March 2001 Newsletter

The new LBCMA committee elected at the AGM in January, details below, would like to welcome you to our March news letter.

A warm welcome is extended to our new group members. we hope you all applied for your start up grants.

Morning Meetings

These are held regularly during term time on Wednesday’s between 9.30-11.30am at the Youth Centre, Church Road (off Wing Road), together with the ‘Mother and Toddler Group’. Providing an opportunity for carers to talk, for children to play with new and exciting toys and to socialise with other children.

Vacancies?

The group is receiving an increasing number of enquiries for childminders with vacancies, particularly from parents planning to move into the area. Parents are accessing our web site at www.lbcma.org.uk and e-mailing their requests. If you have vacancies in addition to contacting the Children’s Information Service (CIS) on 01234 228 229, it may help you to fill spaces if you email child.minder@virgin.net with details or phone your group chair on 371595.

Leighton Buzzard Childminding Association AGM

The 2001 AGM was held on Thursday 25^th January. It should be noted that we were only quorate after several phone calls had been made. There were no important decisions discussed and the new committee was elected. A full report accompanies your news letter. Thanks to Nicki our host for the evening. The Grand Raffle, tickets for which were included with your June news letter, was drawn after the AGM and raised £64 towards our funds. Thank you to those childminders who acquired raffle prizes and thank-you to those who kindly sold and returned monies. To those who were too busy, remember we are here to help you, but to do so we need your support.

Story Telling

The LBCMA story telling event, was held in the children’s library on 16^th February. An hour was spent telling stories to an audience of local children and their parents. It was a good public relations opportunity, to pass on information on childminders to parents. A few more childminders for parents to ask questions would have been useful.

National Standards for Regulation of Daycare

The government is still considering responses to the consultation documents and hopes to publish the final version of standards March/April time. In certain areas the government has already decided its approach, but these are an exception. These areas include the childminding standards dealing with smacking and smoking. Further information can be obtained from: Marc Cavey, Policy Advisor, Early Years and Childcare Unit. The email address is Marc.cavey@dfee.gov.uk

Makaton

We have been offered a free introduction to basic Makaton, a mixture of spoken word and simplified signing particularly suited to a child with communication difficulties. If you think you might find the Makaton method of signing useful, please phone Tunja to put your name on the list. A few more childminders will make this training viable.

Coffee Morning

The coffee morning will be held at (contact child.minder@virgin.net) on the 26^th March between 10.00am and 11.15am. Come and have a cup coffee or tea while the children play. This will be an opportunity to meet other childminders, to discuss childminding and socialise generally. For further details contact child.minder@virgin.net .

Messy Morning

This event falls on a Friday, when there will be no school or playgroup for the children. Use our event to keep both minded and your own children amused. There will be a multitude of messy activities available between 10.00 and 11.45am. Childminders are welcome to bring a picnic to eat after the event. An application form for tickets accompanies this news letter. Tickets are £2.50 per child, and tickets for childminders are free.

Castle Trip

Enjoy a trip to Berkhamsted castle during half term. Both your own and minded children are welcome. Treat the children to a ride on the train, bring a picnic and play king of the castle, William the Conqueror ate his picnic here. Entrance to the castle is free. Day return train tickets are currently as follows: under 5's free, 5-15 years £2.10, Adults £4.20. Meet at the station for 11.00 to catch the 11.07, returning on the 2.24pm. Trains are every 15mins if you wish to return earlier or later. If more than ten passengers are going then a 25% discount can be arranged when booked in advance. For further details on this event contact child.minder@virgin.net

Picnic in the Park

This years focus will be birthdays and celebrations as it is the Preschool Learning Alliances 40^th birthday. Bring your own picnic and join the fun. When you join us at our stall for your picnic, the children will be able to enjoy a free picnic lunch. Activities for the children are provided in the park, many of which are free. This is the annual PSLA picnic combined with a party to which we all have an invite. This is also a fund raising opportunity for your group enabling us to raise money towards the children’s Christmas party and group running expenses. Date for your diary is June 20^th, a party not to be missed.

‘How to be the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread’

Are you the ‘best thing since sliced bread’? Hopefully this article will help you persuade prospective customers that yours is the best childminding service on offer and, if they are undecided which type of childcare they are looking for, that childminding is best. Parents looking for a registered childminder may not have experience of selecting childcare and may need guiding through the various forms of care available and the benefits of each.

If possible, allow prospective customers plenty of time for their visits, don't rush them. Meeting prospective customers when other minded children are present has both advantages and disadvantages. It can give a good indication of how you interact with them and, hopefully, how contented they are. However, the danger is that the demands of giving attention to existing children may act as a distraction.

Parents will be looking for a variety of points and first impressions are very important, after all they are proposing to leave their most treasured possession with what to all intents and purposes is almost a complete stranger. Expect them to inspect those areas where their child might eat, sleep and play both indoors and outdoors to ensure that they are clean and safe. This does not mean they are nosey, they are just being good parents. They should be checking that there are plenty of toys appropriate to the children present and sufficient equipment if their child was to come.

Some parents may have difficulties asking questions, they may feel they are intruding on you. Help them overcome this by having a chat over coffee, and tell them what you have to offer. They may find it helpful to know how long you have been childminding and what experience and qualifications you have. Describe the activities you can provide and, if you take the children out during the day, the type of places you visit. Providing information on the other children their child will have to play and socialise with can be very important (remember not to breech confidentiality). The prospective customer will need to know who is to provide meals and snacks and if you are providing these then give details, home made cooking can be a deciding factor. Explain your behaviour management policy to them, they will often be looking for someone with similar house rules, you may need to be flexible. The information you have provided will help them form a picture of you and the service you offer. It is up to you how you paint this picture but it will influence their choice of childcare.

Remember, this is also an opportunity to size up both the child and parents as well. Will the child’s behaviour fit in with your existing children, do the parents appear reliable, will they turn up on time, will they pay on time?

If you can offer references this may also sway a parent in your favour, to know someone else is happy with you and your services can be very reassuring, An existing customers may provide references for you. If your existing customers are too busy to write references, then ask if they mind if prospective customers phone them for a chat about your childcare services.

If you have encouraged a parent to take notes, or provided them with written information you have prepared yourself, it will help them to choose their childminder and help them remember you. Don't forget when your prospective customer leaves to thank them for coming and give them your phone number in case they think of any thing else they would like to know (or have lost it as happens some times). This gives the parent an image of professional childminding at its best, helping the parent to choose you.

One final challenge remains, having convinced a parent that you are the best thing since sliced bread and got their custom, now you have to provide the service that lives up to the sales pitch.

Bubble Mix

Make your own bubbles with this simple recipe. Combine 12 parts of water with 1 part quality washing up liquid.

Diary Dates

March 26^th Coffee morning to be held at 25, Coniston Road, Linslade, 10.00 - 11.15am
April 20^th Messy Morning to be held at 1, Himley Green, 10.00am - 11.45am
May 30^th Berkhamsted castle picnic and train ride, 11.00am -2.45pm
June 20^th Picnic in the park 10.00am - 2.00pm