Manchester City cpuncil is planning to save 26% of its budget for children's service by only allowing access to the children centres to some families rather than open access to all as is the current policy. They are also planning to remove all qualified teaching roles in the centres
The council is then planning to commission the centres out to the private and voluntary sector.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Do you take your toddlers to Restaurants?
Taking young children out to a restaurant can be a stressful experience for the parents and also for the other diners without children. However parents perception of their toddlers behaviour is probably much worse than it actually is.
There are people who don't want to sit next to families, particularly fashion conscious 20 and 30-somethings working off a hangover," says father-of-three Peter Harden, publisher of Harden's Eating Out With Babies And Toddlers, which was co-produced by parenting website gurgle.com. So the advice is to try and choose your table carefully or ask the waiter/ waitress to find you a suitable table.
Top Tips for dining out with young children by Mumsnet Katie O'Donovan
Go to a restaurant that won't stress you or the kids out
Go when the toddlers are not too hungry
Take a stash of books or small quiet toys
Try and sit away from the romantic couples
There is safety in numbers
If your children cannot be quietened take them outside until calm is restored
Harden's top 11 for toddlers
Giraffe
Pizza Express
Carluccio's Caffe
Wagamama
Byron
Strada
Nando's
Jamie's Italian
Ask
Cafe Rouge
Zizzi
Based on survey of 8,000 restaurant-goers for baby food firm Plum and Harden's
Please complete our pole on whether you think toddlers should be able to dine in restaurants
Information gained from BBCnewsmagazine online
There are people who don't want to sit next to families, particularly fashion conscious 20 and 30-somethings working off a hangover," says father-of-three Peter Harden, publisher of Harden's Eating Out With Babies And Toddlers, which was co-produced by parenting website gurgle.com. So the advice is to try and choose your table carefully or ask the waiter/ waitress to find you a suitable table.
Top Tips for dining out with young children by Mumsnet Katie O'Donovan
Go to a restaurant that won't stress you or the kids out
Go when the toddlers are not too hungry
Take a stash of books or small quiet toys
Try and sit away from the romantic couples
There is safety in numbers
If your children cannot be quietened take them outside until calm is restored
Harden's top 11 for toddlers
Giraffe
Pizza Express
Carluccio's Caffe
Wagamama
Byron
Strada
Nando's
Jamie's Italian
Ask
Cafe Rouge
Zizzi
Based on survey of 8,000 restaurant-goers for baby food firm Plum and Harden's
Please complete our pole on whether you think toddlers should be able to dine in restaurants
Information gained from BBCnewsmagazine online
Thursday, 10 February 2011
What are Forest Schools?
' A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning.’
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences.
A forest nursery is a type of preschool education for children between the ages of three and six that is held almost exclusively outdoors. Whatever the weather, children are encouraged to play, explore and learn in a forest or natural environment. The adult supervision is meant to assist rather than lead.
They can be described as a nursery without a ceiling or walls. The daycare staff and children spend their time outdoors, typically in a forest. A distinctive feature of forest nurseries is the emphasis on play with toys that are fashioned out of objects that can be found in nature, rather than commercial toys. Despite these differences, forest nurseries are meant to fulfill the same basic purpose as other nurseries, namely, to care for, stimulate, and educate young children.
Forest Schools have demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Forest Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self motivated.
***Bamboo Childcare currently have a level 3 Nursery Nursery role for a Forest School based near Guildford. Please send your cv to enquiries@bamboochildcare if you are interested alternatively visit our website and apply online at www.bamboochildcare.co.uk***
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Childcare places drop significantly
More than 3,500 childcare places were lost in the last three months of 2010, according to the latest Ofsted statistics - more than three times the figure for the previous quarter.
According to the Registered Childcare Providers and Places report (see table in attachment, right), 562 nurseries opened and 652 nurseries closed between the end of September and the end of December 2010, leading to an overall loss of 90 settings and 3,133 childcare places.
This was mitigated by a small rise in the number of childminders, for the first time since Ofsted started publishing data a year ago showing the number of 'active' providers and a breakdown of the numbers of those joining and leaving the sector.
This is positive news for childminder numbers, which have been in decline for several years.
