AnonyMouse_59225

5 hours ago, louby loo said:

Ours complain about the the 25p a day, and I'm not going to mention the £2 lunch club 😩 We are in a pretty affluent area- and I'm not kidding when I say it's only ever our lower income families that ever pay without a comment. And don't even mention our County's food voucher system- going by post codes!!

Ours is the other way round, a deprived area, the ones who work are grateful for any help with fees and recognise what we do is important. Its the ones who sit at home doing nothing all day that complain! We charge £2 a day so at the most they pay £6 a week if they do 3x 5 hour sessions, even though we lose about £20 a week on every funded place.

This parent has now taken a different tact and decided to try and threaten me by saying their child has come home with unexplained marks!

Well bring it on I say!

All because she couldn't be bothered to get off her a**e and pick her child up on time!

thanks anyway Louby, I've just had a big to do with a parent who's handed in notice but won't be attending any sessions during this time, they don't see why they should pay for the notice period! (only £12 is owing) no matter how many times I explain, they still think it should be free! so it's about time I got my list together. This only happened because they constantly pick up late so I said there would be a charge. there's only so many times they can say 'oh I didn't realise the time!'

Hi all,

I'm putting together a list of consumables and wondered what you all charge for apart from snack/food?

We are full day care and parents bring their own nappies and wipes. 

TIA

On 14/12/2021 at 18:43, finleysmaid said:

here endeth the sermon for the day! 🤣

I like your sermons! 

I thought the same as you, half can't speak properly and hardly any have social skills any more (thanks Covid!), getting them to sit for a story is hard enough. We have some who think everything is theirs any scream if another child comes anywhere near!

As for phonics schemes, it seems that the gov have now got a list of ones they approve of but have removed their own from that list. Basically saying, choose one from the list, pay for it yourself, but we expect everyone to do it with no guidance from us! 

Think I will stick to simple listening skills with the toddlers and basic phonics for pre-school. Think they need to learn social skills first to enable them to move on to more formal group work!

Probably not the right topic area!

What phonics do you do and what age do you start?

I have someone saying to start in Toddler room (age 2) but i think its a bit young to start it formally.

I want to refresh our knowledge and have searched the internet but there's so much, it's confusing!

Any guidance gratefully received!

6 hours ago, sunnyday said:

I'm so pleased to read that your LA are taking your concerns seriously - but, just a note of caution, don't do their job for them, this is the voice of experience speaking, I have found myself in that position before

Thanks, yes quite aware and think I possibly am already doing it for them! I am now the PVI rep for the early years strategic group and somehow got roped into being the rep for schools forum too! I can’t say no! Haha I don’t mind really, I’d rather know exactly what is going on and make sure we have a strong voice, am also challenging them on how much they top slice the 2yr funding and how they want to run a new funding portal. Lots to argue about! My mum says I’m gobby 🤣

13 hours ago, finleysmaid said:

 

Guess I would start with what the schools want to know !!! Suspect a very short one page summary 🤔 i')) send you mine if you want?

Yes, going to speak to all schools and get general consensus. And yes please! 😊

Thank you everyone! I had a meeting with the LA last night and put forward my concerns and ideas and so now seem to have volunteered myself to lead a consultation within our LA to come up with a better way/document! Haha no rest for the wicked!

On 17/05/2021 at 18:04, finleysmaid said:

Our LA does not give us any documentation to fill out. The statutory framework expects transition information to happen but doesn't give any details as to what that looks like.

we are starting to use a passport type document instead for ours now which is more child centred (for those who don't use tapestry of course)

Do you mind me asking which LA you are?

58 minutes ago, pasmith said:

We intend to maintain front door drop-off; we found the children far more settled, much less clingy with parents (even the new children and 2 year olds) and enjoyed the independence. The most difficult part was getting paperwork for funding signed on a wintery, rainy day and talking confidentially with parents. The latter could be managed discreetly though.

We are going to continue dropping off at the door but allow parents in when it's pick up, this way we can get forms signed etc but still have the quick and easy drop off (we have also found that children have settled better)

Hi all! hope you can help!

In our LA, we are required to complete a transition document, set out by the Early years team, one each for every child going to school. It is usually 3 pages long and takes up quite a bit of time for the practitioners to complete as well as then trying to get parents to comment and sign and then we need to deliver to all the different schools, getting them to sign to say they have received them (all in all a very time consuming exercise) and we are getting quite aware that the schools don't seem to be interested in them. We also feel that some of the info on them is not really needed and we manage to pass more relevant info on to the schools via a phone call or visit from the teacher.

My questions to you lovely people are:

1. Do you complete transition paperwork to pass onto schools?

2. if so, what info do you include?

3. which LA are you?

Thank you :) 

Hi,

Would it be possible to have something that shows parents who their child's key person is? 

