To ask if this is illegal?

[WhenTheNightFalls]

Goddaughter started at a nursery. She is 8 months old.
When I went to collect her as a favour, I saw that she was with 2 unqualified staff (I know this because they are both neighbours of mine.) The one qualified worker was out the room. I thought there had to be at least one qualified staff member in the room and that half had to have a level 2? I don't like the idea of 2 unqualified members of staff being left with babies. My friend (Goddaughters mum) not happy either

On the face of it yanbu, there should be appropriate staffing but how do you know all of the staffs qualifications (or lack of) in the entire setting?

Hark at all the naysayers who are - in fact - wrong! Couldn’t wait to put the boot in though, could you, and take the piss out of the OP? 🙄

You’re correct OP, they are in breach of the EYFS framework and it is something that Ofsted would be interested in. Many nurseries make the mistake of using the ‘in the building’ line but that’s also wrong. The staff in each individual room need to be in ratio and 50% must be qualified (as in level 3 or above).

@Chickychoccyegg - you’re in cloud cuckoo land! Who the fuck nips out for a coffee or a toilet break? Absolutely not allowed if you’re in ratio.

I don’t know about the legalities but all the snarky comments are ridiculous, of course we don’t need qualifications to care for our own children but damn right if I’m leaving them in somebody else’s care I expect it. I wouldn’t mind too much as long as they had adequate children’s first aid training, if they don’t have this I would kick up a royal fuss

Are people being deliberately obtuse or is it just spite?

How is being a mother and being a paid childcare professional the same thing at all? They clearly aren't. You'd have to be rather stupid to not realise that when you pay huge amounts for nurseries you expect staff to be qualified!

Don't all staff have to be qualified in paid settings? There do in my home country.

I was a childminder and have no childcare qualifications….

Nope you just need to have a % qualified and at the moment a lot of nurseries are struggling with that because of people leaving and then can't recruit mainly because of pay and other reasons.

I work in a nursery and we have the mixture of both. We meet the guidance but some of our unqualified staff are better at their job then the qualified tbh..

The OP is correct. It is the law in child care settings to have a minimum number of qualified staff in a room at any one time. If children are left with 2 unqualified staff members then the nursery is in breach of minimum regulations. If they were inspected unexpectedly by Ofsted they could be in serious trouble. Qualified doesn't always mean better at the job, but it's the requirements and aims to safeguard children.

For those of you that have jumped in and called the OP ridiculous, childcare standards and expectations have tightened greatly to when anyone could child mind or run a playgroup/nursery.

There is lots of research to show that qualified staff on average do lead to better outcomes for children.

How on Earth do you know your neighbours qualifications?

i don’t even think my friends know mine!

One could guess they told her? Shocking, but in actual Real Life, people talk about things and learn about one another!
Perhaps try it?

@Arayes

NOT obtuse or spiteful thanks.

I don't have the time or interest in arguing with you.

OP is being a busy body. She doesn't know what the situation actually is.

id rather have someone with experience, than 'qualifications' look after my 8 month old.

By putting quotes around "qualifications" it shows that you do not value them, or the people who have put the time and effort into acquiring them.

I'd say youre the type to complain if the prices go up so the childcare workers might actually be paid what they are worth.
I'm sorry you don't value your childs carers, or your childs needs.

Oh for goodness sake. Only on Mumsnet...

Why is it so much of a stretch for some to understand that I know for a fact these 2 women are unqualified in childcare? They told me. If they have masters in physics that's great but it's also irrelevant to what we are discussing here, and in terms of legal childcare they need an actual childcare qualification. A masters degree in physics will not mean they are qualified nursery workers. Wild theory I know.