lots of policies!!!!! help!!!!!

[michellethegooner]

Phew I have almost finished my huge list of policies and adapting them to my settings,thanks to you guys and the bromley site but as much as it is brilliant to show Ofsted lots of policies on so many issues, I am stuck when it comes to doing a condensed version for the parents as it is way too many to show parents and would probably scare them away... Can anyone please please help me with preparing a much smaller scale of policies for my parents..

thanks in advance

[ajs]

me too please
i have never given the parents a copy of the policies but now know better.
an idea of how to do a condensed version would be a great help
thanks mandy x

[bungleina]

I know its a pain with all these policies and procedures, but I actually give all my parents a brochure with copies of everything for them to keep.
Along with spare child record and change of circumstances forms.
I bind them all with slide binders so if they want they can add any new contracts, accident incident and newsletters etc that they receive from me.
It just helps the parent to keep all records together, it helped a great deal when a parent turned up at 07.00 last bank holiday and I wasn,t home. When they called me I apologised and explained that we didn't work bank holidays and referred them to the brochure and contract which they agreed clearly stated that we didn't work ( only in special circumstances and by prior arrangement)
I also find it helps when prospective parents call for information. I just send out a brochure that they can read prior to a visit and have positive feedback from them that the brochure works really well.
Lynn

[susan]

i thought about doing that, giving parents a copy of my portfolio and policys but it's 48 pages long then there's all the forms and extras so would work out expensive to print loads of copies also if someone isn't genuine they might copy stuff ! i've been told it does happen. I have a copy available at all times for parents to view though and give them holidays forms etc to keep a stock of. If they had a contarct and it was official I would give them a full copy if they asked though.

[sarahnev707]

A brief guide to policies and procedures for parents to keep and refer to at their leisure.... if they want to read the whole thing or ask questions, they are welcome to approach me at any time.......

a precis of the way you work.....

1 focus on each of your policies and/or procedures (long versions) in turn

2 look at the document as a whole and decide on a max of 5 bullet points from it that are the most important points you want to make - any more than 5 and it starts to get unwieldy again

3 put them into a document

4 hand them out with a 'welcome' document and copies of contracts etc...

5 make sure parents are reminded in your newsletters about where the whole docs are and when you have done updates for them

Hope this helps!

Sarahx

[bungleina]

I didn't explain very well. The brochure contains info about us and the setting with a couple of policies i.e health and safety and behaviour management and a child record form. The rest of the policies I give to the parent when the contract is signed. I ask them to bring it along with them and the contract and all other policies are then placed in the brochure. It is quite expensive but I suppose I don't do that many, only about 20 since I started childminding nearly 5 years ago. (Luckily I look after a few families with 2 or more Children)

[susan]

sarahnev707 said:

5 make sure parents are reminded in your newsletters about where the whole docs are and when you have done updates for them

Hope this helps!

Sarahx

Hi Sarah,

I am about to do my first news letter to parents but not sure what to put in it, have you got an example of an old one you have put together for your parents I could see and use as a guide please, would be very grateful x

[debratina]

my early years support worker suggested doing a checklist of what policies i had and let the parents sign in a box to say they have read each policies. cuts down on printing and paper
debra x

[Wiggly]

HI Sarah

Could I be cheeky and ask for a copy of an old newsletter too please. No mindees yet but love the idea of a newsletter.

Thanks
Susan
x

[susan]

debratina said:

my early years support worker suggested doing a checklist of what policies i had and let the parents sign in a box to say they have read each policies. cuts down on printing and paper
debra x

Thats what I do I have a form with a list of all my policys on that i get parents to sign to say that they have seen, read and understood them x

[michellethegooner]

That sounds like a good idea the checklist I might do that one as putting all the policies in one brochure would be time consuming and expensive especially if parent doesn't take placement. I give parents a little 'guide to services' booklet when they come for the initial visit and then all the child record forms, contracts, policies etc we do when they have accepted the placement, but was thinking that giving them a copy of all the new policies was a bit excessive. i might just give them the booklet to read at home and then return and sign checklist next day.

thank you all,

michelle

[sarahnev707]

this is a list of contents - i try to keep it to one page (2 columns) and for the first one i explained i was doing it to keep in contact with parents, thereby fulfilling Ofsted's requirement etc....

Hope it helps! Sarahx


Every letter –

Dates for diary - term dates for school children, my holiday dates (don’t forget I don’t charge when I’m on holiday!), any time off or days not free in the future month?

Birthdays – any celebrated?

Outings – have we been anywhere exciting? Are we planning an outing this month?

Activities - what we have done / festivals we have celebrated over the previous month / doing this month

Business news - what have I been reviewing from my paperwork during the month? Have I done any training?

General news – from Ofsted, ‘Who Minds’ parents pages etc

Children’s news – any new children coming, changes in hours, moving on?

Reminders – depending on weather, don’t forget hats, gloves, sun cream every morning etc

Requests – items I might need for crafts / don't forget wellies for trip out etc

Occasional reminders eg sickness – at the moment, there is a nasty sickness bug going round / cold virus etc. I am keen to prevent the bug spreading within my own home and my 2 being off school or me being ill and not able to work. Please, if you child is ill at night, don’t bring them the next day!!

fill space with eg playdough tips / chidlren's fave food recipes / sun safety advice in summer etc

[lorri]

Hi

Me being thick - what are child record forms?

Lorri

[michellethegooner]

the child records are forms stating doctors/health visitor details up to date immunisations, allergies, likes/dislikes etc got them from NCMA

Michelle x

[michellethegooner]

hope this helps

[lorri]

Thanks Michelle, I have got my own version of that but don't call it that so was confused!

Lorri