Do you attend a Childminding Group?

[MUM2BLESS]

I attend a childminding group which is quite small. Everyone is freindly but the group does not seem to be getting any bigger.

Are you attending a group, how big is it and what type of activities etc do you engage in?

Hi mum2bless, I do, once a week at the Children's Centre and we love it there. It's also friendly. There are between 3-5 of us who regularly attend. We plan a week in advance what we may like to do (this may be based on an observation that we undertook the previous week, then take it in turns to evaluate at the end of the session.

One of the Centre's staff sets up many different activities prior to our arrival and helps out with activities; this particular person is great and full of exciting ideas!

A few other childminders have attended this group but have not returned when we mention that everyone has to take part in the planning [hmmm]. I use this morning also to do observations on the children so for us it's really useful and we can also rope in the headmistress of the nursery (we use one of their rooms) if we get stuck with anything to do with the planning, she is so helpful.

Most importantly though, the children see regular little faces, make friends, have such fun and have access to loads of resources and play in a great outdoor space; I wish it was available every day.

I quite like the group being small.

Oh didn't say what types activities we engage in;

Painting, sand and coloured water play, baths with baby dolls, sponges soap etc, gloop, soapy water with whiskes, shaving foam, big trays with spaghetti/lentils,flour with dino's, animals etc. stand-to trays with soil and dino's or whatever, arts and crafts, face painting, dressing up, small world people, singing, dancing, puppets, stories and loads of other things.

What do you engage in at your group?

I go a group at the local Childrens Centre. We find it hard to plan specific activities, because we never know who is going to turn up each week. The children have all sorts of fantastic indoor and outdoor activities available to them and it is a great chance for us to compare notes about Ofsted inspections, EYFS, etc. Membership is small and we have failed to get more local childminders to attend, but it isn't a huge space and would probably be crowded with too many more people anyway. We invite foster carers and nannies to join us and the Children's Centre have renamed us a Professional Home Childcare Group.

Hello HSMM,
I've just found out you live near us - well not far anyway. When and where does you group meet? I'm always looking for new places to go, especially in this wintery weather.

minderjinx - We meet Tuesday mornings 0930-1130 at Shinfield Red Kite Childrens Centre, in front of Shinfield Junior School. Look up the Red Kite on the internet and you should find us.

I go there too Although not been for a while (several reasons) but it is lovely

I will definitely try to come. Look forward to meeting you ladies.

Thanks for your input everyone!!!