sarah707
12-08-2014, 05:58 PM
Information shared on our Independent Childminders Facebook page -
Ofsted are making lots of comments in reports at the moment about lack of parental involvement - lack of ideas for home learning - lack of parent comments and input in children's files etc...
One way we tackle it here at Knutsford Childminding is to include parent observations in LJs - when they tell us what their child has been doing or saying at home we write it down and link a 'next step' or 'individual plan' to it ...
For example -
• Jane went to the farm this weekend with parents. To further support her learning we have...
• John's dad says he loves things that go round at home. We have planned to...
• Janet is visiting the allotment with granddad – she is growing peas and courgettes. We have started some sunflowers here to follow her interest.
• WOW Susie has just started climbing the stairs at home!! She might enjoy…
• We are planning a trip to the zoo and Kate’s mum has given us her entrance card! Thank you!
• John has a new bike at home – it is blue and he says it is very big. We will make sure he has lots of time to practice on our bike here.
Observations and individual / next steps planning like that are quick and easy to write up and show lots of evidence of working together.
Other ways our group members add parent comments / home learning in children's files include…
• Sending observation sheets home – when completed, they are put in the LJ with follow on next steps.
• Pages for parent comments in the child’s daily diary eg ‘things I have done at home’, comments are transferred into the LJ and next steps planning is added.
• Post it note ‘my achievements at home’ on the noticeboard.
• Parent questionnaires asking ‘what is your child doing at home at the moment?’ or ‘what are your child’s favourite toys / games / places to go on outings?’ etc.
• Ask parent to send picture messages (WhatsApp is good) of their child at the weekend or on holiday – print the pictures and add a child’s comment to their file.
• Ask parents at pick-up time ‘what are you working on at home just now?’ – write it up and show how you are supporting their learning when they are with you.
• Ask children to draw pictures and tell you stories about things they have done at home – places they have visited with their parents – people important to them etc.
• ‘Proud clouds’ to share significant moments from home.
• Parent comment sheets in Learning Journey files when they are shared with parents – so comments can be added. Members say these work best if ideas for what to write are given.
• Add verbal comments from parents in a different coloured ink so Ofsted can clearly see that you are working with home.
• Tell parents you need their comments on the bottom of children’s progress reports – give them questions to answer. Explain you will email them a report if they want to keep a copy to show granny but you need their comments on a sheet for Ofsted.
• Do regular ‘what we have been doing this month’ summaries including a couple of wow moments for each child … you can use the same basic layout and then personalise them. Ask parents to email back with some comments and add their comments to the sheet before putting it in the child’s file.
• If parents get involved in your activities or outings, get photos for the children’s files.
• Design a ‘parent comment’ sheet and give it to parents every few months to fill in. again, it works best if you give parents ideas for things to write and keep it short. If parents are struggling to fill it in at home, ask them at pick up time, fill it in for them and don’t let them go until they have given you some new information about their child’s home learning.
• Make little ‘we have been doing’ booklets for children when you do a new theme – add photos of the child and ask parents for comments / feedback from what their child is telling them at home which you can add later.
• Renew the ‘all about me’ form every 6 months – call it ‘all about me now’ and ask parents for input from home.
• If you use a secure social media page, ask parents to comment – copy the comments into the child’s file and add some planning ideas which you can then share with parents.
• Start a Pinterest board of activity ideas and share those with parents.
• When you send home ideas for learning, ask parents for feedback – what did their child enjoy / not enjoy doing? How did they tackle the activity? Were they engaged? What was their favourite bit? Add parent comments to the child’s file.
Please share any other ideas… :D
Ofsted are making lots of comments in reports at the moment about lack of parental involvement - lack of ideas for home learning - lack of parent comments and input in children's files etc...
One way we tackle it here at Knutsford Childminding is to include parent observations in LJs - when they tell us what their child has been doing or saying at home we write it down and link a 'next step' or 'individual plan' to it ...
For example -
• Jane went to the farm this weekend with parents. To further support her learning we have...
• John's dad says he loves things that go round at home. We have planned to...
• Janet is visiting the allotment with granddad – she is growing peas and courgettes. We have started some sunflowers here to follow her interest.
• WOW Susie has just started climbing the stairs at home!! She might enjoy…
• We are planning a trip to the zoo and Kate’s mum has given us her entrance card! Thank you!
• John has a new bike at home – it is blue and he says it is very big. We will make sure he has lots of time to practice on our bike here.
Observations and individual / next steps planning like that are quick and easy to write up and show lots of evidence of working together.
Other ways our group members add parent comments / home learning in children's files include…
• Sending observation sheets home – when completed, they are put in the LJ with follow on next steps.
• Pages for parent comments in the child’s daily diary eg ‘things I have done at home’, comments are transferred into the LJ and next steps planning is added.
• Post it note ‘my achievements at home’ on the noticeboard.
• Parent questionnaires asking ‘what is your child doing at home at the moment?’ or ‘what are your child’s favourite toys / games / places to go on outings?’ etc.
• Ask parent to send picture messages (WhatsApp is good) of their child at the weekend or on holiday – print the pictures and add a child’s comment to their file.
• Ask parents at pick-up time ‘what are you working on at home just now?’ – write it up and show how you are supporting their learning when they are with you.
• Ask children to draw pictures and tell you stories about things they have done at home – places they have visited with their parents – people important to them etc.
• ‘Proud clouds’ to share significant moments from home.
• Parent comment sheets in Learning Journey files when they are shared with parents – so comments can be added. Members say these work best if ideas for what to write are given.
• Add verbal comments from parents in a different coloured ink so Ofsted can clearly see that you are working with home.
• Tell parents you need their comments on the bottom of children’s progress reports – give them questions to answer. Explain you will email them a report if they want to keep a copy to show granny but you need their comments on a sheet for Ofsted.
• Do regular ‘what we have been doing this month’ summaries including a couple of wow moments for each child … you can use the same basic layout and then personalise them. Ask parents to email back with some comments and add their comments to the sheet before putting it in the child’s file.
• If parents get involved in your activities or outings, get photos for the children’s files.
• Design a ‘parent comment’ sheet and give it to parents every few months to fill in. again, it works best if you give parents ideas for things to write and keep it short. If parents are struggling to fill it in at home, ask them at pick up time, fill it in for them and don’t let them go until they have given you some new information about their child’s home learning.
• Make little ‘we have been doing’ booklets for children when you do a new theme – add photos of the child and ask parents for comments / feedback from what their child is telling them at home which you can add later.
• Renew the ‘all about me’ form every 6 months – call it ‘all about me now’ and ask parents for input from home.
• If you use a secure social media page, ask parents to comment – copy the comments into the child’s file and add some planning ideas which you can then share with parents.
• Start a Pinterest board of activity ideas and share those with parents.
• When you send home ideas for learning, ask parents for feedback – what did their child enjoy / not enjoy doing? How did they tackle the activity? Were they engaged? What was their favourite bit? Add parent comments to the child’s file.
Please share any other ideas… :D