Your thoughts please!

[manjay]

Would really appreciate your advice on this one.

My husband is doing the ICP course and has completed his third session tonight. As you know I have recently done the course and regularly came back and bent his ear about what we had discussed so he is quite clued up about everything "childminding". After each session he has come home really concerned about what they are learning. I think he is probably the student from hell as he is not scared to say what he thinks but I think he is worried about the other women on the course. It is a different tutor to the one I had and the course sounds completely different. The tutor has never been a minder and doesn't appear to know the contents of all the standards and is constantly contradicting herself.

The course tonight was based on inclusion and diversity and one of the play tools they were using was a oriental boy in traditional dress. The class was told that in their settings it would probably be better if they changed the dolls clothes to european dress!

Another episode was when they were talking about two multicultural hand puppets and they were told that they would probably never use anything like that in their settings as the children would prefer to play with bricks.

These are just two of many things he has discussed with me, way too many to mention. Would any of you voice your concerns? I just feel the whole class are being short changed as we had a fab tutor who had years of experience as a minder. I think my husband would have given up by now if he didn't have me as back up.

What do you all think?

Amanda xx

[Pauline]

To say things like that is absolutely appalling, what does she think childminders do?

My children have always had the opportunity (and enjoyed) playing with dolls in costume, I wouldn't dream of changing them to 'European'. They also have various dressing up clothes so they can explore the diversity of other peoples dress.

She ought to be challenged but how you go about it is difficult, if your husband speaks to her then she might dismiss him as not knowing anything about it 'being a man'. Are there any other tutors that you could mention it to and ask their views?

[manjay]

My husband does challenge the things he disagrees with and I think what he is basically saying is that after every discussion they then go on to read the handouts and what he has said is right. He obviously doesn't want to be classed as a trouble maker but we have talked extensively about my research and all the policies and procedures I have in place and so although he is able to learn from what I have done the other people in the class do not have that benefit.

Oh well still do not know what to do!

Amanda xx

[angeldelight]

Hi Amanda

I agree she is wrong

I think like Pauline suggests then I would find someone else to ask
I do not think you should be classed as a trouble maker if you are giving the correct views
Easier said than done though

There is obviously someone else who would be higher up than the tutor so if he thinks it is worth a mention then go for it

I think it is great that he does challenge her maybe he should point something out in the handout and question it in a nice way rather than in a challenging way - ask her why she says one thing and the hand out says another - that would be a perfectly normal question

Not an easy one is it

Angel xx

[deeb66]

Hi Amanda

I agree with both Pauline and Angel.

As you say your husband has the benefit of you 'behind' him but the others in the class don't and automatically think that what this woman is telling them is correct which we all know that it is not!

Is there any way you could get hold of your old tutor and speak to her and maybe she could take it from there - failing that I would take Angel's advice and talk to a higher tutor/administrator.

Dee

[banana]

I think your husband should make a complaint. I cant believe someone would stand in a class and teach people such utter rubbish!!

Let us know what you do. As you said, not everyone is going to have a partner who they can refer to for advice so it may well be in the best interest of the class.

x

[deeb66]

Amanda

Is your husband still doing this course?
If so how is he getting on/
Did he say anything to anyone?

Dee

[2kidsunder5]

Hi Amanda

When I did my ICP course it was run by trainers from the NCMA? If the one tat your husband is one is run by the NCMA then contact them and let them know your concerns. Other wise contact CACHE and tell them, they are the ones who run the ICP examinations aren't they?

Love Diane

[manjay]

He has now finished the course and his exam on Monday. We did contact NCMA and it would appear we were not the only ones. He didn't make too much of a deal as he didn't want to rock the boat for me as it would be my business.

He is just lucky as he has me to keep him on the straight and narrow!!!

On a positive side I know my referees have now received their letters so things must be moving for me!!

Amanda xx

[deeb66]

I am really glad about that Amanda and hopefully it won't be too much longer before you get your registration.

Dee

[angeldelight]

Yeah hope you get your registration soon seems like ages that you have been waiting

Angel xx

[manjay]

Believe me it feels like ages!!!!! Last November infact!! It still cound be this November before it's sorted considering they don't evaluate my application until my CRB comes back and they only sent that off two weeks ago.

However I am not complaining. I am getting to spend some fab quality time with Jaydn and the girls( when they can drag me off the computer of course)

Amanda xx