Magazine of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years | April/May 2013
BRAND NEW FACE WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LOOK professional ASSOCIATION
Learning through pLay 16
Creative Ideas
Creative Ideas
Valentine’s butterfly card
G Hearty treats
ou to deliver the E ping y Hel and Foundation Phase
I
n the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day you’ll see shops filled with cards and gifts bearing pictures of hearts, roses and teddy bears, and rhymes about love. With this activity, the children can create their own special cards for their parents.
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s Cov ative Idea
To make the butterfly wings, fold a sheet of red card in half and draw the outline of a heart in pencil (with the point touching the fold). Cut out the heart shape, taking care to keep the points on the folded paper intact, so that when you unfold the card, the two hearts open out to look like butterfly wings. For the butterfly body, draw a long tube shape on the white card, cut out the shape and make a fold in it lengthways.
Open the hearts and lay them across the body – try to align the bottom of the wings with the bottom of the body, so that the card will stand up. Secure the wings with glue or sticky tape. Now it’s time to come up with a simple Valentine’s Day rhyme for the butterfly cards. Ask the children to think of words they might associate with Valentine’s Day, such as love, kind, or treat, and then other words that will rhyme. Help the children to write their verse across their butterfly wings. Add eyes and a smile to the butterfly’s face, and glue antennae – a couple of very thin slivers of card – to its head. The children now have a special butterfly card to give to their parents.
y Each activit y is beautifull illustrated in full colour.
this fun, coLourfuL, iLLustrated 92-page book is fiLLed with Loads of great activities to enjoy with the chiLdren in your care
£12.99 for members £15.00 for non-members available to buy now
etting children involved in making their own food is a great learning opportunity. Put Valentine’s Day on the menu for the children’s lunch or afternoon snacks. Cut a pizza base into a heart shape, top with chopped tomatoes and everyone’s favourite toppings, and bake into a tasty Valentine’s pizza. If you have a heart-shaped cookie or sandwich cutter, cut the children’s sandwiches into heart shapes, or cut slices of toast into hearts and spread with strawberry or raspberry jam.
For EYFS/Foundation Phase details, turn to page 77
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PACEY MAKE
Brand new face
The new brand has arrived! We are now officially the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). To celebrate, we’ve designed you a new range of member benefits to enhance what you already have. As a result of extensive research and feedback from childminders, nannies and nursery workers, we’ve redesigned member benefits to provide increased support to help you improve your practice and feel confident in your work. Following your feedback that you sometimes feel isolated, we’ve added some new features to the PACEYLocal online sharing forums, to help you feel better connected and supported. Our new Health and wellbeing helpline will give you access to a team of qualified professional
counsellors. This, along with our Legal helpline, ensures you have reliable expert help for any professional and personal concerns. You expressed the need for access to expert childcare advice. In response, we’ve created a revised range of factsheets written by experts; best practice “howto” videos; plus a Childcare and early years helpline for you to speak to an expert about a range of childcare issues. The Childcare Professional will continue to provide articles, hints and tips for practitioners.
You told us you wanted more recognition of your professionalism, so we’ve developed a new suite of free online training courses to allow you to add to your CPD and Professional Occupational Standards. Combined with our plans to promote your work, this will ensure that parents and other professionals better recognise the valuable contribution that you make to children’s learning and the families you support. To read more about your fantastic new benefits, turn to page 42.
PAYMENT INFO If you pay your membership by Direct Debit or credit/ debit card, you’ll now see “PACEY” on your statement instead of “National Childminding Association”.
The PACEY community now welcomes nursery workers alongside childminders and nannies, giving all childcare professionals the opportunity to share experiences and grow mutual understanding of each other. We spoke to some professionals about their day-to-day roles, the new brand, and what they think about PACEY uniting professionals in the childcare and early years sector... Robert is a nursery nurse based in a south-east London nursery. He has been working as a childcare professional for 18 months. ‘I work in a pre-school room, with children aged 2 to 4 years. I’ve had my current role for four months, which is providing me with great experience. I’m keen to further my career and I’m working towards a Level 3 Diploma. ‘A typical day starts with welcoming children at breakfast time. Throughout the day, children take part in free play and planned activities, aligned to the EYFS. The most rewarding part of my role is watching children develop and grow, and helping individual
children meet development targets. ‘PACEY membership for nursery workers is a good idea. I would find practical support such as training and sharing ideas and expertise with others helpful – I imagine there are similarities in practitioners’ techniques and challenges. ‘At some point, I will be thinking about my next career move and it sounds like PACEY will be on hand to provide advice on options and ways to connect with other childcare professionals.’
Busy Bees are pleased to support PACEY and believe that the comprehensive services and support they can offer to practitioners will be really useful and bene�icial. The services PACEY can provide to members will help to further enhance professionalism and standards across the early years sector. Clare Phizacklea – HR Director Busy Bees Nurseries
Steve and Jennie run an Outstanding-rated childminder setting in Wiltshire. They have over 40 years experience in childcare. Jennie previously worked as a nursery worker and a nanny, whilst Steve had a successful career with the police.
