kindredspirits
07-01-2009, 12:08 PM
Ok, its long and waffling - but can someone give me an idea of if this is the right sort of waffle for the first section of the SEF about my setting. All critisiscm greatly received!!!!
My setting is based on a home-from-home approach. I like children and parents to feel relaxed enough to be themselves and to be able to approach me about any matter they need to raise. We have a variety of toys and equipment which is placed in a safe box, readily accessible for the younger children to find - these are rotated regularly so they don't get bored, and the older children are able to go into the bedroom where there are more age appropriate toys stored safely, away from the eyes of the little ones, but with ease of access for my after school children. It has been a steep learning curve coming into childminding with the implementation of the EYFS, and I have found the need to take a step back from 'paperwork' at times and focus my attention on making sure that the children I care for are happy and safe before worrying about how to 'observe' them. That being said, I feel I am now able to do both competantly, making regular written observations, usually once the children have gone home, as well as being able to become involved in their learning and development by encouraging new and exciting skills.
I currently care for 3 children. Two of these are young boys who have just begun their Reception Year at school. This has been a particularly delicate time, I have been careful to balance the requirements of encouraging them to continue learning with me, with allowing them time away from a 'learning' setting so they feel able to relax for the few hours they are with me after school. The other child I care for is 12 months old, and starting with me was her first time away from Mum and Dad, so she took a while to get to know and trust me, we are still getting to know one another, but the rewards of her developing trust in me are overwhelming when just last week she took her first steps (with me) to my outstretched arms - I realised at this point that she had come to recognise me as a trustworthy person, who would be there to catch her if she fell over.
My setting is based on a home-from-home approach. I like children and parents to feel relaxed enough to be themselves and to be able to approach me about any matter they need to raise. We have a variety of toys and equipment which is placed in a safe box, readily accessible for the younger children to find - these are rotated regularly so they don't get bored, and the older children are able to go into the bedroom where there are more age appropriate toys stored safely, away from the eyes of the little ones, but with ease of access for my after school children. It has been a steep learning curve coming into childminding with the implementation of the EYFS, and I have found the need to take a step back from 'paperwork' at times and focus my attention on making sure that the children I care for are happy and safe before worrying about how to 'observe' them. That being said, I feel I am now able to do both competantly, making regular written observations, usually once the children have gone home, as well as being able to become involved in their learning and development by encouraging new and exciting skills.
I currently care for 3 children. Two of these are young boys who have just begun their Reception Year at school. This has been a particularly delicate time, I have been careful to balance the requirements of encouraging them to continue learning with me, with allowing them time away from a 'learning' setting so they feel able to relax for the few hours they are with me after school. The other child I care for is 12 months old, and starting with me was her first time away from Mum and Dad, so she took a while to get to know and trust me, we are still getting to know one another, but the rewards of her developing trust in me are overwhelming when just last week she took her first steps (with me) to my outstretched arms - I realised at this point that she had come to recognise me as a trustworthy person, who would be there to catch her if she fell over.