Hello! I just wanted to let you know that I have updated my planning calendar for 2010.
If you have a 2009 version of the Knutsford Childminding planning calendar there should be an email update on its way to you. However, some of the email addresses in my address book don’t work any more, so please send me a message if you haven’t received it and I will send the update out to you again.
All Knutsford Childminding updates are sent out free of charge. I have recently found a number of my updates for sale on EBay. Please can I respectfully remind customers of my copyright statement –
Please note – by ordering and accepting receipt of these e-books you are deemed to have read and understood the information about copyright violation detailed on my website. If you have any intention of sharing my work with any other person, whether for profit or not, please contact me first or you will be breaking the law. Any breach of copyright may be followed up with legal proceedings.
More detailed information about Knutsford Childminding copyright can be found on my website – www.eyfsforchildminders.webnode.com.
Thank you to all my customers for their support during 2009. I look forward to hearing from you all in 2010!
I would like this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful festive season and a happy and healthy new year!
All the best, Sarah x
www.knutsfordchildminding.co.uk
Friday, 18 December 2009
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
HACCP - food health and safety for childminders
A HACCP document shows that childminders are complying with all the relevant food hygiene and safety requirements. It is not a legal requirement to have a HACCP document, but it is a legal requirement to show that you are feeding children safely... and this document will help you do that!
The e-book contains paperwork samples which will help you to meet current legislation requirements, kitchen and cooking risk assessments, ideas for monitoring your own practice, COSHH information, menu samples, ideas for complying with EYFS meal and drink requirements, sample policy writing tips and lots, lots more.
It is a great way of showing both Ofsted and your local Environmental Health Officer that you are up to speed on all the latest information and legal requirements. This e-book works alongside the new Government document - ‘Safer Food Better Business for Childminders’.
E-book 37 – HACCP is priced at £4.99 on my website www.knutsfordchildminding.co.uk
Thank you! :))
The e-book contains paperwork samples which will help you to meet current legislation requirements, kitchen and cooking risk assessments, ideas for monitoring your own practice, COSHH information, menu samples, ideas for complying with EYFS meal and drink requirements, sample policy writing tips and lots, lots more.
It is a great way of showing both Ofsted and your local Environmental Health Officer that you are up to speed on all the latest information and legal requirements. This e-book works alongside the new Government document - ‘Safer Food Better Business for Childminders’.
E-book 37 – HACCP is priced at £4.99 on my website www.knutsfordchildminding.co.uk
Thank you! :))
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Website problem
Hello!
Freewebs is not working at the moment and I am getting emails from customers who cannot buy my e-books!
I am busy re-listing everything (I'm working on it, please bear with me) here -
http://knutsfordchildminding.web.officelive.com/
Complete with PayPal links.
Customers can use this site until Freewebs decides to get its act together... actually I might keep it as a back up as well.
Thank you! Sarah...
... who really does not need this right now but would like to thank baby for being extra tired and having a nice long sleep this morning..!
:)
Freewebs is not working at the moment and I am getting emails from customers who cannot buy my e-books!
I am busy re-listing everything (I'm working on it, please bear with me) here -
http://knutsfordchildminding.web.officelive.com/
Complete with PayPal links.
Customers can use this site until Freewebs decides to get its act together... actually I might keep it as a back up as well.
Thank you! Sarah...
... who really does not need this right now but would like to thank baby for being extra tired and having a nice long sleep this morning..!
:)
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Scotland, childminders and the Care Commission
After the success of my Welsh childminders e-book, I have been talked into writing one specifically for Scottish childminders!
It is a 4 chapter, full of information e-book which looks at every aspect of childminding in Scotland, including how to fill in the Self Assessment form, cope with inspections, use Birth to 3 and 3 - 5 literature.
It also takes a peek at the new Curriculum for Excellence... and much, much more.
The 4 chapters are...