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‘A typical day for us involves caring for five children ranging from 10 months to 12 years. We rise at 5.30am to prepare the day ahead; which includes outdoor trips (rain or shine!), child-led play, and topic work to
generate learning opportunities and chances for children to build confidence and express themselves. ‘Home-based childcare allows you to build relationships – you care for some children from birth
to teenage years and watch them develop and advance. Whether you’re a childminder, nanny or nursery worker, with your love, support and patience, you can make a huge difference to a child and their family. We owe it to children to be the best we can be. ‘Knowing that PACEY is geared up for childcare professionals is reassuring and helpful; with experience-sharing, useful books
Caroline Wright – Head of Early Years, Kidsunlimited
PACEY MAKE
Opportunities for early years practitioners to work and train together across disciplines, to enable them to share and learn from each other, are few. PACEY promises to facilitate valuable networking alongside provision of expert support for practitioners of all levels.
Angie Ellis cares for two children aged 2 and 5 in Buckinghamshire and has been a nanny for the last six months. She has seven years experience in childcare, having previously worked as a childminder. ‘A typical day begins at 8am, when I organise breakfast and do the school run. We then go to playgroup or begin activities, such as stories or painting at home. During afternoon nap, I wash, iron and prepare dinner. I organise homework and activities for both children before I leave at 6pm. ‘I don’t have to work to the EYFS. This doesn’t mean I don’t though – I concentrate on moving the children’s learning forward every day. Nannying is great because children have the
and resources. Each time we open the members’ magazine, there’s something practical to use. ‘We’re supportive of the association’s name change. The word ‘childminder’ doesn’t adequately portray the job we do and PACEY encompasses nannies and nursery workers, too. ‘Professional’ better represents us all.’
reassurance and familiarity of their own home, so transitions are purely about building a trusting relationship with me. One of the most rewarding elements is watching children grow and expand. ‘I can draw similarities in all childcare practitioners’ roles – essentially, you must be passionate about nurturing and helping children grow. I think the name change to PACEY is good, as it represents all practitioners, plus the training courses sound
I am delighted to be able to support this initiative because the early years are such an important time in children’s lives, and children deserve the best possible support during this sensitive period. John Oates – Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology in the Centre for Childhood, Development and Learning at The Open University and author of Development Matters
brilliant. It’s important to update our skills regularly to ensure we get the recognition we deserve.’ Read more about these stories at www.pacey.org.uk/mypacey n
BEHIND THE BRAND Your association’s new logo’s vibrant colours are based on feedback from childminder and nanny members, and nursery and pre-school workers. It aims to link the contribution you make to children’s play and learning with your professionalism.
The place for professionals 22
As Joint Chief Executives, Liz Bayram and Catherine Farrell have supported the association’s Board of Trustees to reposition the organisation as the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). Here they explain why the last two years have been about more than just a change of name.
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What is the ambition behind the association’s new name? Long-term we want PACEY to be seen as a badge of professionalism for all our members – a simple way for members to demonstrate to their peers, parents and other childcare professionals that they are committed to delivering high standards of care and learning to the children and families they support. When the Board embarked on its plan to reposition the association as a standard-setting organisation, professionalism was a central tenet. So many members told us they were still not recognised as professionals, still not valued for the vital job they do. One member summed it up by saying she felt parents and other professionals still thought she was “a glorified babysitter”.
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How will PACEY membership demonstrate professionalism? It will build on what our members are already doing – signing up to professional standards that demonstrate they are committed to delivering high quality care through their membership; accessing up-to-date information
We hope to end the urban myth that someone who works in childcare is just “a glorified babysitter”. and advice; seeking peer support from other members; and taking part in training and CPD activity to keep their practice up-to-date. Our current members are already demonstrating their professionalism and dedication to helping the children in their
care get the best start in life. By becoming PACEY we will demonstrate that every time we use our new name. It will also better reflect all the individuals who can become our members. In this way we will be able to position the association as the
them. Together, members’ shared experience of what delivers high-quality care will give them a stronger and more influential voice – all made possible by coming together as one under PACEY.
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sector organisation for everyone committed to delivering quality care and learning.
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How will welcoming nursery workers into membership support this ambition for PACEY? There is currently no organisation dedicated to providing individuals in group settings with support to grow their professionalism. Many nursery workers experience the
same challenges as childminders and nannies – a lack of access to training and support; feelings of isolation; and a lack of recognition of the important work they do. We believe these shared experiences and challenges will provide a strong foundation for the future. Members will be able to share insight and ideas together. They will be able to access greater benefits – quite simply because in time – there will be more of
Where do you see PACEY five years from now? We hope PACEY by then will be the go-to organisation for anyone thinking about a career in childcare and early years. And an association that supports you right through your childcare career – from childcare student to nanny or nursery worker, on to childminder or nursery manager. PACEY will be able to use members’ individual dedication to high standards of care and learning to gain greater recognition of the important role childcare professionals play – by promoting best practice in the media, publishing research and influencing decision-makers including parents. Together with our members – many of whom we know go on to different careers as teaching assistants or as social workers – we hope to end the urban myth that someone who works in childcare is just “a glorified babysitter”. n
Q&A
Together, members’ shared experience of what delivers highquality care will give them a stronger and more influential voice.
