Anyone here employ 'other qualification' in your setting?

[Guest Nuby]

By 'other' I mean artists, Speech and language therapists, gardeners, eurythmists, sewing enthusiast, and any other skills that add to your curriculum....etc, etc...... alongside your relevant childcare qualification..... what are your thoughts about such?

[Cait]

Hi, do you mean additional people who just come in peripatetically, or utilising additional talents of staff?

[louby loo]

No - but I am the 'sewing enthusiast' (hold qualifications) and the painter (again hold qualifications )

Does that count? :lol: :lol:

xxxx

[Cait]

That's what I was meaning! Tee hee

[louby loo]

My little lot can make pretty mean bean bags using the sewing machine.... the boys absolutely love it! :lol:

[Fredbear]

I'm afraid not. Don't have the money to do this.

Staff have a range of skills from musical, artistic, fab cook, DIY.

We have been fortunate to have been invited to take part in some fantastic LA projects, including an artist and actress coming for a term. Children were able to explore different forms of media, movement, songs and willow making.

We also recently took part in a chatter natter project, which included a musician coming to the setting and playing instruments, singing songs, movement, this all helped to support speech and language.

It was wonderful..

Edited July 24, 2014 by Fredbear

[Guest Nuby]

Ofcourse Loubylou! Cait I was thinking staff with additional talents and recruiting somebody for a specific set of skills. x Been asking my candidates about their additional skills and extra curricular activities in interview and got thinking that sometimes it can be untapped

[Cait]

I always wish we could ask all the parents exactly what jobs they do, so that if we need a plumber, electrician, carpenter etc we could just give them a call, and it's in their best interests to do a good and prompt job!

 

We had Tatty Bumpkin yoga sessions on Friday afternoons for a couple of years, and the children enjoyed that. A few years previously we had a term of Kodaly music tensions once a week, and they were enjoyed by the children more than staff, and if you haven't got the staff 'on side' then things aren't as successful, I find.

[Panders]

One of my lovely grandmas came in once a fortnight with her guitar, children loved it

[finleysmaid]

we do ask our parents what they do (optional) we have one fab Dad who's done loads of DIY for us this term,! My deputy is a qualified ballet teacher and i am trained in catering (i also have a level five management qualification) plus my team have a few hidden talents!!!

[LKeyteach]

Good question Nuby. I have been considering employing a speech & language therapist once a week. I have so many children with language delay and a couple with ASD and have advice coming out of my ears!! I have a fantastic team who are able to give 1:1 and group support but some of the children just are not getting the therapies they need. Hence my thought about a language therapist.

Does anyone else employ one? and being the lazy whatsit I am can anyone tell me if they are considered "qualified"?

[finleysmaid]

LKeyteach i took the decision last year to train all my staff in ELKLAN therapy ...cost me lots of money but it was really worth it! Have almost given up on having any help from SALT even one of my most needy has only seen his therapist 3 times this year!