hi, my name is charlotte ive 2 children, aged 14 months and 3.

I have booked onto the introduction to childminding session at my local college and also put my name down for the ICP course which starts in september. Ive loads of questions , most of them proberly silly but i guess what i need to know at the moment is what happens on these courses and when does the OFSTED inspector first come out to see me, and what i can be doing now to prepare myself and what do i need to know.

Any website or book sujestions would be great

Thanks in advance

charlotte x:)

No questions are silly Charlotte.

Have a really good look around this site, some of your questions may have already been asked - if it hasn't or you can't find it ask away.

Good places to look (outside places apart from this site of course)

NCMA http://www.*************/
BCMA http://www.bromleycma.org.uk/ (for policies etc)

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

http://www.*************.gov.uk/

Mind you, you can't get any better than this site!!!! lol

Welcome by the way

Hi Charlotte,

I'm on the last 2wks of my ICP course my exam is next week :eek:

I bought the books Diploma in Home-Based Childcare by Sheila Riddall-Leech and also Getting started in Home-Based Childcare by Sue Griffin both are approved by NCMA and are available from Play.com they are full of loads of advice and even have practice questions for the ICP exam.

Good luck with it all, this forum is brilliant for information and help and advice.

Hi Charlotte and Welcome.

Website suggestion hmmmmmmmmmmm THIS ONE :clapping: :laughing: Seriously there is loads of info on here if you have a look around. If you cant find the answer to your questions in the threads just ask. No question is silly. There is always someone who can answer or try too.

When you are ready to get some books one of our members Sarahnev has written fantastic e-books you can purchase from her website.

Have fun looking around.:D

hi, my name is charlotte ive 2 children, aged 14 months and 3.

what i need to know at the moment is what happens on these courses - you will find out what is involved with beinga childminder, have mock test qutions put to you,, your chance ask questions too - nothing is silly.basically you will be told what you prob already know as your a mum. and when does the OFSTED inspector first come out to see me, - not until you have completed your application form and health form hun(should be handed these on you rcourse) i waited til i found out if passed my icp test b4 sending off and what i can be doing now to prepare myself and what do i need to know. - how bout a first aid course, food hygiene course, anything you would like really hun, child proof your home - tho as a mum it prob is.



hope tha will help hun take a look around here, also look at sites pipsqueeak has given you.

carnt add anymore as you have been advised well, but just wanted to say hello and welcome xx

hi, thankyou for all your replies

Ill look at play.com about those books and i guess ill just have to be patient really and im trying not to neglect the kids by spending too much time reading on here lol,

as my hubby says if i want to look after other peoples kids i should be practising with mine, which made me feel really bad about how little i do with them, but i noticed on another thread some people said they do more with thier kids now they childminding so im trying not to feel to stressed about it

charlotte x

Whoever wrote that about doing more things with your own children when you are minding is right!

My 2 benefitted hugely, not just from having me at home, but also from the activities, games etc I used to plan for them and the mindees.

I hope your application goes smoothly ... and if there's anything you're not sure about, ask away! :D

Looks like you got some good advice x good luck :thumbsup:

Yes you got lots of advice from everyone

You dont really need a book if you read all the information in the forum - there is heaps of it and its very useful and if you get stuck just ask

Good luck

Angel xx