Policy for joint childminding. advice please on how to word it.

[Sandym3g]

Hi there
I am childminding with my DH and it occured to me that maybe we need a policy for us working together?? We advertise as working together but there are moments where this would not be possible.

Things that might be in it would be
While we work as a team there may be occasions where one of us might be away doing training, Shopping for things needed, taking a break, taking some of the group to school or on a prearranged trip, (other group would go later)

I know we would need to mention that we would keep within our ratios at all times and If there is a child that is better with one than the other this need is seriously taken into account.

Do you get what I mean? Any advice would be good. Thanks

I work with my DH and we haven't got a written policy, but I do explain it to parents. Ofsted also said we need to record in our register/diary/whatever which children we have if we are in 2 different places (ie HSMM went to the park with children A, B and C 10am - 1130am).

If you're joint CMing then as long as you keep within your individual allowances (have OFSTEad given you guidance on this?) I wouldn't gave thought you needed a separate policy. It's not like you'd be leaving the children with another person as both names would be on the contract.

If one of you is away on training/unable to have the children with them will hounded an assistant to keep the adult/child balance with the one left behind? If so you probably need a policy on that.

On a side note do you anticipate having 'key' children each?

Or even OFSTED - hit a instead of caps, although the amount I type it you'd think the autcorrect on my phone would recognise it by now...

Thanks for the help.

We have been told the maximum we can in the house is 6. We can have 6 each meaning that we can do training, etc etc. 3 in the early years and in this number only 1 under 1 each. If one of us goes out without the other we would have to make sure that these ratios remained. Unless in a Emergency.

Yes we are going to have Key children each. The boy we have at the moment is very much a mans man so adores my DH. It was common sense that my DH would be his key person.