Heaven Scent
16-05-2010, 03:58 PM
I'd love to hear everyones comments about yesterdays conference.
It was fab to meet up with
Sarah 707
Singlewiththre
Lauredt
margimum
Margimum came and introduced herself to me when I was having a coffee at the beginning - It was fab to meet her.
I have known Lauredt for the best part of 2 years (if not longer - time flies) and never realised she was a forum member until yesterday.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half although there was a little confusion as to how the group discussions were going to take place but once that got started things went well.
Like the North Shields ARM we discussed the Code of Practice.
Those in our group also suggested that the new title should have the word "QUALITY" in it as it reflects what we do - we provide a quality service to our clients -(parents and chlidren) - (In the past year or so when talking to non minders I have taken to referring to my "parents and mindees" as clients if its OK for hairdressers and beauty therapists along with accountants, solicitors and dentists to call their customers "Clients" then it should be fine for us. As we we want to be seen as professionals then we should act as professionals and use professional terms - I know we do need to keep it on a personal basis too but that is ok with the parents once we get to know them better and build up better relationships with them).
Anyhow back to the ARM -
Our group discussed the second point on the list and also said that it should be down to Ofsted to strike somone off and that once someone was struck off then they wouldn't renew their membership as they wouldn't be practicing - Membership is voluntary and is there to give advice and support so if a member is having difficulty complying with any aspect of EYFS then NCMA should be offering them support!!!
One of the other groups discussed something about inviting parents to get involved in writing up our policies and proceedures and in other aspects of our business - well that went down like a led balloon.
I was also pleased that at the end of the feedback they came round and collected our feedback forms which I felt meant they would be taking it more seriously as some people didn't get to complete their feeback due to interuptions from others which led to further discussion etc.
The guest speaker was an excolleague of mine from my days as a lecturer at Stockport College - as I went looking for her she recognised me but I didn't recognise her as she had lost loads of weight and looks quite different - but she certainly hadn't lost her sense of humour and charisma - she gave a very interesting and funny talk about marketing.
Lunch was fab they had good caterers who even made a special Lasagne for Sarah707 - There was also plenty of Tea & Coffee.
When it came to the workshop I have to say I was truely disappointed - I was going to be a naughty girl and defect to my excolleagues workshop - it was called Shake Rattle & Roll but at the last minute I chickened out and went next door to my allocated workshop - oh how sorry I was. It was supposed to be about Story Tellling With props - But two young boys were left in a room of about 15 middle aged women and started out by telling us tht there would be no props involved :eek: :eek: Then they asked us what we were expecting of the workshop and if we were expecting to have any input - WOW - you could have heard a pin drop - The whole thing was a disaster from beginning to end. - I was sitting next to the door and wasn't feeling great and on a few occasions I was tempted to pick up my bags and pop next to join in Shake Rattle & Roll but as Sarah707 & Lauredt were in the same workshop I didn't think it would be fair to walk out without saying a word. I was even nodding off at one point - I did however feel so sorry for the poor lads - it wasn't their fault - somone agreed to take on the gig and didn't deliver - I bet the person in charge of the organisation they came from were reasonably paid for it but wasn't equipped to fulful the task - they were also the same people who ran the fact painting workshop - I'm not naming them in case other members who weren't at the ARM have any dealings with the group and I'm sure these lads are brill at what they do within the organisation.
With regard to the raffle I won the last prize but Miss Sarah won 3 and Lauredt won 2 so all in all our little group did rather well in the raffle - albeit some better than others :laughing: :laughing:
Well that is what I can remember for now - I'd love to hear what others remember thought of the day and for them to fill me in on their workshops.
Those that did the puppet making workshop came out with some fab puppets we all wanted one.
When I got home I didn't feel great and had to take DD to Macclesfield for a party and I picked DS up from there then I came straight home and fell into bed and DH who had just arrived home from work was given the job of going back at 9.30 to pick DD up - He wasn't a happy bunny - its my fault apparently they go to school there (Catholic School - he's not a catholic) so its my fault they have a lot of friends there - especially DD who has very few here!!!!
Still not feeling great and now DH is on his way home from work early (airport closed at 1.00 due to ash cloud) via Macclesfied with DD & DS who I dropped off there earlier one went to one park and the other went to another so it has been very difficult to get them to a central meeting point - DH has just picked them up from outside the nursery where I used to work and they went to - it was somewhere I knew DH could find - his geography of Macc is not good.
