Tapestry for Childminders?

[pipjchambers]

I'm leaving my job as Nursery teacher to become a Childminder. Having used Tapestry in school, I would be interested in using it as a Childminder. Is it likely to be developed for this purpose?

 

[HoneyPancakes]

Tapestry fine for childminders. The price is right too.

Honey

[Steve]

Hi pip - normally I'd welcome you to the Forum as this is your first post, but I see you've been a member since the dawn of time (well, since 2003 which is pretty much the same in FSF terms). :1b

 

As honey says, there's no reason why Tapestry isn't perfectly suitable for childminders (and there are quite a few childminder Weavers around). Was there anything particular you wanted to see Tapestry doing?

[pipjchambers]

I wondered if the price would be less for childminders - as they (I!) would have fewer children?

[bigdi]

Although we have fewer children I am also using Tapestry for the older children. No observations but comments by their photos. Parents all love seeing what their children have been doing. Also all my parents are happy for the videos to show all the children as they do play together at mine.

[Steve]

Sorry Pip, I missed your second question!

 

The lowest subscription price is £30 I'm afraid. We could have introduced a 'price per child' plan, but it would have been very difficult to come up with one that would charge something for a childminder who has two or three children, and also fit a large setting of 100 plus (and we have quite a few of those now).

 

We tried to keep the annual subscription price down to a reasonable level for small PVI settings that historically don't make a lot of money, but as we provide both the platform and ongoing development and data storage ourselves, even the smaller settings cost an amount to maintain that makes it necessary to charge more than a fiver. So I feel £30 is very good value in terms of the complex system we're giving access to. :1b

[Guest]

I have recently started using Tapestry and am loving it and feel it is a good price and well worth it! Thank you to bigdi who has made me think that it is suitable for school children too as I tend to keep a photo book of all they get up to after school and during holidays!

[pipjchambers]

Thank you for your comments everybody. Very encouraging!

[Berryred]

Having only just come across Tapestry details am very keen to get it for my setting, I think £30 is very good value!

[Guest]

I know this might seen silly but never ever heard of Tapestry could somone highlight what it is please

[Steve]

Hi Julie -

Not silly at all, no reason why you should have come across it if you haven't been here for a while.

 

I could explain it but I did an introduction page some time ago which probably describes it better. You can find it here, and if you have any questions just pop back here and I'll be happy to try to answer them.

[Guest]

Thank you Key will go have a look x

[Berryred]

I took the pludge and took out Tapestry today, oh my goodness! I love it already, I am using 2 parents to trial (that aren't moving on in the summer!) with the hope from the beginning of the Summer having it up and running for all!

 

I think it will be a lovely way to share photos with the older children also, just not linking to the EYFS. I am going to talk to pre-school tomorrow as again a huge step forward to share information with them, they are abit precious about letting me have my pre-schoolers learning journal and when I invited them to mine they refused!

 

I think the time saved in cutting, sticking, linking will save hours! (I currently have 6 eyfs children on role, I know not many to bigger settings but still!)

[Steve]

Thanks for that feedback Berry, great to hear. And if you can find a way to improve communications between your setting and the pre-school must be a good thing - shame to hear they're not as open to sharing information about your children as you are.

[Guest]

Hi can I ask about the security f tapestry please, just usual stuff how data is held, encrypted etc. Also would my parents have to pay the £20 to be members of fsf if I used it

[Guest]

Hi there,

This is my first post and i must admit i am confused myself about tapestry or prams. I have had a look at prams but it still has CLL instead of CL and i dont see EAD? I really wanted something more like prams to track and record the EYFS but it doesnt seem to have been updated with the Prime areas and specifics. Wouldnt Ofsted downgrade you for it not being updated? Any help please would be appreciated. Thanks

[SueFinanceManager]

Hi Classicimpact

Welcome to the forum and congrats on making your first post.

 

PRAMS is up to date. When you select an assessment period, you have the choice of using the old EYFS (6 areas of learning) or the new one (7 areas of learning). Obviously, practitioners will now want to select the new one :1b

 

If you just want a paper based system then PRAMS is perfect and we have many members use PRAMS and like it very much. If however you felt you wanted to use a system that utilises modern technology such as tablets and you have internet access in the setting then Tapestry may be a way forward.

 

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to record and assess, you just need to find one way that works for you and your team.

 

Sue

[Guest]

Hello All

 

I have just joined this forum and due to re start Childminding next week after working in a Nursery.

 

I am very interested in Tapestry as I am hoping to cut down n the amount of paper I usually generate.

 

Does anyone know how Ofsted view these online systems? Do we still have to print out to provide a hard copy ?

 

Many Thnaks

 

Lisa

[Helen]

Hello Lisa,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for making your first post. :1b

I'm going to let 'weavers' (as they like to be called!) who have had inspections recently, answer your specific question about Ofsted. Although we do have a testimonial that states her inspector was so impressed with Tapestry, she called back a few days later to find out more about it!

You do not have to print out a hard copy- inspectors are used to viewing things on a computer at the inspection, eg policies, questionnaires from parents, childminder's website, etc.

[Guest]

Hi there new to the Forum as currently use Orbit and heard via another childminder that Tapestry gives you suggested next steps within it when entering obs. Is this true? Would like to be sure it does before I take out subscription and start swapping over from Orbit (which I have loved apart from a few shortcomings....) Thanks Helen

[Helen]

Hello Helen,

Tapestry suggests next observations you might like to undertake- this is based on the 'gaps' in observations so far, eg if you haven't made any assessments in literacy, for example.

Tapestry also suggests next steps (based on the development matters statements) from the assessments you HAVE made. The next steps are accessed from the child's button, not whilst completing an observation..

I hope this helps :1b

[Cait]

Hi can I ask about the security f tapestry please, just usual stuff how data is held, encrypted etc. Also would my parents have to pay the £20 to be members of fsf if I used it

Tapestry is very secure, held on servers in the UK too. I believe that Steve, Matt or Sue can give you more information about that if you need something to show to your parents.

On the second point, the answer is No, Tapestry and FSF are separate entirely. Parents give you their email address and you enter that into your Tapestry system under 'Manage Relatives' and you give them a password. They log in through tablet or computer using their password and away they go. Doesn't cost them anything.

I hope that helps.

[Guest]

Thanks for confirmation on how next steps works in Tapestry - sounds fab will be signing up and giving it a go! Cheers !

[Steve]

That's great!

[Guest]

I'm an old user of orbit but didn't continue with it. I currently use a pogo printer and stick them in a lj, which is linked to a tracker.

Would I still need a paper tracker?

I currently send home my books once a term with a summative assessment / parental update on how their child is progressing (make Ofsted happy!) How would I achieve that through tapestry?

[Guest]

Also, can you do a 'long' observation?

[Helen]

Hi emeraldjan,

No you wouldn't still need a paper tracker-Tapestry records all the assessments you make when you complete an observation, and you can access these at any time.

You set up the parents with their own login details, so usually, settings permit parents to access their child's LJ at all times. You could export the child's summative assessment once a term (or more if you like) to pdf and email to parents, or pop it on a disc and give to parents.

Observations can be of any length- there is no restriction on word count. :1b

[Guest]

Fab. Thanks Helen. I joined last night so have just done my first obs!!!

[Helen]

Good to hear

[pipjchambers]

Thanks for all the follow up to my original post. I'm pleased to say that I have been happily using Tapestry as a Childminder for nearly a year now :-)