CMs overwhelmed with ofsted paperwork - would you take part in an e-petition

[taffy101]

Hi, I am a parent of two who has always used childminders and been very happy with them. Recently my lovely CM quit (under 5's work)due to pressures of paperwork
I have found a new wonderful childminder but she is totally unhappy with the paperwork too (and other ridiculous rules that she has to adhere to).

I wrote to Ofsted to express my despair at this situation and that CMs were quitting in droves because of it etc
I got a fairly bland reply saying it is to comply with the childcare act/early years foundation and all early years settings have to comply with this.

I thought maybe we should try and lobby the government to remove childminders from this act due to them not being an educational establishment and parents not wanting their pre-schoolers to be in an educational establishment but want relaxed home environment etc
Has anyone already tried an e-petition on the number10.gov.uk site?
If not, I am thinking of starting one. What do you think? Do you agree with my sentiments? Would you put your name on it?

Thanks for reading my waffle!

Ooops! I meant June 2004.

I went to our local annual childminding conference on Saturday.

We were told that in our borough (Southwark, South East London) they had lost 130 childminders since the EYFS.

Hundred odd had been recruited since then but don't know if these are normal figures or not (shouldn't think so)!

I suspect they are quite happy to see the pre-EYFS CMs go, to be replaced with new CMs who don't know how it used to be and who will be told on their various courses about the paperwork and will think it's always been like this.

I'd be happy to sign a petition and pass it onto my CM - just had a conversation with her about it and she is hacked off with it all too. I don't want her making lots of notes on my child, I want her to play with him and cuddle him and look after him - it's crap .

I have submitted the petition. As soon as its approved I will post a link on here

Just marking the thread. Will sign as I completely agree with op.

Me too!!

I'm in! (Ex-CM due to paperwork and rules)

how about a simple pass/fail register for childminders/their homes and then a separate opt in if you want to be 'graded' by ofsted. Parents can then decide. Also cms don't have to feel bad about not being outstanding on paper even though they might be better than one in practice.

I am fed up of my house looking like a nursery with stupid posters like "do not smoke on these premises" "please wash your hands" etc. I have taken most of them down as no one looks at them. No parent has ever asked me about EYFS and if I follow it. Dont get me started on the paperwork my hubby thinks I am addicted to the computer but my answer is always the same "paperwork"

Almost off topic - but can I ask that people who feel like they might want to sign this EYFS petition also look at this one:elective home education

There are so many arguments against the recommendations from this review, along with huge objections into the way it was carried out, but I think it is a little bit relevant here because if PARENTS can be inspected to see if they meet government standards then if would definately weaken any arguments that childminders should be exempted from ANY standards that the government choose to impose on them, whether reasonable or not.

(And I'm sure that a lot of home educators will be happy to sign your petition Taffy, as many would like to use childminders without having to buy into the EYFS goals- I'll pass the link on when its up)

Hi
I am in such agreement with Overpaid, Lovemygirls and Katisha..

most of my mindees attend preschool,or school. They have all the obs etc recorded on them, I work closely with them, via SHared care diaries, with regards to their learning journey/goals etc and their parents want them to simply chill out and have fun with me, like being at home, as long as they are happy an safe, they dont much care about the paperwork, that I have to duplicate, as per nursery/preschool etc.

I will sign a petition in a flash.
p.s seriously thinking of giving up CM, when DS starts school, hardest decision ever, as I will let down the families who need me, love me and want me to continue...
But as I need the income, I will prob continue..

DJ - never ever 'overpaid', more like permanently skint .

Any news on whether the petition has been accepted or not? I can't find anything on the No 10 web site.

Did I miss this, where was the petition?

And yes, I am totally overwhelmed with paperwork relating to 'childminding'. I almost spend my every waking moment at the weekend worrying and stressing about about paperwork and what I haven't done but I am not doing it at the weekend. I have an inspection looming and am nowhere near ready, I am behind with everything, my Ofsted registration will probably be revoked. I am sick to death of all this paperwork, I am a great childminder but the job that I loved is becoming something that I loathe (the paperwork that is)... Rant over...

The petition is still waiting for approval.
Not a promising start is it?

I submitted it on 24 June - don't know if it is usual for it to take this long. Must try and work out how I can chase it up...

