I am very sorry that my final comment upset you in the way it did, but both I and Pat thought that there was an underlying subtext in your comments that implied that childminders who do the EYFS are more professional than those who don't and that childminders who don't do the EYFS are somehow failing the children in their care.
Now before you all get angry again, let's take a look at some of your comments from this thread that gave us that impression:
Mouse: "I don't see why there can't be another type of childcare (not called a childminder), that is basically a step or so above a babysitter."
Pipsqueak: "the sit down, drink your coffee and plonk the kids in front of the tv/on the living room floor with a box of toys [type of childminder]"
DebbieS26: "If people want to "Professionals" then inevitably there is some work to go with it"
huggableshelly: "those who object to EYFS obviously do not understand it well enough ..... but also are not prepared to understand it either"
DebbieS26: "When Birth-3 came in I did an extended course .... it made me a better professional and I am sure everyone on the forum is the same but can this be said of others who don't like the EYFS?"
Mouse: "I would be happy to see a scheme whereby childminders can chose whether or not to do EYFS. Those who chose to can claim the funding, those who chose not to can't."
Allie: "Being a professional means something to me and complying with EYFS commitments is part of that professional image"
The Juggler: "there are a lot of childminders who don't appear to want that respect or be seen as childcare professionals, they are happy with the old image"
Mouse: "For those of us who want to present a more professional image, EYFS is putting us on a more even footing with other settings"
Rach30: "[the EYFS] means that all childcare professionals are working to the same standards and levells of care. I think this gives childminders a more professional status"
Mouse: "I'd be quite happy with a two tier system .... If there was a two tier system you'd only be in the bottom tier if you chose to be"
Pipsqueak: "by doing EYFS it is giving you the opportunity to be professional"
And from the 'What Do You Like About the EYFS?' thread:
DebbieS26: "I like it because it makes me more professional in the approach to my job through planning"
Mouse: "I do think that it's helping to raise the profile of childminders. People who understand what's involved in EYFS are starting to respect the fact that we're doing so much more than babysitting"
Pipsqueak: "it pushes me up into the professional realms with all the other settings now - I am being taken seriously"
So, rightly or wrongly, it seemed to us that for some of you, your professional status was more important to you. You may, of course, think differently.
Bookmarks