Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry about why Ofsted just called the childminder?

32 replies

CaramelSnowflake · 09/12/2011 08:41

Yesterday afternoon I had a call from the CM on her mobile whilst I was at work. She was at the playground at the time said that Ofsted had just called her mobile asking details about my DCs and that they needed the information more quickly than it would take for her to get home to find my DCs files. I gave her the info she needed (basically just DOBs and the fact that they have no SNs) and she rang back to say everything was fine.

Why, though, would Ofsted have demanded info on my children as such a matter of urgency? It was have taken the CM less than ten minutes to pop home to get the files out.

I'm worried because we had a bit of a run-in with SS a few years back and had thought it was all resolved. AFAIK I was cleared of all allegations.

Could my DCs be on some sort of secret register somewhere that I don't know about?

Should I be expecting further investigation?

OP posts:
KatAndKit · 09/12/2011 08:43

Perhaps she is due an inspection from the Ofsted inspector - you don't get a lot of notice of those and they need to have information before they come?

You should just ask the childminder. I'm sure she'd just tell you.

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 09/12/2011 08:44

god knows. I don't think anyone can tell you whether you could be facing an investigation or your children are on some sort of register. It would be irresponsible and unfair to you to act like there's any chance any of us could have the faintest clue.

Ask your childminder. It may just be paperwork or something. Part of some inspection for her. It could be anything.

Original poster
CaramelSnowflake · 09/12/2011 08:45

I will ask the CM. But I'd like to establish here whether or not I'm BU to be worried. I don't see that she needs to know what happened with SS. It's all (I think? I thought?) in the past, and I dont want her thinking that there's no smoke withour fire.

OP posts:
lubeybaublely · 09/12/2011 08:47

I don't think ofsted would have anything to do with SS, they deal with complately different things don't they?

lubeybaublely · 09/12/2011 08:48

completely*

Flisspaps · 09/12/2011 08:49

Sounds like her inspection is due and they've phoned her to ask what children she has when so they can decide when is best to visit.

When you get The Call you tend not to have your sensible head on, waiting 10 minutes to get home and find the paperwork before calling them back may have seemed too long when Ofsted-panic set in!

SwearyVirginMary · 09/12/2011 08:50

Social care and Ofsted are not linked and I cannot think of a reason why Ofsted would ask the ages of specific children. I think you need to take this up with her.

531800000008 · 09/12/2011 08:51

I think you've misheard - do you claim tax credits

at renewal/review time the TC people contact CMs, pre schools, nurseries to confirm that the child/ren attend as stated on the claim form by the parent/s, to confirm amounts of childcare costs, to confirm hours care provided

Ofsted not interested in the identities of the children cared for, they are interested in the care provided

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 09/12/2011 08:52

ok. well first off - I am not a professional and nor am I trying to say that what I think is going to be fact! It's just an opinion based on my personal understanding.

ofsted is about inspecting the childminder, not about looking into your situation. They probably want forms filling in about how many of her mindees have sn, for some statistic or other.

I realise that if you've had a bad experience, you are going to be paranoid, but they aren't a branch of social services and I really don't think that social services would have asked ofsted to check up on you.

AvadventKalendar · 09/12/2011 08:52

The only reason I can think of is that she has been reported for overminding but even then I am sure that ofsted would just turn up, not phone and ask for clarification of numbers/exact ages/dobs?

Just ask her.

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 09/12/2011 08:53

oh, actually - could that be it - as 531 says. not ofstead but tax credits? they would want to know how old your kids are and whether they have sn.

But if she def. said and meant ofsted, then probably some inspection for her or statistic thing.

AvadventKalendar · 09/12/2011 08:53

Or yes Tax Credits, but again they write, not usually phone

TroublesomeEx · 09/12/2011 08:54

Hi

I wouldn't be worried. They may have just issued details of a short notice inspection and require that information from her about all the children, not just yours, immediately.

CM are only allowed to look after a certain number of children of different ages and the criteria would be different if she were looking after all pre-school aged children or all KS2 aged children. I'd imagine they were just making sure they were fully informed so that they knew what to be on the look out for.

Ask your CM, but I wouldn't be worried.

cloudpuff · 09/12/2011 09:47

It does sound like something to do with tax credits. I used to work in a private nursery and they would often ring to make sure the details were correct and also to make sure the child was still attending. You'd be suprised at the amount of people who didn't inform them when their child was not attending.

wannaBe · 09/12/2011 09:58

ofsted have no involvement with individual children. They are there to oversee the care provided by the care provider (i.e. school, childminder, nanny, nursery). So if it were ofsted it will have something to do with the CM herself, not with your children specifically.

Original poster
CaramelSnowflake · 09/12/2011 10:27

Thanks. We don't claim TCs, though - so it won't be that.

I will ask the CM when I find a calm minute to call her.

OP posts:
TroublesomeEx · 09/12/2011 11:13

wannaBe but they have an overview of the school and its demographic before inspecting. Could it be the same?

I don't think it's anything for you to worry about though OP. It'll probably be quite boring when you do find out!

Purpleroses · 09/12/2011 11:38

Presumably she has your DC's DOBs at home anyway, so if she was trying to hand over info to SS behind your back she would surely have done it without ringing you.

Childminders have rules about the numbers and ages they can mind so sounds quite plausible that Ofsted they wanted to confirm DOBs with her.

LineRunnerCrouchingReindeer · 09/12/2011 13:11

Are you sure it wasn't HMRC (tax credits) ringing up to check her Ofsted registration number and also to check that your children were in her care?

Ofsted are now the inspection body for children's services but it doesn't manage individual cases.

LineRunnerCrouchingReindeer · 09/12/2011 13:13

Plus, as this involves your DCs' personal data, ask the childminder and ask Ofsted why the information was required. You don't have to say anything else.

festi · 09/12/2011 13:26

I have recently started using a cm and she is obliged to inform ofsted of new mindees so I filled out a form for her with my dds details on. Ofstead would not get involved in investigating you about any cp issues. and ss must involve you in any investigation and you would be well informed if you dcs were clasified as in need or at risk, there isnt a regester as such anymore.

think it sounds like oftsted regulation purposses regarding the cm, honestly do not worry.

lisad123 · 09/12/2011 13:28

Without wanting to upset, how does she know it WAS ofstead?? Confused

lisad123 · 09/12/2011 13:29

Could be anyone on the phone!

festi · 09/12/2011 13:32

Op have you posted before about people photographing your dcs at the school gate, in fear of secret investigations, forgive me If Iam wrong but as you have an xmas twist to your name wasnt sure if the other poster a while back may have been you?

festi · 09/12/2011 13:33

Im sure she would either know or make sure lisa, she probably has lots of dealings with the same inspector at ofstead. so probably knows who she is talking to.