"A great opportunity for childminders to access a professionally supported session which will not only enhance their own skills but also be invaluable to the children they care for."
Kären Pallot – Coordinator, St Piers Children’s Centre, Lingfield
The Debutots Childminders’ Support through Story Programme
The Childminders’ Support Through Story Programme (EYFS)©, is Debutots’ ground–breaking curriculum of interactive storytelling and dramatic play sessions specifically designed to support childminders in England with their EYFS curriculum requirements.
With the number of childminders plummeting since the inception of the EYFS’s rigorous observation and assessment requirements in 2008, Debutots saw the need to tailor their hugely successful nursery classes and resources so childminders and their charges can benefit too. "Our programme provides unrivalled personal support to childminders with regard to the EYFS," says Karen Wallace–Jones, Co–director of the Debutots franchise network, "Yet they will still be able to imagine and play with their little ones, which is what despondent home carers feel the EYFS framework is not allowing them to do".
The Childminders’ Support Through Story Programme (EYFS)© is delivered in local settings (such as Children’s Centres) on a weekly basis for a mixed under 5’s age group. Childminders are encouraged to play creatively with their little ones guided by a skilled Debutots practitioner. Interactive storytelling promotes skilful communication, drama techniques foster cognitive development and imaginative role–play grows their children’s positive sense of themselves and of others.
The unique EYFS support is delivered through the established Debutots Creative Planning Pack©, which has long been an essential tool for many nurseries and pre–schools’ planning. This termly resource demonstrates links to the EYFS early learning goals and provides follow up activities for each Debutots session for the childminder.
In addition, there are specifically developed Debutots My Learning Story© weekly handouts for each child. Not only do these give an overview of the class for the child’s parents each week, but they guide the childminder in how to observe the child within the Debutots learning environment, provide a record of their weekly achievements and the opportunity to consider future progression.
Kären Pallot, Coordinator of St Piers Children’s Centre in Lingfield, Surrey, says "This is a great opportunity for childminders to access a professionally supported session which will not only enhance their own skills, but also be invaluable to the children they care for. Debutots sessions are thoughtfully planned and skilfully led, and provide excellent links to the Early Years Foundation Stage."
Childminders no longer need be disheartened in their quest to balance play and paperwork, Children’s Centres can look no further for activities to provide support to their local childminders, and parents should be assured that the home–from–home play they sought in a childminder can still be nurtured within the context of the EYFS framework.