Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS)

[donnagwynne]

Does anyone have any information on this that they could share??

I know that not many people have come across it yet.

My Early Years team are having training on this next week, and as part of it they are coming to my 'setting' to go through the green book and assess it.

Apparantly the scheme for childminders may not be widely taken up, as early years will not know how useful it will be until they have tried to apply it in training.

As a guinea pig for this I am a bit worried that there are things lacking in my environment that I should have, toys, facilities etc.

Does anyone have any advanced info on this??

Thanks, Donna

[specks4]

Hi

Im doing my herts quality standards and i get rated using this scale.
Ive got the book so i know what will be looked at and how you can show evidence that you do.

have you got the book to see what you will be rated on, if you havent it is a good idea to either buy it or borrow off someone.

What information do you need to know on it?

[donnagwynne]

Hi Emma,

as far as I understand this is not going to be the proper one for me, i am a guinea pig for the trainees to use.

i have a marking scale on the internet and I am looking at that at the moment. I will get feedback from the report that they do, but wanted to prepare myself.

Will they be looking at the physical environment at the time, or will they be looking at what I have done in the past etc and how will i need to show evidence of what I have done??

Donna

[specks4]

When they came to my home, they looked at what i was doing there and then, they dont really hunt around are ask questions like ofsted which i did think was wrong as alot of the stuff that they marked me down on i did have or do.
I was told to show as much as possible with regards to resources so they phyically see what you have.

I did have a moan because i did show quite abit but then they pulled me up on the fact that i didnt give my mindee enough time to digest the information i was giving or long enough to use resource so i felt they contridted themselves alot but i wrote that down on my next steps that if they had asked questions then alot of the issues would be covered.

I would just go through the ratings you have and just use or do what you think is best, if your are guninea pig then surely anything you dont feel is right you can bring up, afterall they want to make it better for childminders.

[specks4]

they looked through my portfoili for policies and training but when i showed them the childrens observation books as evidence what i had done they didnt look through them. So apart from your portfoilo they like to see what your doing there and then.

[MAWI]

I was assessed last week. I too was a bit of a guinea pig.

I had/still not got much of an idea of what the scales are all about. They will not give me the book until I get mt feedback session next week some time. very strange
So, in essence I had this obs but was oblivious as to what they wanted,

They checked none of my paperwork. They were observing a typical day ( interactions witht the children, activities provided etc.. observed snack time and nappy changing)
They were more interested in all of my resourcers and where they were etc... could the children locate them. They spent ages listing or writing reams on my toys or resources. They did try to blend into the background. They followed us around all morning, when we went outdoors they came too. Did not ask loads of question like Ofsted though.

So I think they were looking for :
Interactions between myself, the children, andbetween the childfren themselves
What it must be like for the child here (Im guessing)

Will let oyu all know as soon as I do !!

[Bananabrain]

Ooooooh that green book!
I'm doing the quality standards thingy too:laughing: Well I'm attempting to!
Green book scary:laughing: I just flick through quickly and close it again:laughing:

[The Juggler]

have you got the book? You might be able to download a copy. have a look at the assessment criteria, it'll give you an idea of the how the scales work.

for example, avaiable sand and water play is things like, sometimes, always, freely available (not exact wording)

with resources for sand play they'd look for different types of, and multiple toys i.e. buckets and spades, cups, pourers, moulds, shells, bark, pebbles diggers/cars (not all at same time obviously:laughing: ).

If something is not out on the day, make sure you have picture evidence or are able to produce it, as it's a bit like ofsted on that front, they need to see evidence on the day.

i was down on diversity (for gender reasons) i.e. not that children weren't gender diverse in their play but not enough positive images of women/men in non-gender sterotyped roles. So I had women doctors and police officers in my happy land but it needs to not just be women doctors but women surgeons.

Def. download the book though so once you know what they have to look for you'll be more prepared. Good luck. It is a really useful tool. I liked it.

[pillows]

please could you advise to where i could download book many thanks

[wellybelly]

Unfortunatley, you can't download it but you can buy the book for about £16 from amazon.

If you have a chance of being evaluated by your Local Authority (LA) under this scheme, then you are very lucky. Not every LA has the money to fund it. It's such a great tool to really understand your setting and prove how well you are working with children. Ofsted will love it when you show your results at your next inspection and personally I feel the standards set in FCCERS are more centred around the child than on paperwork.

My LA want to be able to deliver this to all childminders as it's so beneficial but just don't have the funding, however I have purchased the book and it's a real eye opener. I use it as an evaluation tool and when / if my LA get funding, will be prepared.

Best of Luck to all the guinea pigs!

[Suebb1]

I went on a launch for the ECCERS in our area and was posted out a FCCERS book. Can buy them think about £16 off internet .

Not sure I think it' s totally a good idea as I can't see how we can possible meet all the criteria to obtain a high score rating on some things----ie,unlike nurseries we can't possible have all resources out when audited. ( I'd have no room for the children to actually play!!!

[The Juggler]

I thought you could download them sorry. If they are coming to see you, you should be allowed an advance copy of the booklet to prepare you.

