Robins Nest Childminders

Celebrating Remembrance Day

A special treat to white post farm for my special boys 💙

A special trip out today on the hottest day of the year. We spent the afternoon cooling off in the splash park 💙

A wonderful fundraising amount for Barnardo's this week from our children and families. Thank you all for your donations 💙

Another couple of miles on these legs raising money for Barnardos 💙

Celebrating a very special little boys last day. Archie, you will be so missed 💙

2 miles completed today as part of our Big Toddle for Barnardos 💙

Some beautiful cards making their way to some special daddy’s this weekend 💙

A wonderful morning in the sun practicing our gross and fine motor skills
We’ve been jumping over the water
Squirting water at our friends
Making “ice creams” and having fun. Time for some sandwiches for lunch 🥪

We are now closed until 23rd April to have some family time and to celebrate a certain special someone turning 3!

A massive thank you to all our families for your support this half term and for your lovely Easter eggs and cakes!

Starting our bank holiday weekend with some delicious carrot cake for breakfast 🧡

Yummy treats for Easter

💚 Dear Parents 💚

Over the past few months, the private Early Years sector has been floored by new funding restrictions brought out by the Department for Education. For years, we have been chronically underfunded, but regardless, existing EY settings have pushed on to offer outstanding care and education for your children, despite crippling financial difficulties. Thousands were forced to close their doors for good.

Today, Keir Starmer and the DfE announced that 300 nurseries are opening in schools as an initial stage of a mass rollout. It is beyond frustrating; had they funded the PVI’s honestly, there would already be enough spaces for children without them needing to attend school at the age of 2 or 3.

There is something more today though that has really angered me; the marketing campaign that rolled out alongside it - the one where the DfE and our Prime Minister claim that these settings are a higher level of service and education than existing nurseries and childminders.

Let me make it clear, every private childcare setting is offering exceptional early education and care for your children. This Government are not ‘saving the day’ or creating better opportunities for your children. They are pushing them into school and deflecting from the funding scandal that is currently taking place. They want both parents back to work as early as possible to boost the economy and they want state-run nurseries.

Hear me when I shout it loud; your child does not need to be in school at 2 or 3. These nurseries are not offering anything above and beyond that of a private setting. They too will be underfunded, and they too will struggle to recruit enough staff. They will follow the EYFS just like the rest of us. The social media posts that I have read from MPs today are shameful, misleading and dishonest.

Your existing workforce are highly skilled in educating and caring for children in the first 5 years of their life. This is what we do, and we do it well. Your child will be more than school ready in a private setting and they do not need to attend a pre-school before starting in Reception.

Parents, I implore you to look further than the propaganda that has been rolled out today. Trust in your PVI settings, the passionate and skilled practitioners who care for your children each day - please support them at a time when they need you most.

Signed,

A very frustrated and disappointed childcare professional.

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