Daily Diary - Page Template

**Happy Feet** · 22-01-2009, 10:25 AM

Hi,

Just a quick question about the daily diary we have to do for the little ones....

How is your daily page set out?

I was thinking of doing something as a word document with the info set out in a template but don't know where to start!!

Any advice would be a huge help!

xx

**DudleyChildmind** · 22-01-2009, 10:34 AM

I bought the Parent/Childminder Contact Book from Bromley and they are excellent.

http://www.bromleycma.org.uk/payments/

**donnahay0** · 22-01-2009, 01:05 PM

I do a daily diary and print it out each day. Includes any observations and next steps/plans as well.

I also have a box to tick if there is a photo / artwork to add (usually at a later date - this makes it easier for me to link stuff later).

Links to EYFS areas of learning.

Don't forget notes/reminders for parents.

I print off or e-mail a copy for parents every day and leave space for their comments.

**Shar** · 22-01-2009, 01:12 PM

I also use the Bromley Childminding Association Childminder/parent contact book, and my inspector loved it!!

**Happy Feet** · 22-01-2009, 06:57 PM

Thanks so much for your replies....I guess it'll take time for me to get my head around all of this, but i'm getting there!!!!! xx

**2kidsunder5** · 20-01-2010, 02:51 PM

Hi
Can you please tell me more about the book from Bromley? Is it like a daily diary where you can put sleeps and nappy changes, food and activities etc ?
Thanks
Diane

**Shar** · 22-01-2010, 04:04 PM

Yes, sleep times, feeding info, nappy change times, activities and parent info with space for feedback. You can do all this in a small notebook instead or buy the BCMA books.

**Heaven Scent** · 22-01-2010, 05:01 PM

We don't need to do one its not a requirement of the EYFS so please don't stress or spend too much time on it at the expense of all the things you have got to do - get used to doing the other things then add it on as it were - its just one method you can use to show you are working in partnership with parents - other methods could be - texting notes daily or stating in your SEF that you spend X amount of time daily, weekly or monthly with parents on a 1-1 basis giving them info on their children.

Remember we are all individuals and if we are to celebrate diversity in the children and their families then our diversity should be celebrated also if not that is a form of discrimination too. Its also important that no minder who has difficulties with literacy should be made feel inadequate as a result of this - so I say find the way that suits you best to communicate with parents even if it means that you record voice messages for parents - document it in your policies and proceedures - and on your sef and you will be meeting the requirements of EYFS.

Hope this helps.

**fridaysoff** · 29-01-2010, 02:45 PM

Hi,
I do the same as donahay0 and have it all on word. My drawbacks are 3-5 children attending each day and time taken to complete them, plus ink consumption or if my printer or pc decides to go doolally. I incorporate pics on doc as this is quicker on the day, otherwise I don't find the time to come back, print them and trim them. I have found that if I have a lot of diaries to do trimming takes forever, uses glue as well and sometimes children pull the corners up and pictures off when diary goes home.

Under the activities bit I write the planned or spontaneous relelvant bit and link to EYFS, put pic or write in obs and link EYFS, then write in next steps, add line for requesting comments from parents on back of sheet.

This is a lot to do in a day and relies on time when people sleep which is not always a guarantee. I want to change my system but now parents don't want to give up the diary, so choose wisely! - bet that doesn't help at all does it!

**It's a small world** · 29-01-2010, 04:09 PM

Hi mine have several boxes around the edge with headings:
breakfast
lunch
dinner
snacks am & pm
drinks
sleeps
nappy or toilet
childminder comments
parent comments
and a section saying 'what I did today' in the center .

I put a picture of the childs favourite character ie: fireman sam, lazytown, Thomas the tank engine,timmy time etc the children and parents love them . I have them binder in a folder too. Hope that helps x

**funfunfun** · 29-01-2010, 04:17 PM

do you have a seperate book for each child

**It's a small world** · 29-01-2010, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by funfunfun

do you have a seperate book for each child

yes (confidentiality) and so parents can take them home to show other parent and write comments if need be..

**funfunfun** · 29-01-2010, 05:36 PM

I bought one to have a look at so i no what kind of things to put in my own

thankyou

**beccas** · 29-01-2010, 06:42 PM

i use a single 1/4 page every day for mine its all set out just fill in bits. if i have to tell them anything that cant fit on i write it on back used to do books but i never used to get them back and it was costing me a fortune,

**funfunfun** · 31-01-2010, 01:41 PM

do you keep a copy for yourself ? or is it just to show your working with parents and telling them the childs day.

**CHUNKY MONKEY** · 03-05-2010, 08:41 PM

The Bromley website is fab for your paperwork needed. You don't need to keep a copy of the diary.

CM

**Monkey26** · 04-05-2010, 05:37 PM

I buy ruled notebooks from the post office for 99p each!
Then i print about a bit of blurb about working with parents and explaining the point of having a communication book, i stick it on the front page and get parents to sign it.
I write a small amount each day covering meals, nappies, activities etc. Doing it this way means i am not contricted by boxes etc as some days i have lots to write others just one or two lines!
Everything is, where possible, upheld by verbal communication and then of course all the parents can access their child's Learning Journal if they want more detailed observations etc.
HTH x

**moljak** · 09-05-2010, 08:47 PM

As a newbie i bought the ncma one as guidance.I use it with my only mindee and mum loves it.She writes loads in it over the weekend and it's a joy to share.Its always good to know what sleep and eating patterns have been like when baby not with me.
Not sure how I will get on with more than one mindee but we shall just wait and see

**Toothfairy** · 10-05-2010, 07:14 AM

For my little ones I make up a daily diary folder and have it divided into 4 sections;

Diary page
Sleep
food
nappies

I have attached them and hope they may be of some help.
I also have slightly different ones for toddlers who are on solids, if you want them PM me.

HTH

**Celyn** · 10-05-2010, 08:13 PM

I don't use paper daily diaries at all these days.
I've got a form in Word that I fill out then send by email to the parents. I tried it out a little while ago to see if it was easier and I found that parents were far more likely to email me back with responses and information.
If the parents want to print it out, that's up to them, but I think they just keep them filed on their PCs.