Our seasonal news updates summarise the latest childcare news plus which MindingKids resources have been added or revised so you can easily keep on track and up to date.
So here we are into the summer holidays… but where is the summer?
The weather has not been the best for the start of the school holidays but fingers crossed it improves through the rest of July and August.
Holidays + Sunshine = being outdoors = busy children = happy childminders!
Welcome to all our new visitors, and a BIG THANK YOU to those who have recently purchased resources or signed up for Gold Membership. We hope our resources are helping you with the amazing work that you do.
So What’s Happening in the world of Childcare?
Prevent Duty Now Law
As per our spring newsletter the Prevent Duty is now law (from 1st July 2015). All childcare providers are expected to understand the risk of radicalisation and know who to contact if there are concerns that a child is being drawn into terrorism or radicalised.
Click on the following links for further information:
Prevent Duty Guidance: For England and Wales
Prevent Duty Guidance: For Scotland
MindingKids Child Protection / Safeguarding Policy included in the policies and procedures pack refers to both the Prevent Duty and the recently revised Safeguarding guidance.
Heatwave Guidance
For when the weather is hot, the government have released an information guide for childcarers and anyone looking after children. The guide explains the risks associated with extreme heat and how to best protect children from heat related illness. Click here for further details.
In the North (Care Inspectorate)….
National Care Standards to be revised
Following consultation regarding the review of the National Care Standards, the Care Inspectorate has been asked by the Scottish Government to co-chair the project alongside Healthcare Improvement Scotland. It is expected that the project board will develop, test and introduce the new standards over the next 12 to 18 months. Remember the National Care Standard set the basis for which the Care Inspectorate inspects and checks the quality of care provided by care services. It is therefore essential that we keep up to date with any changes and implement them where required throughout our settings.
For more information regarding the review of the National Care Standards visit the Scottish Government website here.
Care Inspectorate to review complaints procedure
Following the largest response ever to any of its consultations, the Care Inspectorate are to review their complaint’s procedure. More than 1300 responses were received to the survey which requested views on front line resolution of complaints, mediation and the ability to review decisions. Following further review of feedback, the Care Inspectorate expects to launch their revised complaints procedures in early 2016.
Building The Ambition
Published in August 2014, Building The Ambition was introduced as a national practice guidance to support everyone who works within early years in providing high quality early learning and childcare. The Care Inspectorate expect all childcare providers to be able to demonstrate their understanding of the guidance and use it to improve their service and meet the needs of all children in their care.
The SCMA are running workshops for throughout the coming months to help members implement the guidance into their childminding service. For further details and to book click here.
But what if you are not a member and are looking for assistance?
Support materials can be found on the Education Scotland website here. These are based on case studies of real situations so are excellent examples of how the guidance can be put into practice.
Following requests from our members, MindingKids is also going to be looking into how we can implement the Building The Ambition guidance further into our resources. We will keep you informed with developments.
In the South (Ofsted)….
Common Inspection Framework and changes to inspection from September 2015
Ofsted have released new documents ahead of the new common inspection framework coming into force in September this year. The documents relevant to childcare services are; The Common Inspection Framework; Early Years Inspection Handbook and Inspecting Safeguarding in the Early Years, Education and Skills. You will find links to all these publications on the Government website here along with short videos explaining more about the changes to inspection procedures.
Ofsted’s Early Years Report 2015
Ofsted published their Early Years Report on 13th July. For full details and for some helpful good practice case studies, visit the Ofsted website here.
Good practice in the early years – Ofsted Examples
Further good practice examples as to how settings have met or exceeded expectations can be found here. The case studies cover the following topics:
- Art
- Communication and languages
- Early Years Foundation Stage
- Engagement and Inclusion
- Improving
- Information and communication technology
- Learning
- Outdoors
- Reading
- Teaching and play
- Writing
Excellent reading for ideas and inspiration or to find out what inspectors might be looking for when they visit.
Childcare Cost Consultation
The Government has committed to increase the average funding rate paid to providers who offer ‘free’ funded childcare places. The Department of Education has invited all providers to submit evidence of the real costs of providing quality childcare in order to improve understanding and set a realistic budget for sustaining the planned expansion of free childcare. Respond online here by the 10th of August 2015 to help shape the outcome of the review.
PACEY has put together a guidance sheet which may assist you.
Nurseries may also find these guides provided by the Pre-School Learning Alliance helpful in identifying and calculating costs.
MindingKids News
Supporting Transition
It is that time of year again when many of us have little ones who are moving on or starting school. MindingKids has created a few resources lately to assist you in supporting transition. In June we created the Communication Passport and Transition Summary alongside the Learning and Development (Profile) Summary. Both these resources are very useful documents to pass on or share with future care settings, schools or nurseries.
At the beginning of July we also released the Getting Ready for School Workbook. An excellent resource for children to complete over the holidays either with their parents or with you to help them talk about, prepare and get excited about their school days ahead. MindingKids has received a considerable amount of positive feedback regarding the School Workbook so with this alongside requests from our lovely members, we have decided to also put together a Getting Ready for Nursery booklet. This will be released soon…keep your eyes peeled!
Requests
We are beginning to receive an increasing number of requests for resources from our members and customers. This is excellent news! MindingKids is always on the look out for new ideas or for ways in which we can improve our products and services. We are always happy to hear any suggestions you may have. Depending on the request, MindingKids may be able to provide you with a resource you have requested for FREE! Please email us at contact@mindingkids.co.uk with your ideas!
We have recently received requests to produce the following resources: EYFS Display, Building the Ambition – further resources, Preparing for Nursery Booklet, Food Temperature Record and British Values. We will work through these items over the next couple of months.
Since our Spring News Update the following resources have been added, updated or improved…
Remember MindingKids Members have unlimited access to all MindingKids resources immediately as they are added or updated! Click here for further details!
New Resources
Updated Resources
- Childcare Contact Diaries – Updated to include a version of diary sheets that includes tea (evening meal).
- Seasonal Planning Sheets – Updated to include Spring 2016.
Coming soon…
CPD Record & Planning Pack!
This pack will assist you in organising, planning and recording all of your continued professional development information. An excellent resource to evident your commitment to improving your service and help you plan any future training or development required. Includes ESSENTIAL CPD TRAINING GUIDE, CPD ACTIVITY EVALUATION SHEET, REVIEW, ACTION PLAN & ANNUAL CPD PLANNING CHART.
The MindingKids WEB APP!
EXCITING NEWS!!! The MindingKids Web App is almost here! With just a few finishing touches to go, our Web App will soon be available to assist you in managing your daily childcare tasks on your computer, tablet or phone! The Web App will allow you to record all the information required over a typical childcare day including attendance register, diaries, observations and logs (accidents, visitors, medication, etc). Upload photographs and personalise your completed reports with your own logo before emailing to parents straight from the App!
Following a FREE TRIAL period, the Web App will be available to Platinum Members who, like Gold Members, will also be granted unlimited access to ALL of MindingKids downloads.
Thank you again to all of our customers and members! Please keep in touch with any questions, ideas or suggestions and keep a look out for more MindingKids News!
