Where do I start? What do I need?

[Guest]

Hi all,

 

I'm in the process of registering to be a childminder and just wondered what do I need to get me started on the observation and planning?

 

Obviously the first week will be a settling in week with activities until I get to know children better but what sheets do I need to type up ready for the first session?

 

Any easy simple forms for me to look at so I can devise my own?

 

Thanks in advance

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the forum I'm not a childminder though I was once upon a time. If you do a search there are some examples to look at for ideas on fsf lots of LEA sites also have examples just do a google search. I find it informative to look at lots of different ones and use them as a springboard to inform my own planning. Good luck.

[Guest]

Hi

 

With regards to planning, I would ask parents to complete an 'all about me' sheet. This will include the childrens interests and their favourite toys/activities. You can then plan your first week of activities around these with some adult led activities too. It may make settling in easier if the children are doing something they enjoy.

 

Good luck

[AnonyMouse_15046]

I think if I was starting out I would use information from parents as suggested above, offer activities based on that and then record where you went. I prefer planning in retrospect because that means you have followed the interests of the children and supported them as their learning developed naturally through their play.

As you record the activities for the day and you think about what might be good to offer to build on those interests you can record this as next steps. However, if the children arrive buzzing about something completely different you can go with that and be able to justify binning or postponing the next steps you had planned.

The key for me is supporting learning by reacting to their interests.

 

I've added an example of one of my planning sheets if that helps.

Daily Retrospective Planning Sheet example.docx

[Guest]

Thank you for your replies, they were a big help!

 

I work in a nursery but had a dim moment... However we do it so different there so it's nice and refreshing to know what other people do!