Cypw
Reflective Account
Setting Up a Homebased Childcare Business
I first decided to become a childminder after speaking with a friend of mine who already was a childminder. We discussed how I used to work abroad as an au pair and how my career as a medical insurance consultant was no longer what I wanted to do. She told me all about childminding and how it was a flexible approach to working life whilst balancing family life too.
I did some research on what sort of childcare was available in the area that I lived in I decided that childminding was something I was very interested in and I paid the college fee’s and fully enrolled.
The course lasted for 10 weeks and covered a manner of things including Safeguarding, play, starting your own business, food hygiene and behaviour management. They also covered the role of Ofsted and how they govern all childcare settings and schools in the country. Each week we were given an assignment to complete as well as a summary sheet to reflect on how we felt after the course and any questions that we wanted to raise at the next session. Each assignment needed to be passed before we could complete the course. I also completed a 12 hour paediatric first aid course which is something all childminders must complete every three years. I also went on a Safeguarding course.
After the course, I decided to wait for 6 months until I registered due to commitments I wanted to see through at my previousjob. In May 2010 I filled in my Ofsted application and CRB forms for myself and my husband and I sent them off to Ofsted. After a few days an inspector called me and said she wanted to come and view my home and meet me to see if I was suitable to become a childminder. The inspector, Carol, was very nice and put me at ease. She looked at the policies that I had in my folder and my risk assessments and asked me questions about health and safety of the children who would be in my care. She then told me that she considered me suitable
Setting Up a Homebased Childcare Business
I first decided to become a childminder after speaking with a friend of mine who already was a childminder. We discussed how I used to work abroad as an au pair and how my career as a medical insurance consultant was no longer what I wanted to do. She told me all about childminding and how it was a flexible approach to working life whilst balancing family life too.
I did some research on what sort of childcare was available in the area that I lived in I decided that childminding was something I was very interested in and I paid the college fee’s and fully enrolled.
The course lasted for 10 weeks and covered a manner of things including Safeguarding, play, starting your own business, food hygiene and behaviour management. They also covered the role of Ofsted and how they govern all childcare settings and schools in the country. Each week we were given an assignment to complete as well as a summary sheet to reflect on how we felt after the course and any questions that we wanted to raise at the next session. Each assignment needed to be passed before we could complete the course. I also completed a 12 hour paediatric first aid course which is something all childminders must complete every three years. I also went on a Safeguarding course.
After the course, I decided to wait for 6 months until I registered due to commitments I wanted to see through at my previousjob. In May 2010 I filled in my Ofsted application and CRB forms for myself and my husband and I sent them off to Ofsted. After a few days an inspector called me and said she wanted to come and view my home and meet me to see if I was suitable to become a childminder. The inspector, Carol, was very nice and put me at ease. She looked at the policies that I had in my folder and my risk assessments and asked me questions about health and safety of the children who would be in my care. She then told me that she considered me suitable