Thanks Mousey, i'll have a look at it  

How do you all evaluate the training your staff have done? I have seen on a recent inspection report in our area that they were pulled up for not doing this even though they had provided a lot of training for the staff. My staff have done a lot of online training but how would I go about evaluating the impact of this? any ideas welcome  

On 21/11/2019 at 07:28, finleysmaid said:

just a little word of caution (sorry) just be careful with some religions as some may not agree with having a dog in the preschool

Very poor of me I know but I haven't heard of this, do you know which religions? Just for future reference as we don't have any children of particular religion at the moment, everyone seems to be non-committed! I know from family experience that some cultures think dogs are unhygienic (brother-in-law is Egyptian, although that could just be him, he is very fussy about a lot of things that aren't related to his culture).

Thanks for the heads up.  

On 20/11/2019 at 16:44, Rebecca said:

 We tell prospective parents about him and explain that if the children don't want to meet him, they don't have to - it would be perfect;y possible not to know he is at nursery if a child doesn't like dogs. Our experience is that even children who are wary are curious and will built up gradually to giving him a tickle!
 

I jusy had one concerned parent last night, Mum was bitten when young so is very afraid and have told them exactly the same as you, the child does not have to see the dog at all and have invited the parents to try and visit with the dog and see how they feel as things progress, they seemed happy after I talked to them.

p.s. Obe is very cute!

Thank you for all the lovely comments, I'm having a good response from parents so far, so i'm getting very excited! 

Thank you for the risk assessment Stargrower, and I agree, it is a lot to think about, and everyone should think very carefully before going into this sort of thing.

Going for a visit and a cuddle this weekend and to arrange pick up! Can't wait!

Hi There,

In the EYFS framework it says:

3.25. At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. The certificate must be for a full course consistent with the criteria set out in Annex A. Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a full current PFA certificate. PFA training30 must be renewed every three years and be relevant for workers caring for young children and where relevant, babies. Providers should take into account the number of children, staff and layout of premises to ensure that a paediatric first aider is able to respond to emergencies quickly. All newly qualified31 entrants to the early years workforce who have completed a level 2 and/or level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016, must also have either a full PFA or an emergency PFA certificate within three months of starting work32 in order to be included in the required staff:child ratios at level 2 or level 3 in an early years setting33. Providers should display (or make available to parents) staff PFA certificates or a list of staff who have a current PFA certificate. 

and:

3.48. There must be an area which is adequately equipped to provide healthy meals, snacks and drinks for children as necessary. There must be suitable facilities for the hygienic preparation of food for children, if necessary including suitable sterilisation equipment for babies’ food. Providers must be confident that those responsible for preparing and handling food are competent to do so. In group provision, all staff involved in preparing and handling food must receive training in food hygiene.

Therefore, for first aid, you must have one person who is qualified on the premises at all times, and if some children go out to the park etc, you must have a first aider with them as well as having one left behind at the setting. Because of this and people having holidays/sick days etc most settings like to have as many people trained as possible.

For food hygiene: it doesn't say that you have to have a food hygiene certificate, it just says that staff should have training in food hygiene, which could be interpreted as being given by management, for example at a staff meeting. For me, I have all staff attend a food hygiene course.

Thanks, yes I’ve already started to write a letter to parents. But it’s too late now to back out, had every intention of just looking and getting information but have signed up to this little beauty below. We’ve called him Charlie, he’s a Cavachon. A little too young to come home yet but hopefully pick him up in 5 weeks.

she is beautiful! We are full day care too, 0-5. I'm thinking of a small breed, maybe cavapoo or something similar. Looking for a small dog which doesn't shed much and is calm and good with children. Going puppy hunting later today! Have found a breeder who's fully registered and has fab reviews. Lots of comments on how good the temperament of the dogs are. My plan is also that the dog would not be at nursery all the time but when they are, i would have plenty of time to take it on long walks or short ones with the children to the park. Hopefully they will grow into a dog that can spend time playing with the children, think it will be great for the children. Please can I take you up on the offer of the risk assessment Stargrower? I've started compiling a list of things to include but it will be very useful to see if i've missed anything. Did you have any queries from parents when you first got Lottie? 

Does anyone have a nursery dog? 

I'm thinking of getting a new family dog and would like to be able to take it into work with me rather than leaving it at home alone all day. thought it could sit in the office with me but occasionally see the children and they could learn a bit about care etc. I realise I would need a risk assessment and to make sure no children had allergies etc but wondered if anyone had one and how did parents react? have you come across any problems?

Thanks

I've never heard of this and it certainly isn't mentioned in the EYFS so I'd count them as normal.

Never heard of it being a legal thing, I do have a third in charge as staff work shifts and then it is clear who is in charge at each end of the day if I'm not in.

Can I ask, for those of you renting premises, how long is your lease for? just wondering what the standard term is.

Thanks in advance

21 hours ago, Stargrower said:

Using public transport?  Have your children travelled by bus or train?

We have taken the children on a tram and by taxi, we have risk assessments in place. Not tried the bus but may do in the future, just depends on where we go.