home ed and childminders.eyfs.

[alisonlee]

i juust wanted to hear from any home edders or childminders on this subject.do home edders want their children to be observed and assessed for school readyness by a childminder.as they wont be going to school.and as a childminder am i allowed to not observe and assess if it is not what the parent wants?

[chasteroidbelt]

As a childminder who also home eds I would suggest it is impossible not to observe any child whilst caring for them.
It would be neglectful to not observe them.
I would have had to observe a child to have noticed eg an interest in Thmas the Tank Engine and to have then bought a book about Thomas from the charity shop for them to enjoy.
I would have had to observe a child to have noticed that they can now collect and put their shoes/wellies on independently and to withdraw my assistance appropriately.
I would have had to observe a child to notice that they are beginning to repeat words back to me and so pause at the end of sentences on purpose to let them try to add the words themselves.
Those are sort of things that Ofsted would accept as observing and assessing if a childminder has the confidence to be able to explain them.
If a parent specifically requests no phonics work I would be very happy to agree and to explain the parent's reasoning to Ofsted. There are many ways of learning to read.
I don't think school readiness is mentioned in the EYFS.

[SDeuchars]

As Chasteroidbelt says, it is impossible not to observe. I guess you are really asking about assessment and keeping records. Many(but not all) home educators would not want you to be recording and assessing against the EYFS criteria. Ourrationale would be that "pigs do not grow fatter by being measured" - all normally developing children will achieve all the criteria at some point and the government's timetable is irrelevant. For a child not going to school it is particularly irrelevant as the child does need to meet extrinsic targets.

[alisonlee]

yes SDeuchars of course i mean written obs and assessments against the eyfs early learning goals.of course i am always observing what they are doing and saying and becoming interested in.all those things you mentioned chasteroidbelt of course i am noticing and building on naturally as a parent and childminder through playing and spending time with them.what i really wanted to know was if a parent requests for me not to keep written records of obs and assessment to eyfs.am i allowed to not do them?

[chasteroidbelt]

Yes of course you are allowed not to do them in writing. There is in fact no requirement in the EYFS that they be in writing apart from the 2 year progress assessment. I see no reason why a parent's written request for that not to be done should not be accepted by Ofsted. There is always an opportunity should the parents wish for a check to be done by the health visitor.

[SDeuchars]

My educated guess would be that if the parent is paying you then they can ask for what they want, within reason. If they are using hours paid for by the government, then you'll have do what the government wants (he who pays the piper, etc.). But any results can be filed for the government and the parents don't have to see them.

[alisonlee]

thanks guys.

[chasteroidbelt]

Yes SDeuchars - and that's why I would wholeheartedly welcome deregulation. I choose deliberately not to be accredited and want to attract parents who are happy and able to pay privately with no help from the government.
I have two previous outstanding grades, am qualified to level 3 and would SO like to be able to opt out of the EYFS as independent school nurseries will be able to.
Good luck alisonlee.

[chasteroidbelt]

This should help you alisonlee

www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/a0068102/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs

Scroll down to the heading 'Guidance for parents seeking exemption in respect of an individual child'

[alisonlee]

ahh thanks.very helpful

[alisonlee]

yes it would be great to opt out.it's infuriating that i am still encouraged by my council early years team to produce written observations,two a term,when in fact there is no requirement for them.they tell me that ofsted will want to see them anyway.i might do a daily observation sheet that just says HAD LOTS OF FUN!