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LATEST NEWS -
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NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 4th April 2009
Good website
A new website with loads of information and free resources on health eating and exercise, recipes and the latest news and resources available. A great source of information, you do need to join, but it is quick and free. http://grub4life.org.uk/
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 4th April 2009
Latest news from Bromley Years
More information on training click here
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 5th April 2009
NEW PAGE
The latest BCMA page includes lots of information about free online qualifications. Click here to view
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 5th April 2009
FREE ONLINE LEVEL 2 Course in Healthy Eating
Are you looking to develop your skills/qualifications but don't have time to attend college? Then this could be the answer. Complete on line assessments and email in items for your portfolio to achieve your Level 2 qualification for FREE
http://www.vision2learn.net/channels/index.aspx
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 6th April 2009
NCMA’s latest newsletter
To read the latest NCMAs newsletter click here or visit the NCMA website and register for regular emails.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 8th April 2009
Administration of medication
During the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework there was much confusion about whether childminders could give medication, prescribed or not to children in their care. This factsheet from Ofsted seeks to clarify the situation. We would recommend that childminders print a copy for their portfolio for future reference.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 8th April 2009
Ofsted bulletin
Click to download the bulletin
Whilst Ofsted state clearly in their latest documentation that there is no requirement (apart form the listed documents) for Childminders to have written policies, we would strongly urge ALL childminders to have at least a set of basic policies for the following reasons:
- they provide parents with the guidelines for how your setting is run
- they are useful to refer parents back to in the event of a dispute
- you are less likely to have a dispute with policies in place
- they show Ofsted that you have given detailed thought to areas of your practice
- they show prospective parents that you are a professional childcare provider
- they put you on a 'level playing field' with all other childcare providers
There are many policies available on this site for you to use as a basis for your own. Some still need updating to reflect the introduction of EYFS.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 15th April 2009
Grub4life.org.uk are holding a live web chat with dietitian Nigel Denby, especially
for childminders to discuss issues such as special dietary needs, new ideas for planning
menus, worries about food allergies and intolerances or for those just wanting to
find out about good nutrition in the early years. Log on to the site on Wednesday
22nd April between 7-
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 15th April 2009
NCMAs latest newsletter
NCMAs newsletter was released today. To view the newsletter, click here to download a copy.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 24th April 2009
Use of assistant Childminders
To find out more about assistant childminders, follow the link.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 5th May 2009
Swine Flu
Childminders should follow advice from the Health Protection Agency with regards to swine flu
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1240732817665?p=1240732817665
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 7th May 2009
Another possible scam?
We received the following email (Download) and know that other childminders have received it too. It appears to be a new scam and we would recommend that childminders do not engage with this person
For an explanation on how these scams work see
http://www.bromleycma.org.uk/news/page53.html
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 8th May 2009
New page added
The BCMA have added a new page on the new contact point system. To view page
NEWSITEM PUBLISHED 15th May 2009
Gambado offer
Gambado Beckenham in conjunction with National Child Minding Week -
They will be holding a child minders coffee
morning on Wednesday 17th-
NEWSITEM PUBLISHED 15th May 2009
Every Child Matter’s Website
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/
NEWSITEM PUBLISHED 15th May 2009
Ofsted questions accuracy of its own childminding figures
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 21st May 2009
New Policy
The BCMA have a new policy for childminding groups/individuals using Facebook, to download click here.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 21st May 2009
New Policy
The BCMA have a new policy that deals with swine flu, which can be downloaded here.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 21st May 2009
EYFS questionnaire
What are your views on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?
QCA has launched an online questionnaire to gather views on the EYFS during its first year.
This is an opportunity for EYFS practitioners to let QCA know how well it has been implemented, and to help identify the challenges, issues, strengths and possibilities that exist. It is quick and easy to complete, and you will be helping QCA establish a broad and accurate picture of the EYFS.
Please access the online questionnaire from this page. You can also download a MS
Word version of the questionnaire.
The questionnaire will be available until 24 July
2009.
www.qca. org.uk/qca_ 22487.aspx
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 22nd May 2009
Monday 25th May Coney Hall Park
You can take park in the National Family Week record breaking Picnic as part of "Happy
Monday". This will take place in Coney Hall Park, Layhams Road, West Wickham from
12noon -
Happy Monday is part of The Tent Event which is running for the whole week with activities
for all ages including a Holiday club for children aged 0 -
For further details and pre-
Croydon Road, Coney Hall Tel: 020 8462 6571
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 13th June 2009
Premises and Security Policy
We have been asked to write a Premises and Security Policy, however as this will vary really greatly depending on the childminders property we have developed a fact sheet of ideas of things you might like to include if you are writing this policy.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 13th June 2009
Your child's early learning and care: birth to five -
This pack is aimed at parents and carers and outlines what good quality childcare
should be and provides ideas about the simple, free things which can be done at home
to provide a rich home learning experience.
Each pack contains:
* 0-
*Your child's early learning, development and care 0-
* EYFS -
* Learning and growing together height chart
*Children are never too young to start loving books
*Parent support services
*Directgov parents' leaflet.
Copies can be obtained from Teachernet Publications. We would suggest you might also like to order additional copies to give to your parents.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 13th June 2009
NCMA’s Latest Newsletter
http://ncma.oscura.net/newsletter2009-
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 26th June 2009
Useful links
BCMA recommend that Childminders regulalry check this link for updated fact sheets from Ofsted.
The following document was added in April and helps to clarify the use of assistants
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 3rd July 2009
Real meals: Simple cooking -
This cookbook contains more than 20 recipes which will help give you the chance to learn and develop great cooking skills. They are all for cold food, but still involve cooking and preparation skills. The meals will be great at home and they can also be used for picnics, as packed lunches or for days out during the summer holidays.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 3rd July 2009
Social Networking sites
Social networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook, are very popular with
children, even those as young as 8 and 9. These types of sites allow children to
be incredibly creative online, keep in touch with their friends and express themselves
using a whole range of different media and applications such as video, photos, music,
and chat.
However, it is important to recognise that while these are fun and offer
great possibilities for children, there are potential risks including cyberbullying,
inappropriate sexual contact with children and young people and the misuse of personal
information.
This guide for parents/carers has been written by the children’s charity
Childnet International who work in partnership with others to help make the internet
a great and safe place for children.
NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED 4th JULY 2009
New Page on the website
The BCMA have a new page about Water Play perfect for the summer holidays.