I would ring the EY team and ask them to let you have a look at the booklet before they come.

x

[Sarahbelle]

I thought you could download them sorry. If they are coming to see you, you should be allowed an advance copy of the booklet to prepare you.

I would ring the EY team and ask them to let you have a look at the booklet before they come.

x

You aren't supposed to have a copy of the book before your first observation/assessment. This is because they want a baseline of your setting and feel that if you have access to the book before your first assessment then it won't be a "fair and accurate" reading.

Once you have had your initial assessment, you then have a subsequent visit to receive your feedback and scores and get given the book. I have also been told that I am not allowed to share the book with anyone else!

[The Juggler]

that seems weird. like being assessed against the EYFS without knowing what's expected of you.:panic: :panic: :panic:

I'm not saying that you fake produce evidence that you didn't have but you can at least prepare and find evidence of what you ALREADY do if you know you do it.

what an untrusting system. It's supposed to be a self-development tool not a test.:(

[Sarahbelle]

that seems weird. like being assessed against the EYFS without knowing what's expected of you.:panic: :panic: :panic:

I'm not saying that you fake produce evidence that you didn't have but you can at least prepare and find evidence of what you ALREADY do if you know you do it.

what an untrusting system. It's supposed to be a self-development tool not a test.:(

The whole assessment is done on observing how your work with the children, your communication, what you offer resource wise (according to the ages of the children), your hygiene and safety standards etc. They do not look at your physical evidence in terms of photos, paperwork, policies, learning journeys etc. They are basically assessing your day to day practice. They want to "see" what your are doing. I got through mine ok and am about to join the network and become a support minder.

[Pipsqueak]

I am sorry but with an acronym like that I just cannot take it seriously.:D

I can just imagine my CDO knocking on my door say hi I have come to FCCCER you!:laughing:

[Pipsqueak]

anyway, from me being very unhelpful (my last post)

is this any good?
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ecers/supplements/scoresheets/FCCERSs-s.pdf

http://beepdf.com/doc/12394/self_study_packet_for_family_child_care_programs.h tml

[mamasheshe]

sorry not very helpful but what an abbreviation :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :blush:

[Heaven Scent]

Oh may the lord preserve us from all harm (n rubbish like this). Why do we put ourselves through all of this.!!!!! Its all just so subjective surely it should all be reflective of life

- How many surgeons do children come across on a daily basis male or female????? and aren't surgeons just doctors who specialise in surgery rather than becomming GPs or skin specialists etc etc. so if you just hold up a happy land lady doctor and call her a surgeon then thats fine to me. How far are we supposed to go with all this positive image thing.

I know I'm nitpicking here but it will be the same for every aspect of an inspection e.g. I have large floor cushions which are propped up at the end of the couch which the children are free to get out when they want to chill. As far as I'm concerned they are accessable and available at all times and one inspector may agree with me then another may say that they should be laid/set out on the floor ready for the children in order that they can be considered accessable.

[watgem]

thank you for sharing this, I have just been reading my latest uni module and saw ECERS, and thought I'd read something similar on this site, Now I understand what it is and won't appear totally unknowledgable:) we have to use one to evaluate another setting, I can't see many settings falling over themselves to let a bunch of students come in and appear to nit pick. Does any one have one and have experience of using one please?

[Andrea08]

mmm is this like the ncma quality assured networks?...

we have been members for a few yrs and now Blackpool has developed its own quality assured system called steps to quality that we all (yes all including nurseries) have to work to/ and our development officers use this tool now in our monitory visits although dont know how they will,, now, as we only have one DO left...

it looks very deep and more for nurseries than childminders esp if we dont have large settings?

childminding has changed so much gone are the days of home from home to "Setting inline with - xyz"" and trying to keep up with nurseries n schools... shame that so much of childminding has gone as this is what parents wanted in a childminders home not a setting!!!

[watgem]

last year all the childminders were given a folder to work through, and the EySO came out for visits and marked as registered, advanced or accredited, according to how we completed the folder etc, I am wondering if this was along the same lines? and to do with this ECER? I think it would have been beneficial to have some clearer explanations, as few childminders have bothered with the folder which is a shame.

[The Juggler]

I am sorry but with an acronym like that I just cannot take it seriously.:D

I can just imagine my CDO knocking on my door say hi I have come to FCCCER you!:laughing:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: the lady who did mine pronounced it FICCERS but the other lady (who has a SA accent) pronounces it Feckers :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Sarabelle at my assessment they didn't look at photos of my provision but did want to see the learning journey's, my planning and paperwork and parent feedback for the last category (can't remember what it is offhand - I lent someoone my green book).

[MAWI]

What a joke!!

Im really cheesed off after this. Sorry going to go on afor a rant!!!
I did not get the book until after they had observed me, thats fine but it is different to what OFSTED are looking for. Also as I had no idea what they were looking for, I was a bit blind and looking back should have researched it or come on here for more advice.
I had a 'get ready for OFSTED' type of inspection ( with the same observer) 5 days prior and she told me I was all ready, no probs and should get a great result as long as everything goes well on the day!!

