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Post by janet on Mar 3, 2007 16:44:10 GMT
I am a childminder just gone back to my work after being out for 2 years due to having my daughter and a very ill pregnancy I am going on lots of courses but cant believe how childminding has changed over 2 years I have been told that I should be doing observation and planning I havent a clue wot I am supposed to be doing for that 1. I was then told I have to have a parents board and a visitors book can any1 tell me if this is correct information xx janet
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Post by Bella on Mar 4, 2007 6:37:14 GMT
I think the observations you may be referring to are linked to the birth to three matters framework. This document has been around well over two years but it is only over the past two years or so that good old Ofsted are expecting the use of it to be recorded. Have you got the birth to three pack?
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Post by Bella on Mar 4, 2007 6:41:14 GMT
You dont have to have a parents board but it is one way of sharing information with parents which again Ofsted would like you to do. All regular visitors I believe are supposed to be crb checked or their visits logged. I have never heard of having a visitor book.
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Post by janet on Mar 4, 2007 11:54:23 GMT
:)thanx diane thats less work for me to do yes i have the birth to three but i have just been colour coding the photos of my children in there daily diary hopefully this is enough my house looks like a nursery as it is I have no more space on the walls for any parents board and as childminders most of our parents like to be envoled in what we are doing not just seeing it on a board. I have got ofsted coming any day now so I wanted to be correct on wot I am supposed to be doing. do we have to have a recommendation and complaint folder as all of mine are in my portfolio.
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Post by angeldelight on Mar 4, 2007 12:32:48 GMT
Hi Janet Have you heard from Ofsted are they due this week ? Do not worry about a thing it seems to me that you are doing everything right already Your daily diary sounds just fine. I do not have a parents board and have never been told that I need one. Suppose it is a matter of choice we all do things different. I have a newsletter so to me that involves and explains to the parents what we are doing and I have only just started that I did just fine talking to parents before that to give them any information This link may help with your Ofsted inspection www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubs.summary&id=3881If you have any more questions just ask away Good luck with your inspection let us know how it goes Angel x
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Post by Pauline on Mar 4, 2007 13:30:39 GMT
I think it is quite a problem for some minders to have notice boards for parents, at the end of the day it is our HOME and we don' t want it full of notice boards etc. It's OK if you have a separate room for minding like some do, but when the info has to be in your hallway then you don't really want it there all the time, do you!?
Perhaps a compromise would be a removable board that you could put away at the end of the day. Just a simple pin board with your certificate, insurance and complaints details (around here that is what is being picked up on by Ofsted - you have to have the address for complaints clearly visible for parents to see - It might be different in other areas though).
Regarding observations - it depends how you feel about it, you could just have simple observations in a daily diary or have proper charts and books.
Ofsted should be happy with diaries that show you are thinking about the birth to 3 framework. But if you enjoy doing full detailed observations and recordings then that would be looked on very favourably.
I've never heard of a visitors book, again if you want one then Ofsted would be pleased as it would show good practice, but I don't think you have to have one.
Regarding a complaints folder - you need to show that you have told parents how they can complain, most have that in a policy, within their policy pack, on how to complain - i.e. phone number, address of Ofsted etc. You can copy the complaints form from the Ofsted booklet and keep that in case you ever need it.
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