This guide has been produced to share ideas with schools that will help form strong links with local childminders. We hope you find it helpful. Children deserve to have the adults around them all working together to provide a consistent, safe and caring environment where they can learn and develop. What’s in it for the school? Childminders can support the school in a number of ways for example: Contact: Erika Lincoln [email protected] +44 (0) 7500 331 682 Further support: Sign up to our blog for reflections on schools and childminders working in partnership www.judithnoelquinn.wordpress.com • By prompting parents about key events • Supporting a smooth transition into school and into year one • They offer a vital link to parents, having developed a trusting relationship over several years • They have a very good understanding of the child’s learning and development Tips for schools to support partnership working with childminders: • Invite childminders to school events, e.g. sports day with the minded children. • Include childminders on the school mailing list so they receive newsletters and notifications of events • Support parents by signposting them to childminders and information about childminding • Suggest that parents can invite their childminders to open days/ parent evenings with them; to work in partnership to support the child holistically • Invite the childminder to visit the school to become familiar with it so that they can describe it to the children. Allow the childminder to take photo’s which could support transition, e.g. of the classroom, toilets, playground and reception teacher • Involve relevant childminders in transitions to school. Work together to ensure the transition to school is as smooth as possible for the child (and family) Nina Rothery from Broadclyst Community Primary school in Devon, told me she believes that good partnership with childminders can assist with “excellent transition and early intervention”. She then went on to say, “By working closely with childminders as well as parents, the school can help ensure that transitions to their setting go as smoothly for the children and families as possible.” She also hopes that the need for extra support for individual children can be identified much quicker where effective partnerships are forged and maintained. • Invite the childminder to observe the child in the school’s early years setting and ask to visit the child in the childminding setting • Recommend or lend useful books or documents • Make sure that local childminders are aware of any toddler groups run from the school • Invite childminders to training sessions for parents or staff • Enable the child’s key person at school to work closely with the childminder • Meet with local childminders to find out what they offer, e.g. do they offer before and after school or holiday childcare. They may be able to help you meet parental requests for childcare that you can’t or don’t want to provide on-site More information about this can be found at http://www.learning-exchange.org.uk/documents_library_pages/wraparound/childminders_ working_on_school_sites Advice for choosing childcare: http://www.devon.gov.uk/cypsfactsheets-disc4-choosingchildcare.pdf Advice for questions to ask a childminder – see Appendix A on the following pages Contact: Erika Lincoln [email protected] +44 (0) 7500 331 682 The key contact at Hemyock Primary school in Devon is the Early Years teacher. She attends termly meetings with the relevant childminders, and has helped write an agreement on information sharing. She told us; “I’m surprised that not all schools value sharing information with the local childminders in the same way we do.” Tania Beard at St Martin’s primary school, Cranbrook, Devon said; “I would be happy for childminders in the area to take part in training sessions such as phonics and listening to your child read training.” Tania would also welcome childminders as part of the PTFA (Parent, Teacher, Friend association). She told me; “I recognise the trust that parents put into their childminders and am happy to share information with the childminder as if they are there on behalf of the parent. I want to do anything I can that will support children to feel happy.” Appendix A Here are some questions you may want to ask or think about before choosing a Childminder. We would always recommend visiting at least two different childminders in their home before making a decision. Contact: Erika Lincoln [email protected] +44 (0) 7500 331 682 Keeping my child safe • What is your emergency procedure? • Can I see your first aid/ safeguarding children training certificates? • What is your safeguarding policy? • Do you have a lost child policy? • How do you risk assess your home/outings? • Do you have business class 1 car insurance, car documents, and car seats? • Discuss collection policy i.e. how do you ensure my child is only collected by authorised people • How do you manage visitors to your home? • What is your confidentiality/data protection policy? Helping my child enjoy and achieve • What are your daily routines? • Will you take my child to toddler groups/ stay and play sessions? • Will you take my child on outings? • Can you take / collect my child from school / pre school / nursery? • How do you help my child settle in? Do you have a settling-period? • How can I find out more about the EYFS? • What is your role as my child’s key person? • What equipment/resources are available? • How will we keep each other informed about my child’s progress? Keeping my child healthy • How will you support a healthy balanced diet for my child? • What food/drink is provided? • Do you have a garden? If not how do you provide out door play and exercise? • Where will my child sleep / rest? • What happens if my child is ill? • What if my child is on medication or has a specific medical need? Other Business/Setting Information • Who else lives in the house or visits regularly? • Do you work with an assistant or another childminder? • Do you have any pets and what access to them will my child have? • How many children do you mind and what is the age range? • How long have you been childminding / why did you become a childminder? • What are your opening/closing times? • What is included in your charges: meals, snacks, drinks etc or are there additional fees for any of these? • Who supplies nappies, toiletries etc? • What happens if you or your children are unwell? • What happens if you are on holiday? • What happens if I am on holiday? • Do you take days off for training? • What links do you have with other professionals? • Are you a member of any childcare organisations, part of a childminder group? • Are you funded to offer the ‘free’ sessions for two; three and four year olds? Ask to see... • • • • • Their Ofsted inspection report and grade/actions Registration Certificate Public Liability Insurance Any other written policies/procedures Contracts (you should have time to look through and discuss this thoroughly before signing.) • Any other relevant training/qualification certificates. • References from other parents • Their Paediatric First Aid Certificate (must be renewed every three years) Contact: Erika Lincoln [email protected] +44 (0) 7500 331 682 Helping my Child make a positive contribution • What is your behaviour policy? • What is your inclusion policy? • How will you support my child to become confident? • How will you support my child in learning to respect others? • How will you support my child’s individual needs?
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