Same here, mine was pretty much as I expected - but I left feeling uninspired, and a bit bored by it.... not sure if I'm just getting more fussy with old age - or just getting to the point where I do not 'suffer fools gladly' anymore. We spent a whole day what seemed to be just looking at the pack and then doing a very simple, pointless quiz. Personally I feel they should have sent the quiz out to us beforehand to do before we got there- then we could have done some serious stuff...... but hang on... they haven't realised that we do actually have brains and can read a book on our own.... sorry rant over!!!, as you can tell I didn't really think much of it, and it annoys me that someones getting paid a lot of money for providing this service, and that we have to go and 'get the bit of paper' to say we've 'had training' which although free- has cost us money in extra cover -sorry ranting again.
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we've had a couple of free taster sessions and 2 days proper training -free- available in April. Most of the settings[childminder/preschool] are already using it but we are wondering about the stepping stones and what or whether they are being replaced. Our local county council has produced "personal pathways" for settings to use for each child if wished which they have just lifted from the learning and development pages and we are are supposed to fill in evidence of what the child achieves next to the the relevent photo and statement however we feel that some parents may be upset by this especially if for example their child has a delay/special need and their developmental level is lower than their actual age so we are trying to work out ways to alter this so its more like the stepping stones. We had the same problem with B23 when they used the images of babies toddlers etc next to their "age groupings" what does everyone else think and any ideas for changing it? Thanksx

Watgem - I've removed all 'photos' and ages from any of my paperwork, first thing I did purely sort that reason... parents (and some staff) can become very competative/senitive to this 'labeling' Strange thing is I have given is *band*a colour, and the whole thing lookes very mcuh like the old stepping stones now. As they say the whole things 80% recyled - I had thought this ment the paper by now I know it's the
content!!
*coloured bands* I've ended up with four colours (we take from 2, so I've not started from the bottom) I went with the colours mainly for the staff benefit, not sure if this is good or bad as it looks just like the old SSs I'm thinking of doing the whole thing plain.

You're lucky that your county have given you some kind of guidance - ours just leave you to get on with it...... I think they wait for the setting to produce the ideas- then they just recommend any good methods to others!!!!! (and you think I'm joking, I'm not)

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Forgot to say we were also given a 4 page handout entitled "Where the current Ofsted standards sit in the new Welfare requirements of the EYFS" which is very useful.

Hi thats a really good idea cabin thanks so much! I did wonder about colour coding using their [eyfs] variations of yellow/orange banding but your ideas much better! Our cc don't give us the personal pathways, we have to pay a tenner for a cd but I guess thats not bad if all settings use them it aids sharing of info etc our foundation stage advisor also recommends getting all settings involved with a child to sign an agreement with parent/carers with regards to confidentiality/ data protection act etc its taking a lot of nagging from childminders to be able to access these personal pathway books but its paid off. I have also bought some of the new qed tracker books as well just got to tie everything in and try and keep paperwork to a minimum!:thumbsup:

I bought the new tracker books too, but It's a bit out of our buget to give one per child, pehaps if we had them from babies the cost wouldn't be to bad, but some of our children are only with us a year - we only have one intake at local school, plus we have a huge waiting list - hence about 50% only being with us a year.

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Yes the trackers are expensive, I'm buying mine one at a time as they finish the old tracker books and they will be used [hopefully!] for at least a year perhaps there's a way of coming up with your own version, more paperwork lol!