AnonyMouse_8282

Well I have to say I haven't touched a crochet hook since I finished my year blanket on the 31st Dec! The yellow thingy turned out to be a 'Hot Wheels" key.... one of the children found it in the construction box. All gone a bit crazy re- THE VIRUS. We had a confirmed case in our next big town that had no known contact with the source . We've just stuck with gov advice for everyone entering the setting to wash-hands- to be honest I think our parents love it as they've been dropping off at the door rather than coming in... I think this works well for them. Children go straight into a circle time on chairs as they arrive do singing/etc until all children have gradually washed hands (with staff checking done properly) before going off to play with toys. This has actually been really nice, we send children off to wash hands in age/stage order, and as the circle gets smaller and smaller we are having some fantastic conversations with the older more able children. Bit of a win win all round really! I'm feeling more slightly relaxed after sending the member of staff on the Ofsted ready training (instead of going myself-as it was actually for managers). It worked well as staff are now becoming much more aware their role during an inspection - we are now having more regular staff meeting with the staff becoming actively involved rather than just having a slightly bored looking expressions. I told my local advisor this when she visited and asked why I didn't go myself - you could see her having a 'light-bulb' moment when I said the staff member got far more out of it than I would have.

Yayyyy!!!! you found it

I's sorry I haven't a clue, but I would email ofsted direct and create a paper trail- as they seem to be a bit ambiguous with their answers at the best of times.

Your guess is as good as ours!!!! That was yesterday, and still no random yellow thingies have been found today

Funnily enough NO! I actually had to ask for info. During swine flu it was daily with posters etc.. this time NOTHING which I find odd as we are quite near an airport, so I'm guessing a lot of airport staff must live locally and they have to be a general higher risk with lots of people passing through airports? (I'm not actually worried, but I do think we need to be aware of symptoms etc) I have one staff member going on a hen week-end to Spain next Friday.... she said she might self isolate when she returns for 14 days to recover the weekend We have an 'odd parent'! Not had one for a long time. This one upset as her child had lost a 'yellow thingy' which he brought in...... when asked to describe what it actually was - all she kept saying was 'you know.... a yellow thingy'!!! Not going to lie, after searching for 5 mins for said 'yellow thingy' most of the staff where prepared to ram a wide variety of 'yellow thingies' where the sun doesn't shine. Heard this week another local setting is closing unless someone wants to take it on. Both my husband and son-in-law looked at me thinking I might like to extend my global empire.... I think my "look' said it all and they went very quiet.

Never heard of rolls of sticky blackboard paper, off to the Range to explore this!

For us it would be September. However I would check with you LA, I know a few Greater London LA's used to allow to claim from the May/June half term. Not sure if they still do though as times have changed, but it was to allow the summer borns more opportunites.

Sorry can't help, but this reminded me for years I thought we had to follow SET procedures - mean they were ones 'set' out for everyone. After a few years I realised that actually we had to follow Southend, Essex, and Thurrock procedures!!!!!! Mind you in those the days the SG policy was called CP and it was on a double side sheet A4 folded into a leaflet.

Tell them you can do it if you have a strict volunteer rota! I know what you mean though- we have a parent that has just received her 30 and seems miffed we're not extending our hours to cover it..

My staff are all good, and I'm not disputing this... However sometimes I think the job is convenient and fits in with their lifestyle - rather than having a true interest in the job. That sound's a bit harsh of me, and I don't mean it a mean way - we all get on very well and it is a happy workplace honest I think I'm just having a moan.

I think we share staff We had to reregister in Feb 2018 after the then owner did a bunk owing rather a look of money We're now 24 months in the 20-30 expected timeframe.

I know the feeling . I'm also feeling mega stressed at the moment. We are due Ofsted anyway now (to the point I twitch every time my phone rings). I have fantastic staff HOWEVER they can't seem to take on that this time ofsted is more about them than me and my paperwork! I did a crafty thing- and sent my 3rd in charge to an ofsted briefing the week before half term- and she came back in complete panic as the realisation finally set in. We've now got a staff meeting Monday . I need to get myself organised for said meeting. I woke up yesterday with sore throat, headache, and hacking cough- and really need to get my act together today.

Could you off just some of the extra 15 hours to the days you already do? We offer 21 hours total, 5 mornings and 2 afternoons. I guess it all depends on if you have a waiting list etc.

My pet hate! Years ago our LA sent out training date on simple printed A4 format which you just returned relevant one back filled in. We just handed around staff and they were able to look and pick during staff meetings. Now they send us a PDF with wasted pages of colour massive colour borders on every page, A4 photos etc... all this with very little actual training inside. I

I don't recall it being called that around our area. However I will admit I still have a few of the folders that I covered and still use - nice and strong they are! (one of our parents donated loads of A1 sticky back paper ) Those were the days- we got given sturdy paperwork free.

hic...hic..hic... lovely birthday, Thank-you Pandas and Sunnyday Actually, we went for lunch in our 'almost' local, they made an error on the mains (which was very quickly sorted) - but gave us free drinks!

Belated happy birthday from me....hic....hic...hic. just raised my glass to you all as it's my birthday today ( wine may be involved) ..hic...hic.

Well I have to say (fingers crossed) I'm impressed so far. Back in November we had our early years SEND support dramatically cut, and last week we had a visit from our new "inclusion team' leader- she deals with 0-18/25 in our area. I asked her about a possible ASD concern and she muttered about what to do- with no clear answer other than maybe tell parent to see her GP. The health visiting team lady came at 11am, I voiced my concerns to her about the ASD child, and at 1.30pm we had an appointment sorted to start the assessment process the week after half-term. (she also added she intends to gatecrash a cluster meeting I told her about- as she was annoyed that she hadn't been invited!!!!) I really hope this partnership works well.

Well, for the first time in 10 years we actually had an [unannounced] visit from the 'health visiting team'. They are now going to do the integrated reviews with us!!! She was actually a very nice lady and took details, and she will arrange the meetings to suit us This is only for the funded 2yr olds - but at least it's a start.

How are peoples numbers? Has there been a birth rate hike? We are currently full with parents ringing almost daily asking for places now, and our September list is already full with a waiting list. I should be happy but I'm not . I hate turning people away, plus I like the flexibility of having a few open spaces.