Working with children in Barnet

Looking for the latest news?

Look in the 'related items' box on the left and then click on 'related news'.

New Training - Observation, Assessment and Planning for children.

We are offering another opportunity for Childminders to attend training on observing children and planning for their learning under the revised EYFS. This training was previously offered in March, and this is a repeat of that session. The training will run on Saturday 29 June 2013 at Avenue House, Finchley from 9am until 12.30pm. Deatails on how to book a place on this training will be emailed to you at the beginning of June.

Sick Children

Childminders need to be aware of common child hood illnesses and conditions, how to minimise infections and how long children need to be away from your setting. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have produced a very helpful document called ‘ Guidance on Infection Control in schools and other childcare settings’ which you can download from the ‘downloads ‘ box on the left.

This document also informs you about 'notifiable diseases’. If a child in your care contracts one of these illness, you MUST inform both Ofsted and a Health Protection Unit (HPU). This document explains who to contact.

Free Webinar - 'Self Employed Childminders & HMRC'

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are offering a free webinar to Barnet childminders. A webinar is a seminar conducted over the Internet. You log onto a website to see the presentation and use a headset (with a speaker) to listen and to ask questions, It's like a normal training session but in the comfort of your own home! There are 2 webinars available in June. They are on Thursday 27 June from 7.30pm until 8.30pm or Saturday 27 June  at 10.30am. You can find more details and register to join the webinar here.

Speech and Language Drop in sessions

• Are you worried about a child’s talking? 
• Is the child becoming frustrated? 
• Would you like someone to talk to?

Then why not go to a Speech and Language Drop-in Session?

These are running at Children’s Centres across Barnet and offer you a chance to have an informal chat with a Speech and Language Therapist about your concerns.

Please note that these sessions are for nursery aged children and younger and it is advisable to call the Children’s Centre on the day before you go.

Barnfield Children’s Centre

Silkstream Road , Edgware HA8 0DA

Speech and Language Therapist: Cherry Cornell

• Tues 21 May, 9.30 -11am
• Tues 25 June, 1-2.30pm.

Phone Barnfield Children’s Centre on 020 8905 7605 to arrange a 15 minute appointment  

Newstead Children’s Centre

Fallows Close, East Finchley, London N2 8LG

Telephone: 020 8359 3460

Speech and Language Therapist: Cherry Cornell

• Tues 28 May, 9.30-11am
• Tues 18 June, 2.30-4pm 

Child’s Hill Children’s Centre

Childs Hill School , Dersingham Road, NW2 1SL , (entrance on Greenfield Gardens )

Telephone: 020 8450 2141

Speech and Language Therapist: Hadassah Lev

• Thursday 25 April 9.15 – 10.45am
• Thursday 23 May 9.15 – 10.45am
• Thursday 20 June 9.15 – 10.45am  

Wingfield Children’s Centre

The Concourse, Grahame Park London , NW9 5XN

Telephone: 020 8359 3510

Speech and Language Therapist: Hadassah Lev

• Thursday 9 May 9.30am – 11am
• Thursday 13 June 9.30am – 11am  

The Hyde Children’s Centre

Hyde Crescent , London , NW9 7EY

Telephone: 020 8200 2959

Speech and Language Therapist: Hadassah Lev

• Tuesday 28 May  9.30am – 11am
• Tuesday 25 June  9.30am – 11am 

Underhill Children’s Centre

Underhill Primary School and Children’s Centre

Mays Lane, Barnet , EN5 2LZ

Telephone: 020 8359 3440

Speech and Language Therapist: Cherry Cornell

• Wed 29 May, 8.30am–11a.m.
• Tues 11 June, 1pm–2.30pm

Support and advice

There is plenty of support to help you develop in your childminding career. Barnet has a knowledgeable and experienced childminding team to support and advise registered childminders.

We aim to support our childminding workforce to provide the very best level of care to the children and families they work with. We can help you with any issues or problems you have, and encourage and support you to continually review and develop your service. If you need help or advice on any aspect of your childminding service, no matter how big or how small, we are here to help.

We have a team of Childminding Development Officers (CDOs) who can meet you at your local children’s centre or drop-in group, offer help over the phone or email, or meet you in your home.

Contact: Julie Paice on 020 8359 7611.

Support around your Ofsted Inspection

Your CDO can help you prepare for your Ofsted Inspection and advise you on issues that are regularly coming up in reports.  You should have an inspection every three years. If you contact your CDO about four months before your inspection is due, this will give us plenty of time to help you.

Ofsted has published new documents relating to the new Inspections that came in September 2012. You can view these in the 'related downloads' box to the left.

Contact: Julie Paice on 020 8359 7611.

Barnet Quality Assurance Scheme (BQAS)

BQAS is a way of recognising and celebrating childminders who have proven that they offer a high-quality service and are committed to continually reviewing and developing their service to children and their families.

To be part of the BQAS you will need to work with your CDO to look at all areas of your childminding service. Your CDO will help you to highlight your strengths and areas that you can develop.

The BQAS is based on a nationally recognised scheme. This is the only way by which childminders can be accredited to receive the free entitlement to early education (FEEE) for children aged three and four-years-old.

Working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or a disability

 Are you a working (or about to start work) with a child who has:

• any special needs
• a disability
• a health condition
• other additional needs?

If you are, then it is important that you let your CDO know about this, so that we can make sure that both you, the child and the family, are getting all the help and support needed.

Or do you have concerns that a child in your care may have one of the above?  

Then we can offer expert help and advice to support the child and their family get them other services that they may need or be entitled to. 

If you are unsure who your CDO is then contact Julie Paice to get more information and help. 

Sample Child Protection Policies 

We have added some sample policies to the related downloads page - click on the related downloads box on the left. These include a sample Child Protection Policy and a sample policy around the use of Digital Technology such as phones and cameras in your setting. 

Training for registered childminders in Barnet

For information on training courses we are running visit our training for childminders page in the Workforce Development area.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Pack

The revised EYFS came into force on 1 September 2012. The pack is now much smaller and you can access all the documents here.