Daily Diaries

[LinziH]

Just trying to get my head round all the different paperwork I need

So in a daily diary, what goes in here? Im assuming its different from the childs profile?

At the moment I only have before & after school children, my first EYs child isnt starting til January, but as I'm expecting an inspection before Christmas I've decided to do full profiles for my mindees, just to prove to Mrs Ofsted that I've got a good understanding of this, as a new childminder Ive also found it helps with activities planning and learning planning..

I also give a daily slip to parents with what they've eaten, drank, any messages from school, and brief run down of what we've been doing.

Ive thought for a while that there must be a better way of recording these things other than giving slips every day, so could a diary replace this?

Thank you x

[migimoo]

Yep-I just get an A5 notebook from asda and on each page put date, nappy changes,food,what we did today,childs mood,etc and it is left in the child's bag.
Parents are also asked to write in it any info they like,ie,"Liam didn't sleep much last night."
I have seperate folders for learning journals,obs,etc
You don't need to do a daily diary for before/after schoolies.

[Jods]

I do an online electronic LJ with Orbit x everyone is different, but yes you do need to do one, just need to find a system that works for you x

[Gracie's mamma]

Do you HAVE to do them ?

[cathtee]

Do you HAVE to do them ?

You don't have to do them, but it shows that you have a good sharing relationship with the parents, it works well especially if Dad picks up
as they don't always pass on info. I do 2 daily diaries on lo's but as i see moms i share info at collection the 3rd dad picks up and mom
said on start of contract that he doesn't pass things on so that one goes home every night. It's really up to you

[rachelle]

I print my own A5 sheets and each child has their own A5 ring binder they bring daily.
You don't have to do them but my parents all like them and handovers are often busy as most go at the same time.

[Childrenatheart]

I do diaries for under 5's only. I created a template that fits twice onto an A4 sheet with boxes for food, nappies, sleep and main activities, plus a box for notes & another for parent's comments. I did this as I was writing far too much in a notebook so having a finite amount of space restricted me (I'm known for always using 20 words where one will do ). I found that although parents liked these they got stuffed in bags and lost so I have now bought A5 ring-binders that live in a child's bag and add the diary sheet each day along with any other docs such as newsletters, leaflets from places we've visited, photos etc. So far it's working well

[SarahJellybean]

Does anyone know a good place to get a5 ringbinders? or possibly smaller?

[Childrenatheart]

I got mine on Amazon