LKeyteach

Had not realised that I needed to have different term dates depending on when children's birthdays are! So our Spring born children will have one less week this academic year. Another complication to explain to parents.

Hi emmmayo, I don't think Surrey have actually published this yet. But I wanted to ask if any providers had noticed an anomaly we have just found. A child who received funding for the first time in Summer 2020 will fall short of entitled hours in Spring 2021 by 15 hours. We think we know now that it is because of the weeks worked last academic year and this. We have never noticed it in previous years. Please would you check the amounts you received against what you think this term and particularly spring born children. It might just be us but we are puzzled and would be grateful of any help.

On a positive - have had so many grateful parents today. Have never had so many thank yous.

I was a bit late coming to the party and only offered/accepted 30 hours since September. We are term time and operate from primary school site. Not all my parents are eligible for 30 hours probably not even 25%. We have offered school days for a number of years and last year accepted children into our Wrap around facility. Parents who really liked us paid full fees. I got caught by one parent who booked lots of sessions then gave me a 30 hour code and when I refused to claim the funding made life difficult. So I looked into the funding and took the brave step to accept the funding this year. I am surprised by the number of families who have been eligible and attend lots of sessions. Things you should take into account is Although eligible to 30 hours parents want less hours, you can't make them take the full entitlement. So think about flexibility Think about the finances and your head may want to offer it for free but make sure that you can demonstrate what the loss could be. I have friend who is deputy in a primary school and she would happily close the nursery as she sees it as draining funds from the primary school! You can make charges for consumables or sessions bear that in mind If you are making charges make sure the parents know and understand this Organising the children's day, if you are not used to having children all day everyday (although I think you are already) but you may want to think about your offer 30 hours is only available for 3 months and parents have to revalidate their claim each term. You may find parents drop out of being eligible so what will you offer that child the following term if the parent is not eligible Do your research what are other nurseries in the area offering? Would I advise going for 30 hours? We have to be adaptable otherwise we will not survive but do your research and have your vision of how you want the setting to progress. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

What grass? Mine is a mud slide! Sorry can't help with fire pit but will be watching, when everyone returns from the forest. Or maybe they are at that virtual early years summit thing?

Thank you. Sooo helpful.

Hi All Wondered if any of you have advice for a child in preschool who may be colour blind. He is able to match bright primary colours but not consistent at naming them. There is history within the family of colour blindness. I think he may be too young to be tested but what activities would you provide and how would you adapt activities to support? All ideas welcome.

Some years ago we paved a part of our garden area to create some hard standing for parents. Sadly could not pave all of it and so added gravel. This are is always very popular with the children. Also having done some projects in the garden during the summer, some of the fencing did not quite get put away safely. The children found it and have used the slates of fence to create shelters and all sorts of creations. I was a bit concerned to start with as they are rather long pieces but they have learnt to collaborate to move them around. Strings with those practice hockey balls on, can be used like an outside abacus. I have been collecting hubcaps I see lying by the roadside. Every intention of painting but have not quite put that plan into action. Sorry these are free/cheap ideas may be not what you need funding for but maybe they might inspire.

Thank you for this information. Did you email a local store?

Thank you Dr Grenier. A bit late I know but I have started o read through the document and I am finding lots of comfort in it. I love your statement about children being powerful thinkers and learners and I can see this threading through the document. This one single phrase puts the children in the centre in every single aspect. You do mention the need for professional development and I could not agree more. How do we get greater professional development when current finances just do not allow for it? I find it so difficult asking or sending my staff for training. I will pay for the course but it is also paying their day rate and the cost of cover. I am a PVI setting and we can't take inset days on funded days again making it such a costly business expense. It was exactly like this so many years ago and it seems we are back there in the dark ages again. It all comes full circle with staff feeling undervalued, myself feeling frustrated that "they" (the staff) won't put themselves forward to improve themselves unless I push and pay for it. So please can

Thanks Louby.

Ok silly question time. One of my parents has asked if whilst waiting to collect her child if she is at risk of being considered breaching the rule of six. (As there are more than six parents waiting.) What would your answer be? Please make me laugh!!!

Hi CPD is a bit of an issue here. Firstly I have little financial resource to pay for it and then to pay the cover of staff whilst away. I have in the past, it is just the current situation. As the year goes on I know that I will financially recover and be able to offer training opportunities again. When I first came to post, part of my mission was to get as many of my team qualified as possible and I so proud to say mission achieved, including getting 3 of my team to EYTS. I am finding CPD can sometimes be aimed at the not so experienced or to much talk. Finding the right course is a challenge. What are the bite size training you have used and how would you recommend whether to someone with experience to someone who is new to it all?

Great timing, again. But does not to seem to much change to anything we already knew. Good to see suggestion that only one setting attended but am confused by what is said to childminders on the subject.

Race to be the first to see "the detail."

Sorry been a bit distant recently but could not run away from this. Of all the forums I think this one is the most optimistic and more my scene. Good to hear most of us feel that masks are not what we want but it will be staff choice. Gloves - I gave most of my stock to local NHS trust when we sort of closed because I knew even with the few possible Key Worker children we had registered we would not use them. I have kept back one box - just in case! For me it will be two pronged survey 1) finding out how many children want a place and 2) how many staff I have. Only then can I work out what to do next. I am also concerned that some parents will not be able to pay fees, either being furloughed or not being paid whilst being home, so need to give them some grace when paying fees. Anyone got any ideas on this? I will not exclude families who need us just because they do not have the money now. We have been open, I have had one nursery child for 5 hours one day a week. I have had 2 children for breakfast club some days and between 3 -5 children for afterschool some days. We did not close for the holidays. These children have been at school where a 2 metre social distance has been kept and that has not been a problem to them but I cannot see it working for nursery children nor for more than 10 children in the wrap around care. I can only think that I make parents aware and it is then their decision to send their child or not. Sadly this virus is not going to go away just yet and we will have to wait a while for immunisation vaccine so we are going to have to find a way of making some very difficult decisions which may affect our and our staff's health. Not to mention children and parents. Sunny I did not get any "mis" from you at all. You have been an amazing inspiration to us all for years, please shield Mr S but we need your advice.