It was fab to meet up with
Sarah 707
Singlewiththre
Lauredt
margimum
Margimum came and introduced herself to me when I was having a coffee at the beginning - It was fab to meet her.
I have known Lauredt for the best part of 2 years (if not longer - time flies) and never realised she was a forum member until yesterday.
I enjoyed the first half more than the second half although there was a little confusion as to how the group discussions were going to take place but once that got started things went well.
Like the North Shields ARM we discussed the Code of Practice.
Those in our group also suggested that the new title should have the word "QUALITY" in it as it reflects what we do - we provide a quality service to our clients -(parents and chlidren) - (In the past year or so when talking to non minders I have taken to referring to my "parents and mindees" as clients if its OK for hairdressers and beauty therapists along with accountants, solicitors and dentists to call their customers "Clients" then it should be fine for us. As we we want to be seen as professionals then we should act as professionals and use professional terms - I know we do need to keep it on a personal basis too but that is ok with the parents once we get to know them better and build up better relationships with them).
Anyhow back to the ARM -
Our group discussed the second point on the list and also said that it should be down to Ofsted to strike somone off and that once someone was struck off then they wouldn't renew their membership as they wouldn't be practicing - Membership is voluntary and is there to give advice and support so if a member is having difficulty complying with any aspect of EYFS then NCMA should be offering them support!!!
One of the other groups discussed something about inviting parents to get involved in writing up our policies and proceedures and in other aspects of our business - well that went down like a led balloon.
I was also pleased that at the end of the feedback they came round and collected our feedback forms which I felt meant they would be taking it more seriously as some people didn't get to complete their feeback due to interuptions from others which led to further discussion etc.
The guest speaker was an excolleague of mine from my days as a lecturer at Stockport College - as I went looking for her she recognised me but I didn't recognise her as she had lost loads of weight and looks quite different - but she certainly hadn't lost her sense of humour and charisma - she gave a very interesting and funny talk about marketing.
Lunch was fab they had good caterers who even made a special Lasagne for Sarah707 - There was also plenty of Tea & Coffee.
When it came to the workshop I have to say I was truely disappointed - I was going to be a naughty girl and defect to my excolleagues workshop - it was called Shake Rattle & Roll but at the last minute I chickened out and went next door to my allocated workshop - oh how sorry I was. It was supposed to be about Story Tellling With props - But two young boys were left in a room of about 15 middle aged women and started out by telling us tht there would be no props involved :eek: :eek: Then they asked us what we were expecting of the workshop and if we were expecting to have any input - WOW - you could have heard a pin drop - The whole thing was a disaster from beginning to end. - I was sitting next to the door and wasn't feeling great and on a few occasions I was tempted to pick up my bags and pop next to join in Shake Rattle & Roll but as Sarah707 & Lauredt were in the same workshop I didn't think it would be fair to walk out without saying a word. I was even nodding off at one point - I did however feel so sorry for the poor lads - it wasn't their fault - somone agreed to take on the gig and didn't deliver - I bet the person in charge of the organisation they came from were reasonably paid for it but wasn't equipped to fulful the task - they were also the same people who ran the fact painting workshop - I'm not naming them in case other members who weren't at the ARM have any dealings with the group and I'm sure these lads are brill at what they do within the organisation.
With regard to the raffle I won the last prize but Miss Sarah won 3 and Lauredt won 2 so all in all our little group did rather well in the raffle - albeit some better than others :laughing: :laughing:
Well that is what I can remember for now - I'd love to hear what others remember thought of the day and for them to fill me in on their workshops.
Those that did the puppet making workshop came out with some fab puppets we all wanted one.
When I got home I didn't feel great and had to take DD to Macclesfield for a party and I picked DS up from there then I came straight home and fell into bed and DH who had just arrived home from work was given the job of going back at 9.30 to pick DD up - He wasn't a happy bunny - its my fault apparently they go to school there (Catholic School - he's not a catholic) so its my fault they have a lot of friends there - especially DD who has very few here!!!!
Still not feeling great and now DH is on his way home from work early (airport closed at 1.00 due to ash cloud) via Macclesfied with DD & DS who I dropped off there earlier one went to one park and the other went to another so it has been very difficult to get them to a central meeting point - DH has just picked them up from outside the nursery where I used to work and they went to - it was somewhere I knew DH could find - his geography of Macc is not good.