The petition has finally been approved!!

petitions.number10.gov.uk/anti-EYFS/

Yay! At last! This was worse than waiting for Christmas.

One slight snag though. The explanation says 40,000 CMs have given up in the last year, when the figure is actually about 4,000. No idea whether it is a typo, a mistake or if the No 10 web site have transcribed it incorrectly, but is there any chance you could ask them to correct it?

I'm afraid I will not be signing a petition to remove any regulation or paperwork.

I don't believe that it should be a job that is just for fun or for someone who can't hack the admin of other occupations.
I think that a proportion decide to become childminders simply to provide an income while they stay at home with their own kids - it doesn't necessarily mean that they are going to be good at it just because it fits their current lifestyle choices.

Everyone who starts a business of their own has to undertake considerable administration to ensure they run their business within legal, financial and industry boundaries so why should the business of child care be any different?

The responsibility of the position is huge and IMHO the commitment of the CM should reflect that responsibility.

I'm sure my opinion will not be popular with many CMs but I don't mean to offend, I just think that the responsibility of the postion can be underestimated and perhaps priorities are not always where they should be.

CKelpie, the point for many people is that the statuatory nature of the EYFS removes parental choice. It isn't about removing it completely, but parents cannot choose to use childcare that doesn't have to work within the EYFS regardless of what provision they have made outside of this care. This has stopped me from choosing to use a childminder and I instead found a nanny as they are currently exempt. Childminders and nurseries should be able to choose whether they offer EYFS and parents can then choose if they use that childcare or not. If the government only agree to fund EYFS that is fine, but to stop parents paying privately for an alternative is totally wrong.

by the way, have forwarded petition to home ed lists - think there will be lots of support from many home educators for this. Please do consider signing ours - also about parental choice and the right to remain free of excessive government regulations. Including for home ed families that the children should be interviewed completely alone by LA officials!

home education review petition

and an overview of why we're so against it. This is basically talking about regulating parenting for the first time, despite there already being perfectly adaquate laws in place to protect children (welfare and education) WHEN local authorities actually use them properly

CKelpie - I do not do my job to "stay at home" with my own kids. My children are all adults, and work full-time themselves.

I do this job because I love working with children of different ages, and feel strongly that a home environment is most suitable for small children. I usually work from 7.30am - 6.00pm, Monday - Friday.

I take my job very seriously, and am more than capable of producing the required paperwork that is required to "prove" I am a good childminder, but I should be able to work in the way that I want to (which suits the parents I mind for as well). Yes, we do need to be regulated, but not in the way it is being done at the moment.

However, the sheer quantity of required written work really is beyond a joke, and it really truly does not make me a better childminder. What is does is stress me out, because I am using more and more of my own time to produce it (not forgetting that I attend weekend and evening training courses as well).

I feel that there should be a proper choice - CMs should be able to choose how they want to work, and parents can then choose the type of childcare that they want.

ARRGHHH - arfa, that 40000 was my typo - eek!
I looked on the website to try and change it, but it basically means emailing them (another 3 weeks) whilst the petition is still growing, and then if wording is changed it will make it void. So would have to start it all again
So it think we are best to leave it as it is, and if they reject it on the grounds that I over-exaggerated everyone can shoot me

I'm a new childminder and only know the EYFS.
What i find daunting is having to get my kitchen inspected by Health Agency to make sure i'm not poisoning anyone...not done that to my familly EVER!
I'm all for the 'child led' ethos, not too bad if you have a few children, but lots of CMs have P/T's which makes it MUCH harder.
The risk assesments are just too much! We risk assess all the time as a parent!
I would find it easier to make a video of each place it took the children to (park/softplay) and as the camera was panning round, speak into the microphone to say what the hazard is and what i'll do about it, same thing for the home, even if i have to crawl around on my hands and knees.
But do you think Mr(s) Ofsted would look at these videos, as they will be expecting wads of paper
The SEF needs to be easier to fill out, ridiculous amount of time needed to complete it.
That's my two pence worth.

Theprisoner, my sentiments exactly.

I am sure there are lots of us who have grown-up children, all working or at Uni.
I for one did not become a childminder to stay at home, although I am sure both my adult children would love me to have made a decision to stay at home purely so that I could do their washing, clean their rooms and maybe have a cooked dinner on the table for them. Dream on Kids