their comments on it, and what they want their child to do, (their ideas are really helpful) then they give it me back next day.
As for risk assessments, they too can be done once for most outings, as the outing is the same every time (going on school pick-up etc) and for longer trips it is useful to think about what could happen beforehand to ensure your prepared. I can't see a problem there.
For risk assessment of the home, I just have a monthly tick sheet, where first thing in the morning I go round the house just checking things like there are plug covers on, there is no water lying in outdoor equipment after rainfall, etc. Takes mins to complete and has quite often thrown up something that needs attending to, like one day my older son took the fire exit key to school because he'd lost his, and he hadn't replaced it (wont do it now, it has a big laminated label on it- too big to fit in his pocket, saying fire key do not remove).
I like to think of what I do as a proper profession, and if I worked in an office etc. I would expect to go on courses and gain promotion, which is the way I look at the ofsted gradings, and the rewards are in increased income, the more professional you come over to parents, the more work you get and the more money you earn. I have never had a vacancy or had to advertise.
Parents are so much more genned up now on what to look for and where to get information, most of them have the internet and know how to access information on childminders. All my parents looked at my report.
Children should come first and foremost and the ones I look after do, the paperwork is just one way in which I demonstrate my ability to offer the best possible care.