Letter from Ofsted :-(

[SingleMumAndProud]

As I have not had any mindees for 3 years (for various reasons), Ofsted have sent me a message to say I have 3 choices:

• Get a mindee now
• Give up my registration
• Have it taken off me and banned from CM

I think I am going to have to hand in my resignation . I don't want to, but I don't want to start CM till at least January as I have just split with my DH and its just not the right time. My DD starts nursery in Jan so that would be a good time to start.

I feel like they have suddenly given me no option! It wouldn't do any good for me to take on a child now when I am not ready!

have you ever had mindees? or did you just start cm 3yrs ago and been unable to get children

I started 3 years ago. I got pregnant then obviously had a baby, then I couldn't get mindees for ages, then I moved house, and then my DH moved out

I don't really undertand it - I am paying my registration fees and they haven't needed to come an inspect me or anything so surely they are better off with me still paying?

Have you tried ringing them to explain your circumstances? They can - rarely!! - be understanding.

Don't get to a point where they ban you... as you will never then be able to be a childminder again, and may not be able to even work with children again.

So... talk to them about resigning and how easy it would be to restart again in the future. Also consider if you will be actively childminding for anytime this year. They may be prepared to put things on hold for a while... give you time to find some children.

My DH resigned as a CM because he didn't have any children to care for. When he wanted to re-register, he had to go through the whole registration process from scratch - attend the start up course, new CRB, everything and it took MONTHS! If you want to start minding again in January, it might be worth 'borrowing' a child to mind? Maybe from a friend, who would like to go shopping?

I understand they're more strict with not keeping "non-active" childminders on the books for extended periods of time because it skews the numbers of childcarers/places out there - eg if there are 1,000 childminders who haven't worked for several years and aren't looking for children then that could be 3,000 EYFS places which look like they're available but actually aren't, so councils might not know they're actually very low on childcarers in their area and need to encourage some more to register. Also Ofsted don't seem to like doing "no children on roll" inspections much anymore.

I second the recommendation to give them a call and explain the situation, then see if they can be flexible.

ofstead love to number crunch and dislike cm on their books which are not active

its a way of getting rid of old wood as it was as some people remain cm and work full time else where (dont know why)

i would say ring ofstead, then rebook on courses ie first aid, food saftey, EYFS training etc etc so you will be ready to start work in Jan

dont keep putting it off no time is ever good to start

Thing is, I have only just re-done my first aid and EYFS etc. That was a cost I could of done without had I known!

I think HSMM has the best idea, sign a friend up for a few hours a week to keep you registration valid, as long as you plan to definitely start in January. Remember though, when you are ready to mind, there may not be anyone looking for childcare.

I have also been speaking to OFSTED recently over a problem I have had and they have actually been very good, so give it a go.