Childminder response to EYFS
The consultation on the review of the Early
Years Foundation Stage was launched three weeks ago. NCMA is
encouraging childminders to respond to ensure their voice is
heard.
This week, Sharon Middleton from Blackburn was
keen to share her views with fellow members of NCMA. She will be
responding to the EYFS review consultation because she wants things
to stay as they are.
Sharon has been childminding for eight years
and has just become accredited on the Blackburn with Darwen
Children Come First Network to deliver free early years
education. Sharon explains her journey to embracing
the EYFS and why she thinks it should stay as it is.
Sharon, pictured left, explained, "I did all the
training before the EYFS came in and I was determined to embrace it
as a way of increasing my professionalism. I was self motivated -
you have to be as a childminder and I strive to be the best I can
be. In August 2009 I had my Ofsted inspection and received an
overall Outstanding grade, which I was very pleased about. I'd
been rated Good before so I am really embracing the
EYFS.
"I will be responding to the EYFS review
consultation because it’s important to have my voice heard. I
want the EYFS to stay and I know that like me, a lot of
childminders have worked really hard and are getting Outstanding
grades based on that hard work. We can see that the quality is
going up so why change the system if it works? Children
are achieving more and so are childminders.
"The one thing I will point out in my response
is that I don’t want everyone to be the same, each child is
individual and so a blanket approach doesn’t work for all children
and all childminders. I have interpreted EYFS in my own unique
way and it has obviously worked because I achieved Outstanding. I
don’t want a formulaic approach and to be told how to do my job. My
message to the Government is leave EYFS as it is."
A copy of the consultation questions can be
downloaded from the
Department for Education website. The deadline
for responding is only six weeks away, so don't miss this
chance to influence the government's decision on this important
framework.
10/5/2010
Page last updated:
10/5/2010