Chapter 1 - Care Standards 1 - 3 and other information;
Chapter 2 - Care Standards – 4 - 14;
Chapter 3 - All about the CC inspection and SAF;
Chapter 4 - Early Scottish Education.
It is a huge resource, written in detail like my English e-books...
This e-book has also been carefully proofed by a Scottish childminder who was graded 6 at her last inspection.
It costs £7.99 and is available from my Knutsford Childminding website.
Enjoy! :)
It is a 4 chapter, full of information e-book which looks at every aspect of childminding in Scotland, including how to fill in the Self Assessment form, cope with inspections, use Birth to 3 and 3 - 5 literature.
It also takes a peek at the new Curriculum for Excellence... and much, much more.
The 4 chapters are...
Chapter 1 - Care Standards 1 - 3 and other information;
Chapter 2 - Care Standards – 4 - 14;
Chapter 3 - All about the CC inspection and SAF;
Chapter 4 - Early Scottish Education.
It is a huge resource, written in detail like my English e-books...
This e-book has also been carefully proofed by a Scottish childminder who was graded 6 at her last inspection.
It costs £7.99 and is available from my Knutsford Childminding website.
Enjoy! :)
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Childminders, Portfolios and Every Child Matters
How do you set out your portfolio?
I thought about changing things when the EYFS came out... and changed my mind!
My portfolio works really well following the 5 outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda and since the first 5 questions of the EYFS Self Evaluation Form follow these as well, I don't see any point in changing things!
I have asked Ofsted and they don't care how it's all set out so long as it contains evidence of compliance with the Statutory Requirements of the EYFS.
With that in mind, I have recently updated and completely re-written my entire portfolio as a series of questions and answers and linked it in with the SEF.
I have used the 5 outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda to check my compliance with the requirements of the EYFS and to audit what I do and how I can do better.
My portfolio is now well organised and I know exactly what I need to do next!
I have decided to sell my Portfolio layout as part of my e-book library and hope the e-book will do the same for you!
It is e-book number 35 on my Knutsford Childminding website and priced at 4.99. I hope you find it useful.
Thank you to my customers for their continued support :)
I thought about changing things when the EYFS came out... and changed my mind!
My portfolio works really well following the 5 outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda and since the first 5 questions of the EYFS Self Evaluation Form follow these as well, I don't see any point in changing things!
I have asked Ofsted and they don't care how it's all set out so long as it contains evidence of compliance with the Statutory Requirements of the EYFS.
With that in mind, I have recently updated and completely re-written my entire portfolio as a series of questions and answers and linked it in with the SEF.
I have used the 5 outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda to check my compliance with the requirements of the EYFS and to audit what I do and how I can do better.
My portfolio is now well organised and I know exactly what I need to do next!
I have decided to sell my Portfolio layout as part of my e-book library and hope the e-book will do the same for you!
It is e-book number 35 on my Knutsford Childminding website and priced at 4.99. I hope you find it useful.
Thank you to my customers for their continued support :)
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Photographs and childminders
Information for parents about taking and using photographs
In view of recent allegations of abuse surrounding the taking and illegal use of photographs of children, childminders are advised to clarify how they use and store photographs of children with parents.
We use photographs of children in the following ways –
• To display around the house, which gives the child a sense of belonging;
• To share with the child’s parents so you can see what they are up to here;
• To go in the child’s Learning Journey or scrap book folder which parents will take home when the child leaves Knutsford Childminding;
• As presents for parents eg photo albums, photos in frames etc;
• To go in albums to show parents and Ofsted the range of activities we do at Knutsford Childminding.
Our safeguarding commitments to parents regarding photographs –
• All photographs remain the property of the child’s parents;
• Photographs will not be used on the internet or taken on a mobile phone;
• If required in the future, we will register with the Information Commissioners Office. You can find more information here – www.ico.gov.uk;
• Any photographs not returned to parents when their child leaves (that may be in albums, photo frames or part of laminated displays) will be destroyed on request;
• We will not use photographs of your child for any reason other than above without your prior written permission.
