Monday
Up early - about 6am as James (my eldest son, aged six) is joyfully singing the theme tune for 'Batman' at the top of his voice. Frank (youngest son - aged two) is soon awake, too. The national childcare strategy is a 24-hour preoccupation for me - at work I do the theory and at home I do the practical.
My childminder is on holiday today so my partner will do the home shift, as I have to go on a training course. This is a management-training programme facilitated by the Office for Public Management. Twelve senior managers from across the council are attending and it is extremely interesting talking with colleagues from other areas. During lunchtime talk on the phone to Frank about the poo he has done in his new pants - we are all potty training!
At 5.15pm race back to the office, ring parents who want to talk to me about three-year-olds and funding for pre-schools and catch up on returns due to be submitted to the DfES. Do the homework given out on the training programme. Leave at 7.30pm.
Tuesday
Thankfully children still asleep when I get up at 6.45am. Get the chance to use the bathroom alone.
My childminder is back from her holiday today - hooray! I have the best childminder in the world (she has looked after both my children since they were tiny babies) and the whole family feels better when she is around.
Take the children to the childminder in time for her school run, and spend much of the day at the training programme fretting about work I have waiting for me in the office.
The DfES paperwork is heavy duty at present, my admin assistant is off sick and I have four development posts in recruitment, so the pressure to deliver is all down to me (a very common scenario in EYDCPs around the country).
Spend time with the boys in the evening. Play, read, bath, hug and snuggle until both are in their respective cot (7pm) or bed (8pm). My partner and I eat and then both continue with our work - me in front of the 'News at Ten'.
Wednesday
In office by 8am. Return to 35 telephone messages and 22 e-mails, of which there are about six calls or messages from the DfES - all demanding an urgent response - and others from parents and colleagues all claiming to be equally urgent. Start to plough through calls including many from parents of three-year-olds wanting to know why we don't have universal pre-school funding across the borough (the public message received is that this is available now -not something that will be in place by 2004).
Meetings include one with the special education in early years working group. We are trying to map all the services across the borough for children with special or additional needs. Also talk to our childminding network co-ordinator to look at her targets and budgets. Complete eight pages of statistical/spreadsheet information for the DfES and get home in time to find that James has lost his first tooth.
Thursday
At desk by 8am again and return calls and e-mails until my meeting with the assistant director of education to give my monthly progress report and receive feedback. Follow this up with a meeting with Enfield Voluntary Action and then the new regional transition manager from Ofsted. Attend a governors meeting at James' school and return home to kiss both children as they sleep.
Friday
This morning the boys and I watch 'Batman' wrapped in a blanket on the sofa. In office again by 8am. Meet council's finance team to review grants I administer. The EYDCP is responsible for the childcare grant, nursery education grant and a clutch of European Social Fund and Single Regeneration Budget projects so it is vital for us to be on top of the different budgets.
In the afternoon meet with the training sub-group chair to plan the training offered across the borough for all childcare and early education providers. Leave at 5.20pm - but with papers packed in my bag for weekend reading and work at home.