Brand new membership benefits
‘Supporting you to give children the best start in life’
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Whether you’ve just joined PACEY or been with us since the beginning, it’s an exciting time for members. You are entitled to many benefits that will support you in delivering the highest possible standards in childcare. What’s more, we’re delighted to announce the launch of a range of brand new benefits, all ready for you to access as part of your membership. Childcare and early years helpline ‘How can I prepare for my inspection?’ ‘What’s does self-reflective practice mean?’ ‘How do I engage with parents about a child’s progress?’ ‘Where do I find information about the types of activities that will best suit the needs of children in my setting?’ These are some of the many questions and concerns that go through members’ minds on a daily basis. You’ve told us that instant access to information and practical support for answers to childcare queries would be hugely beneficial. In response to this we have developed our childcare and early years helpline to provide you with information and support. All queries are answered by one of our trained advisors. You can be assured that no question is too trivial or too complex; our team is on hand to support you. For more detailed discussions we also offer a 15-20 minute call back service with knowledgearea experts who have first-hand experience of delivering high standards in childcare. All PACEY members can benefit from our new childcare and early years helpline. To speak to one of our advisors, simply call 0845 880 0044, Mon–Fri between 8.30am and 5pm.
Health and wellbeing helpline Members have shared with us through discussions at conference and in regular feedback, that there needs to be more support available to them. We’re pleased to launch a new telephone counselling
service for our members to access whenever they need it. Support available through this helpline includes health and medical information (access to nurses, midwives, pharmacists) and support on childcare and personal issues with professional counselling.
Find out more at www.pacey.org.uk/mybenefits
Online training courses We realise that our PACEY members’ spare time is precious and even getting an hour spare is difficult. We’ve designed a suite of new online courses that are easy to access with the flexibility of completing them in your own time. Our online courses are around two hours in duration with the option to save your work and come back to it when convenient. What’s more, you’ll be happy to know that these courses are provided free as part of your membership.
The training courses on offer include: l The Revised EYFS – the aim of this course is to explore the changes to the EYFS and examine what this means in practice l Expectations of Behaviour – the aim of this course is to understand what challenging behaviour means and explore workable strategies l Starting Out – Supporting Children’s Emotional Wellbeing – the aim of this course is to provide information to those new to early years about how to support children’s emotional wellbeing. Members are encouraged
All queries are answered by one of our trained advisors. You can be assured that no question is too trivial or too complex; our team is on hand to support you. to visit www.pacey.org.uk/ mybenefits and log in to their account to take advantage of these free training courses. We will be adding more online training courses to this suite over time.
Early years factsheets
We want to make sure you have quick access to information when you need it. We’ve created a new, improved range of over 50 online factsheets covering a broad range of childcare and early years topics to provide you with information and solutions to common, everyday childcare issues. This new range is available exclusively for members and has been written by experts in childcare – to access them, simply log in to your PACEY account. The easy-to-follow, onepage factsheets each contain the headings: “Key points”; “What does it mean for me?”; “A reflective task”; “Useful websites” and “Additional resources”. Examples of the factsheets available include: l Accident and Incidents l Assessing Children’s Progress l Child-led Play and Adult-led Play l Children’s Emotional Needs l Early Support and Education, Health and Care Plans l Employment Rights l Health and Safety l Intimate Care for Disabled Children
Nutritional Requirements Overview of the EYFS lO verview of the Foundation Phase l Ratios l Safeguarding l Social Media l The Three Characteristics of Effective Learning l Working Hours Visit MyPACEY today to look at our extensive list. Do you think we’ve missed a topic? Let us know by emailing info@pacey.org.uk and we’ll accommodate you. l l
Benefits
You’ll have direct and confidential access 24/7 to a team of highly qualified professional counsellors. They can help you with various problems such as conflict, anxiety and depression, illness, issues with your work, bereavement, divorce or debt.
Written by Barry McGinness
Practice guides
You can download mini-practice guides from the online PACEY members’ area. Written by experts, these booklets have been designed to help develop your practice.
Download the following practice guides now: l Delivering the EYFS – Prime and Specific Areas of Learning l Child Observations and Learning Journeys l Supporting Children’s Language l Supporting Children’s Thinking l Developing Self-reflective Practice l Assessment and Planning for Learning l Preparing for Inspection What do you think about our new benefits? Drop us a line with your feedback at info@pacey.org.uk n
FREE GIFT To celebrate the launch of PACEY, we’ve included a car sticker gift with this issue. This will help you to advertise your business and PACEY membership, showcasing your professional role to all.