Group photographs
Sometimes, there might be more than one child in a photograph or children from different families. This might happen when, for example, children request we take group scenes or when photographs are taken during group activities.
Sometimes group photographs might be placed in different children’s folders and / or used in the ways stated above.
If you are concerned about your child appearing in group photographs, your child’s face or any identifying features will be blurred on the photos in which s/he accidentally appears. You need to let us know if you want this to happen.
If you have any questions or concerns about the taking of photographs, please have a chat with one of us.
In view of recent allegations of abuse surrounding the taking and illegal use of photographs of children, childminders are advised to clarify how they use and store photographs of children with parents.
We use photographs of children in the following ways –
• To display around the house, which gives the child a sense of belonging;
• To share with the child’s parents so you can see what they are up to here;
• To go in the child’s Learning Journey or scrap book folder which parents will take home when the child leaves Knutsford Childminding;
• As presents for parents eg photo albums, photos in frames etc;
• To go in albums to show parents and Ofsted the range of activities we do at Knutsford Childminding.
Our safeguarding commitments to parents regarding photographs –
• All photographs remain the property of the child’s parents;
• Photographs will not be used on the internet or taken on a mobile phone;
• If required in the future, we will register with the Information Commissioners Office. You can find more information here – www.ico.gov.uk;
• Any photographs not returned to parents when their child leaves (that may be in albums, photo frames or part of laminated displays) will be destroyed on request;
• We will not use photographs of your child for any reason other than above without your prior written permission.
Group photographs
Sometimes, there might be more than one child in a photograph or children from different families. This might happen when, for example, children request we take group scenes or when photographs are taken during group activities.
Sometimes group photographs might be placed in different children’s folders and / or used in the ways stated above.
If you are concerned about your child appearing in group photographs, your child’s face or any identifying features will be blurred on the photos in which s/he accidentally appears. You need to let us know if you want this to happen.
If you have any questions or concerns about the taking of photographs, please have a chat with one of us.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
EYFS conference
It was a great opportunity for me, as the only childminder there, to fly the flag for childminders through the country! I was welcomed and made to feel like a worthy delegate and speaker. I believe I did childminders proud!
I talked about how hard we are all working to meet the requirements of the Eyfs and how much we value the support of our local areas... but how much more could be done as well! There is no room for complacency at local level if we are to find out about changes to the requirements promptly and feel updated and valued as professionals.
I talked about how we wish Ofsted were more consistent with their inspections and how much it would help us if we could truly believe that the Eyfs was the only document we needed to read... but how we hear so many stories from colleagues about inconsistencies and variations in expectations that it leads to demoralised childminders not knowing how much they need to do to get it right!
I talked about how childminders do not get breaks during the day and when juggling a 50 plus hour week and our families it is increasingly difficult to manage all the other elements of the job besides play... I used the word 'mountains' to describe the paperwork and got wry smiles from around the room!
It was a lovely day. I have put feedback so other childminders can share my experience here
To top off an already exciting week, I saw Michael Ball in concert in Manchester last night... wow!
Talk soon :-)
I talked about how hard we are all working to meet the requirements of the Eyfs and how much we value the support of our local areas... but how much more could be done as well! There is no room for complacency at local level if we are to find out about changes to the requirements promptly and feel updated and valued as professionals.
I talked about how we wish Ofsted were more consistent with their inspections and how much it would help us if we could truly believe that the Eyfs was the only document we needed to read... but how we hear so many stories from colleagues about inconsistencies and variations in expectations that it leads to demoralised childminders not knowing how much they need to do to get it right!
I talked about how childminders do not get breaks during the day and when juggling a 50 plus hour week and our families it is increasingly difficult to manage all the other elements of the job besides play... I used the word 'mountains' to describe the paperwork and got wry smiles from around the room!
It was a lovely day. I have put feedback so other childminders can share my experience here
To top off an already exciting week, I saw Michael Ball in concert in Manchester last night... wow!
Talk soon :-)
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