Anyway, this FCCERS, I had really low marks on certain things and very high on others ( no consistnecy) It seems really unfair because you can be excelling in areas and then one tiny little thing can pull your scores right down. e.g Handwashing prior to snack time: 4 children one after the other all washed their hands using running water and soap and individual towels. FINE.
Because 1 child apparently touched a toy on route to the snack table( I did not see this), this sent my marks plummeting right down to a 1. ( god knows how because thats up there with not even botering to wash their hands) And it goes on like this. I had scored 7 ( highest you can get) in lots of areas but my advice would be to get hold of the book and read it thoroughly.
Another example was they missed certain items and just put 'no' down. Instead of asking me. I have read the book tonight and many of the scales, if she had asked me some simple question like: How do you supervise this or How do you do that would have solved a lot of things. So in essence I feel really deflated tonight.
After a longgggg conversation with her this evening, she admitted she had missed stuff ( not seeing particualr toys)and she was also wary because she was being observed ( 2 of them in my house), so my reaction was , well how do you think the children and myself felt???
Also its my reputation as I will want to report this back to parents. She is looking at challening her manager on it tomorrow and will try to get it looked at but Im not holding my breath
I do understand its more of a Self evaluation but when you know your doing a good job and they constantly tell you this on other visits, this came as a shocker. I am happy with most of the scales but was amazed at the low ones.
Hope other guinea pigs out there, have better Observations, good luck

Large glass of wine now

[The Juggler]

What a joke!!

Im really cheesed off after this. Sorry going to go on afor a rant!!!
I did not get the book until after they had observed me, thats fine but it is different to what OFSTED are looking for. Also as I had no idea what they were looking for, I was a bit blind and looking back should have researched it or come on here for more advice.
I had a 'get ready for OFSTED' type of inspection ( with the same observer) 5 days prior and she told me I was all ready, no probs and should get a great result as long as everything goes well on the day!!

Anyway, this FCCERS, I had really low marks on certain things and very high on others ( no consistnecy) It seems really unfair because you can be excelling in areas and then one tiny little thing can pull your scores right down. e.g Handwashing prior to snack time: 4 children one after the other all washed their hands using running water and soap and individual towels. FINE.
Because 1 child apparently touched a toy on route to the snack table( I did not see this), this sent my marks plummeting right down to a 1. ( god knows how because thats up there with not even botering to wash their hands) And it goes on like this. I had scored 7 ( highest you can get) in lots of areas but my advice would be to get hold of the book and read it thoroughly.
Another example was they missed certain items and just put 'no' down. Instead of asking me. I have read the book tonight and many of the scales, if she had asked me some simple question like: How do you supervise this or How do you do that would have solved a lot of things. So in essence I feel really deflated tonight.
After a longgggg conversation with her this evening, she admitted she had missed stuff ( not seeing particualr toys)and she was also wary because she was being observed ( 2 of them in my house), so my reaction was , well how do you think the children and myself felt???
Also its my reputation as I will want to report this back to parents. She is looking at challening her manager on it tomorrow and will try to get it looked at but Im not holding my breath
I do understand its more of a Self evaluation but when you know your doing a good job and they constantly tell you this on other visits, this came as a shocker. I am happy with most of the scales but was amazed at the low ones.
Hope other guinea pigs out there, have better Observations, good luck

Large glass of wine now



that's an awful experience. as a graded rating I could see how they'd maybe want to do it this way but with EY teams wanting to use it for CM's to have a better self-assessment tool this is ridiculous.

My assessors asked me if they didn't see things. there were other things i got marked down on they didnt' see but mostly they asked. I only had a quick flick through before they came but got ready what I had that they were looking for rather than 'buying or borrowing in' but I was prepared at least to show it.x

It's supposed to be a way to help us. Sounds like your assesso

[donnagwynne]

It sounds to me that there is being little consistency within the training provided by the local authorities.

Our local authority eventually rolled this on a wider scale as part of the Capital Grant application process. We had a big introductory training meeting, then took our green books home and had an assessment a couple of weeks later.

This assessment was used to highlight where we could improve, so we could apply for capital monies to help us. (it did not work however as they ran out of money).

However, the FCCERS is REALLY prescriptive. You have to read it very carefully indeed, and if you are good at applying your reading to your practice then you can not fail to get a good grade. So it is quite easy to stage and have everything planned and ready in advance. Which makes it good for quite poor minders to get good grades as the boxes are specified and easy to tick!!

However, I found some of it hard to put into practice, and some of it seemed a bit at odds with the sort of things that Ofsted are looking for.

For example. Lots of minders use food products for messy play and creative work. You would be penalised for doing this as part of the FCCERS audit. Also you need to make sure that you have two pieces of artwork on display for each child over the age of 12 months. (do not forget name tags). This is often not practical. Nor is the implication that you need to have sand and water available all the time. And it's from America. So you have to remember to keep your swimming pools fenced off and your guns and ammunition stored separately and appropriately!!!!!!!!!

I could go on and on.

However, a local childminder I know did the training along with the local authority staff. She applied everything to her practice, embedded it all into her SEF and got an outstanding from ofsted a few days later. To put this into perspective, she is one of only about half a dozen in our whole city.

With the winding-up of the quality assurance schemes, I think FCCERS will definately be replacing it.