Grafton Childcare
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We use our own Daily Diaries, for all children under 3 years of age. All these children are covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage. So what is to be included in these Daily Diaries you might well ask!

- My Daily Childcare Report -

These have space on them so we can let you know all about when your child has slept, eaten and had their nappy changed or used the toilet, or if we need any fresh supplies for your child. You will also see a little section where we can leave you a “Quick Note From Your Childcarer” about something we need to bring your attention too. We ask parents to date and sign in the space provided at the top of each page on a daily basis, so that we can be sure that you are reading them, it is vital that we work in partnership for the benefit of your child.

Then in the section marked “Today’s Child Led Activities, Topics & Themes or Mini Observation” we will attempt to give you a flavour of most of the child led activities, toys, games, topics and themes which your child has been involved with each day.
Occasionally we will carry out a mini observation on your child focusing on one aspect and use our findings to help develop future planning of Child Led Activities specifically geared towards the interests and developmental needs of your child.

Towards the bottom of the sheet you will also note the section “New Words, Developmental Matters, Skills & Processes or Early Learning Goals noted today”. We are required to note these so that we can be sure that we are meeting the Learning and Developmental needs of your child, but you will find this explained more fully in your booklet “Area of Learning & Development, a Condensed Guide for Parents.” Parents get their own copy. If at any point you would like clarification about anything written in your child’s Daily Diary just ask.

We hope that parents will cooperate fully in the operation of this scheme remembering to bring the Daily Diary back each day so that it can be used to help build up a lasting record of your child’s day and development with us.

- Just a Quick Note Pages --

These are blank forms which parent’s can use if they wish to let us know about any changes that we need to be made aware of, e.g. I’m working from home today so if you need to contact me, don’t call work! Or we will be on holiday in two weeks time and these are the dates we won’t be with you. We have changed our mobile and the new number is etc. Please remember to date each note and we will date and sign beside it to confirm that we have read it so that we can work in partnership for the benefit of your child.

- Existing Injuries -

These pages should be used to record any injury, sustained by minded children when they are not in the care of their Registered Childcarer. These records must be kept by the Registered Childcarer and are a requirement of their Registration with Ofsted. An injury record is a safeguard for the Registered Childcarer, the childcarer’s family, the minded child and the parents in case of an insurance claim or a possible although highly unlikely allegation of abuse.

- Child Record of Absence -

These pages should be used to record your child’s absences if your child is in receipt of either funding via the 2gether Scheme for 2 year olds or the Early Years Entitlement Sessions for 3—5 year olds. If your child does not attend regularly & fails to meet the minimum attendance criteria then we must refund any over payments.

- Administering Prescribed Medicines -

Parent/guardian to complete the top of this form before dropping off the child with us. These forms need only be completed by the parent/guardian once at the start of a course of antibiotics or other form of prescribed medication. It is not necessary to complete a form every time you wish us to give an individual dose of the antibiotics/medication during a course of prescribed treatment.


The dispensing part of the form will be completed, by us as it is dispensed. We have a similar form for Administering Non-prescribed Medicines i.e. Paediatric Paracetamol or Ibuprofen Suspension.

- My Favourite Things -

As your Childcarer it’s very important that we are able to work in Partnership with Parents so that we can make sure that we are meeting the needs of your child at all times. In order to help us with our ongoing planning of activities and themes for your child and to help develop future planning of Child Led Activities specifically geared towards the current interests and developmental needs of your child it would be very useful if you could fill out this sheet at the end of each month. We can then use the information you have given when we are doing our short term planning for the following month.

Lastly we have the …..

- One Off Outings & Daytrips -

In order for your child to be included on outings and daytrips away from our normal day to day routine and childcare provision, you need to complete and sign one of these forms, when asked to do so if your happy with our arrangements! Where vehicles are being used, adequate insurance of vehicles and driver, and sufficient child restraints (seatbelts/carseat) for every child will be arranged.

What is this Communication Booklet for?

We use our Daily Communication Booklets for all children between 3 – 5 years of age including those in their reception year at school if the parents request that we continue to do so, all these children are covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage. So what is to be included in these Daily Communication Booklets you might well ask!

They include all of the following pages which are included in the under 2’s Daily Diaries:-

- Existing Injuries -, - Child Record of Absence -, - Administering Prescribed Medicines -, - My Favourite Things – and One Off Outings & Daytrips -

We then have the follwing special pages just for the Over 2’s Communication Booklets:-

- Parent’s/Carer’s Communication Pages -

We have designed these communication pages in a simple weekly format which parent’s can use when they wish to let us know about any changes that we need to be made aware of, e.g. I’m working from home today so if you need to contact me, don’t call work! Or we will be on holiday in two weeks time and these are the dates we won’t be with you. We have changed our mobile and the new number is etc. We have included a pre-printed section for you to indicate if you have given your child Paediatric Paracetamol or Ibuprofen Suspension in the past 24 hours and if you’ve completed an Existing Injury Form for your child, so we’re always kept fully informed.

- Keyworker’s Communication Pages -

We have designed these communication pages in a simple weekly format which your child’s keyworker can use when they wish to let parents know anything formally about your child’s day which your child might forget to inform you of themselves.

We have included a small section to indicate details of nappy changes for any child who is still in nappies whilst with us. You will also note a small section where we can indicate how many portions of your child’s 5-a-Day they have consumed with us. We don’t list details of individual meals as they can tell you themselves what they have eaten. However you might want to check our weekly blog for a list of our planned meals if you would like to confirm what your child is telling you! www.graftonchildcare.co.uk

We also have a little section where your child’s keyworker can leave you a small note about something we need to bring your attention too. We have include a little section for when extra supplies are needed e.g. clean clothes, slippers etc and your child’s keyworker will circle any item needed. Lastly we have a little smiley face section where we can indicate simply and quickly what sort of day your child has had here at Grafton Childcare.

Most of our over 2’s are able to communicate with parents details about activities they have engaged with on any particular day. We are hoping to start a Blog which will contain weekly information of that sort. We are hoping to then focus on using our over two’s Communication Books to communicate more between home and setting with these booklets so that hopefully parents will feel more able to contribute on a daily basis towards their own child’s learning and development whilst with us. By changing over to this new format each child’s keyworker will be freed up with more time to record quality information via Observations, Assessment and Planning into their child’s PLODS, Learning Journals, Record of Observed Outcomes and of course then use this information when we plan for each child’s own Next Steps. For any children over two who find communication difficult we will continue to use our old format of Daily Dairies, so that you can be kept fully informed about meals, nappy changes, toileting and nap times.

We hope that parents will cooperate fully in the operation of this scheme remembering to bring their Communication Book back each day so that it can be used to help build up a lasting record of your child’s day and development with us.

However should you forget to bring your child’s Daily Communication Book, and the zipped folder which it is stored in, then sadly Childcare will be declined and you will be asked to return home with your child to collect it. These Booklets remains the property of Grafton Childcare until your child leaves when it will be presented to your child as a lasting  record of their time with us.

Reviewed and Updated April 2018