Daily Diaries if parents aren't that bothered

**Lily Grace** · 22-02-2011, 10:27 PM

OK one mum who is a friend hasn't returned the daily diary for 2 weeks but there has been a death in the family so cant put to much pressure on her. If Ofsted were due which they are not, I cant make mum write comments.

Other mindee has just started, filled in daily diary for a week and haven't seen it since. What do I, I cant force parents to return diary. What do you do???

**muffins** · 22-02-2011, 11:01 PM

I had one that never brought it back so I would write it on a piece of paper for them & keep the diary with a copy in it!

Also had one who wasn't interested in it, never wrote in it & am sure never read it, but always left it in the childs bag so I just carried on writing in it!

**Baildon bears** · 22-02-2011, 11:08 PM

A daily diary is really for parents info not ofsted so I would not worry to much if parents are not bothered then I would not bother, I do a daily diary for my self and put attence, spontaneous obbs, photo took etc.... This way important info does not get lost.

**Noomie** · 22-02-2011, 11:18 PM

One parent reads almost instantly upon arrival home. Makes her feel part of her child's day. (no comments back though but feedback has revealed she loves it)

Another parent I have 3/4 diaries for and at some point one or the other arrives. No imput from them.

Others are never written in. 4.5yr old's mum was surprised I would do one at all as hadn't had one from previous minders.

Are the worth it? I don't know. I just do them anyway. xx

**pinkbutterfly** · 22-02-2011, 11:29 PM

I don't do diaries for children over 3 that's because they are potty trained, parents get menu in advance, they don't nap any more and they can say what they did themselves. I have just learning journal for them with all the obs and planning.

**button68** · 22-02-2011, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Noomie

One parent reads almost instantly upon arrival home. Makes her feel part of her child's day. (no comments back though but feedback has revealed she loves it)

I have a parent who is exactly like this one, they ALWAYS read the diary every night (if I forget to put diary in the bag they will text and ask what fruit LO had so they don't duplicate it at tea) - but they never write anything back. We do tend to have a chat at morning drop off though.

My diary does have a space for Parents Comments - it's just that no one ever choses to use it

Some CM's round here are saying Ofsted aren't happy if diaries aren't signed

but as Basildon Bears said the diary is for parents not Ofsted.

**Ripeberry** · 23-02-2011, 12:30 AM

One of my parents always reads the diary in the car before he drives off in the evening. Like he can't wait to see what J has been up to

**miffy** · 23-02-2011, 07:58 AM

I do my daily diaries on an A4 sheet of paper - parents sign (and leave a comment if they wish) when they pick up so the diaries stay here and form part of the lj

I only do diaries for EYFS children and a very short version for those in EYFS who are at school.

Miffy xx

**charleyfarley** · 23-02-2011, 08:10 AM

As Ofsted told me at my inspection ''You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink''
She was talking about a set of my parents at the time, who insist I write a daily diary even though lo is only here after school normally, so I literally (sp) write in it what I give him for tea, any homework or letters from school. During holidays when I have have longer they don't bother to send it!!!

My other parents read everything I write and although they don't write comments in the book, I know they appreciate knowing what their lo has been doing

Carol xx