EYFS

The Early Years Foundation Stage is causing much panic and uncertainty amongst child carers in the UK.... including, yes, you guessed it, childminders!!!

A childminder looks after a child in the home environment, feeds the kiddies nutritious meals, changes nappies, toilet trains, does risk assessment, gives medication as and when needed, takes the kiddies on outings, does activities and a daily diary for the parents etc. she/he does not do formal planning/assessments/observations (with corresponding notes and photos of each child each day) etc. as teachers do at school. But now we have to :(

And... if you haven't implemented this by September 2008 you can be prosecuted!

Wha'???

I am due my Ofsted inspection any day now (eek!) it is way overdue... they have a backlog apparently.

So I have been frantically trying to implement this new programme into my daily routine, which, lets face it... cannot get any busier between 7am and 7pm, so I have to do this after hours :( I do not know if I am leaving our crucial stuff, or if I am overdoing it n some areas.

I have been up til 2:30am many mornings these last few weeks, trying to do as much admin as possible for EYFS, for the inspector. I just hope it is worth it. Because I do not have a grading yet and hope the inspector likes my service very much!!! BUT... it appears they are more keen on your admin and that you have dotted all your 'i's' and crossed your 't's' than the quality time you have with each individual child.

I will write how it pans out... cross your fingers!

Rex and Sacra!

I finally got to meet Rex... Sacra and their wonderful family!

His family came to England (and Paris!) in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary... and what a fabulous time was had by all.

Such warm and friendly folk from the States, they reminded me very much of the genuineness and closeness of my brother's American in-laws in North Carolina, so I felt right at home! Laughing and joking from the outset.

Biopsy time

Hubby is going for a biopsy soon (heck dont the NHS take an AGE???), and this should determine if we can have children together finally. After many years of trying we will know for sure. We will then look at donor/adoption options seriously. Been looking at adoption already... stressful stuff. But, whatever it takes to be a mum and dad!

Arty farty stuff

I introduce the children to different art mediums at the level of the child, depending on their age and development. I have a comprehensive range of water colours, oils, beads (all equipment for making jewelery), handmade papers, greeting cards board, corrugated board, tracing paper, coloured paper, crayons, di-cut shapes, glitter pens, felt tip pens etc. to make creative activities with.

Resources

I have a good range of dolls, toys, puzzles, cars, trains, educational items (eg: abacus, giant flash cards, puzzles etc.). My dolls and books show ethnic differences. I believe it is important for a child to learn from an early age that difference is not a bad thing or something to be wary of, and that we need to learn to love and respect no matter what colour we are, what belief system we have, or if our legs do not move properly and we have to use a wheelchair to get around.

We learn together how to stroke and pat a doll, put it down to sleep with their own blanket, and look after it gently (which helps when toddlers mummy's are having babies!).

I have a play kitchen with a plastic tea set and eating utensils, where we *clean* our blankets together and we cook delicious meals. I have an ironing board and iron for imaginary play. They love ironing the blankets for the dolls.

I have a large bath area which is super for water play and activities for the kids and a dressing up box with hats, scarves, jewelery and handbags for dressing up.

I have a box of various large and small, soft and hard balls, depicting various sporting activities, which is handy when playing different sports with the children, plus for sensory activities.

Child led is key...

Spontaneous, imaginative and child-led play is encouraged and enjoyed, whether building a castle with our lego and blocks, or including some role play and pretending we are Bob the Builder and 'fixing stuff' round the house!

What makes me..?

People I admire & respect....

My partner & best friend, my husband
My magnificent MUM
My brothers, sister and their spouses
A handful of true friends
Nelson Mandela
My church leaders
AIDS and youth workers
Volunteers helping others, people or animals
Those that speak the truth & live by it
Those with courage & integrity

Things that interest me?

Africa
People
Old churches & villages
Wildlife
Geography & history
Theology & astronomy
Interesting doors
Antique books
Art & crafts
Ethnic jewellery
Making paper and wire work
Painting (on canvas AND walls)
Interior & Graphic Design
Driving on a pretty winding lane
Spiral staircases
Photography
Interesting movies
(like Amelie, Muriel's Wedding & Tsotsi)

What makes me shriek with laughter?

English comedy & humour
The funny faces my husband pulls
Having fun with my family and friends
Being tickled

What makes me sad/cry/angry?

I cry when I laugh alot! (fair warning to those yet to meet me.. haha)
Cruelty, especially to animals, children and the elderly
Mankind's selfish gain for material wealth and power
When people commit atrocities in the so-called 'name of god'
The amount of abortions that take place every day
The fact that AIDS is wiping out generations of innocent people
Ill manners, disrespect & intolerance
Cynical, 'know-it-all' people
Blaspheming & constant swearing
Lack of humility in thought, word or action
When I stub my baby toe
Onions

One of my favourite pics

THE OLD PHONE ON THE WALL

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighbourhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphi a was. She helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called,

Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Wayne always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?" I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me..

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me.

I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle.. A different voice answered,

"Information." I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne?" "Yes." I answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you.. She wrote it down in case you called.

Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in.

He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Whose life have you touched today?

Cool reference for me!

Reference from Ruth, mum of G

Jennifer XXX is, in my experience, a highly professional and first rate
childminder. From the moment I met her and throughout the time that she looked
after my daughter, I found her to be approachable, friendly, fun, reassuring, and
utterly reliable. Her attention to detail, professionalism, health and safety standards
and record keeping are outstanding. She provides a wide range of daily activities,
from arts and crafts, to music, to outdoor play, ball games, visits to the park, and
cooking, to name a few. She works closely with mothers to agree a daily sleep/
wake/meal routine that meets the changing needs of the individual child whilst also
fitting around the other children in her care.

My daughter loved spending time with her and visibly benefited from the social
interaction with other children, as well as the stimulation and learning opportunities
that Jennifer provided her with. Most weeks she would return home having learned
some new skill or progressed a developing skill. Personally I really valued Jennifer’s
partnership – first and foremost she was always keen to know my preferences
~ regarding my daughter’s care and development, whilst at the same time she was
able to offer valuable insights and suggestions. A good example of this was potty
training – a task that was made much easier for me by Jennifer’s skill,
encouragement, and her care to ensure that she continued the same approach that
I had begun at home. I wholeheartedly recommend her.