There are now 173 more people registered with Ofsted as currently working in childminding.Despite the rise, there are 521 fewer childminder places. This can be explained by the fact that childminders who left the sector in the previous quarter were providing more childcare places on average (4.5) than those childminders newly registered with Ofsted (3.5).
Overall, this means that there are now 3,632 fewer childcare places at the 30 December than at the end of September.
Ofsted also released statistics on the latest round of inspections, showing that just under seven in ten childcare providers achieved good or outstanding grades. There was also more than a 50 per cent drop in the number of inadequate childcare providers over the past 12 months.
Article by Catherine Gaunt
It is positive indication that providers of inadequate childcare provision are being closed down, however the reduction in childcare places is a significant problem where there is often an under supply already. This has a significant impact on families where both parents need to work in this economic climate. This may also mean that a rise in the requirement for nannies may be seen in the near future.
According to the Registered Childcare Providers and Places report (see table in attachment, right), 562 nurseries opened and 652 nurseries closed between the end of September and the end of December 2010, leading to an overall loss of 90 settings and 3,133 childcare places.
This was mitigated by a small rise in the number of childminders, for the first time since Ofsted started publishing data a year ago showing the number of 'active' providers and a breakdown of the numbers of those joining and leaving the sector.
This is positive news for childminder numbers, which have been in decline for several years.
There are now 173 more people registered with Ofsted as currently working in childminding.Despite the rise, there are 521 fewer childminder places. This can be explained by the fact that childminders who left the sector in the previous quarter were providing more childcare places on average (4.5) than those childminders newly registered with Ofsted (3.5).
Overall, this means that there are now 3,632 fewer childcare places at the 30 December than at the end of September.
Ofsted also released statistics on the latest round of inspections, showing that just under seven in ten childcare providers achieved good or outstanding grades. There was also more than a 50 per cent drop in the number of inadequate childcare providers over the past 12 months.
Article by Catherine Gaunt
It is positive indication that providers of inadequate childcare provision are being closed down, however the reduction in childcare places is a significant problem where there is often an under supply already. This has a significant impact on families where both parents need to work in this economic climate. This may also mean that a rise in the requirement for nannies may be seen in the near future.
Nannies Salaries increased in 2010
Thew annual survey completed by Nanny tax shows that in most of the country Nannies salaries have increased or stayed stable, including a 10% rise for live-out nannies based outside of London and the home counties. However, it appears that for the salary more is expected in return. Nannies are now working longer hours (up to 60 per week) and duties often involve housekeeping. There could be a possibility that families are making a cost saving by not employing a cleaner as this duties are taken on by the nanny..
The survey also highlighted that a Nanny is not just for the rich with 55% of families employing a nanny earning less than £70K, 38 per cent earning £50k or less and 18 per cent £30k or less. This is highlighting the fact that although employing nanny is not the cheapest form of childcare it is often the most convenient for the family.
The clear message from the nannytax latest survey presents is that although nannies may not always be the cheapest option for families, they remain the most viable one, providing families with the most options for their lifestyle, convenience and time. Flexibility remains the key attraction and can give willing nannies a distinct advantage, not only in terms of the hours they can work, but also in the added help and value they can provide. Employers may be prepared to pay a bit more in return for taking on duties in addition to childcare.
If a nanny is prepared to offer all this, she can prove herself an invaluable asset to the contemporary family who would be reluctant to lose her support. In an age of growing demand and convenience, for many families, nannies are still a benefit worth paying for.
Information from Tracey Neal Nannytax
The survey also highlighted that a Nanny is not just for the rich with 55% of families employing a nanny earning less than £70K, 38 per cent earning £50k or less and 18 per cent £30k or less. This is highlighting the fact that although employing nanny is not the cheapest form of childcare it is often the most convenient for the family.
The clear message from the nannytax latest survey presents is that although nannies may not always be the cheapest option for families, they remain the most viable one, providing families with the most options for their lifestyle, convenience and time. Flexibility remains the key attraction and can give willing nannies a distinct advantage, not only in terms of the hours they can work, but also in the added help and value they can provide. Employers may be prepared to pay a bit more in return for taking on duties in addition to childcare.
If a nanny is prepared to offer all this, she can prove herself an invaluable asset to the contemporary family who would be reluctant to lose her support. In an age of growing demand and convenience, for many families, nannies are still a benefit worth paying for.
Information from Tracey Neal Nannytax
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