CM is this true? No to observations

[Nicadooby]

Hi ladies,

I went to a pre registration meeting to become a child minder last week and was told that if a parent says they dont want you to take any photos/observations on there child then you don't have to do any?

Appartentley there is nothing ofsted can do about it as it is up to the parent?

Has anyone else heard this?

No, that is not correct. Unles you are exempt from the operation of the EYFS, the are you have to make observations and assessments of the children in your care who fall within Early Years.

I would imagine they are right re photos. You'd had to find another way to record observations.

To add to that. I would not take photos without parents permission. If they do not want you to do measure their child against EYFS they need to put it in writing, so you can show Ofsted, but observations are good practice to assess general outcomes for the child and I think you would be hard pushed to get away without doing them.

A way to get around it would be to take photos of their work/creations and/or just their hands doing something. You would need to sit with parents and work out the boundries. Back of heads? Hands? etc

Photos are not the only way of making observations and parents may refuse you permission to take photos. But you still must make observations and assessments on the children in your care unless you are exempt from the operation of the EYFS in toto.

The lady said all observations not just the photographic ones.

If a parent doesn't want you to do them then she said you shouldn't as you don't have their permission.

i know i thought it sounded odd too

I don't see how you can look after a child without observing them (ie to notice they need their nappy changed). She must have meant no assessment, or measuring, but worded it badly ... I hope!

And she is wrong as its a legal requirement. Parents using Registered Childcare can submit an exemption request for the parts of the EYFS they disagree with BUT its a lengthy process and very few requests are approved.
Yes they can refuse to give permission for photos but you still have to observe & monitor their progress abd they effectively give consent for this by placing their child in registered childcare. Nasty!

I also thought you had to go through process for being exempt but I do know one childminder here who had a couple of parents write letters to say they didn't want the obs etc. and the inspector said that was fine.

Poorly informed inspectors maybe? As far as I am aware the law on this has not changed & I'm sure we would have heard about it with bells on if it had as we'd all be rushing to our parents with templated letters asking them to refuse permission to observe & record lol

I agree with ChildrenatHeart. A letter from parents does not exempt the childcare provider from following the EYFS framework. I second CaH's contention that the inspector is ill informed.

I agree with you both, just passing on what this stupid inspector said. She said that as long as she was observing them and she clearly was, that was fine. Another case of one inspector saying one thing, another saying another!!