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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Where do you keep your door keys when minding?

23 replies

saltire · 18/03/2011 11:06

Just been told by an inspector that
"you shouldn't keep your key in the lock as a child could unlock the door and get out (depsite their being a gate on living room door into hall), and keep it somewher eout of reach too so they can't reach it. And always keep your door locked"

So, despite beign told once by a fireman that the best place to keep your keys is int eh door so you cna get out easily if you ahve to, OFSTED say I have to have them out of sight, and door locked at all times.

They stay in lock, door locked. Stairgate on living room door into hall, on door from porch into hallway, at bottom step, top step etc.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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DooinMeCleanin · 18/03/2011 11:08

I'm not a CM but I do have Houdini reincarnate for a daughter. I hammered a nail into the wall by the front door, about 6ft up the wall. I hang my keys on that. Dd2 has yet to find a way to reach them.

looneytune · 18/03/2011 11:18

My parents did similar thing at home when we were teenagers (so we could lock the door but without the key being in (otherwise the person trying to get in couldn't).

In answer to OP, I keep my keys in a basket in my lounge, on a shelf by the lounge door. The lounge door has a high up lock on and this door leads to the tiny porch/front door and downstairs loo.

I see both sides of this but one thing I will say is Ofsted aren't always right (I think you know about my 6 month fight with them but I won! ).

Can I ask what an inspector was doing there? Is this a stupid complaint, an inspection or something else?

Clumsymum · 18/03/2011 11:23

I do wonder about these inspections. I remember my childminder getting her wrist slapped during an inspection, because there was a bottle of wine (not opened) standing in the corner at the back of her kitchen work surface (well out of childrens reach). It was the one she had bought for that evenings dinner.

Original poster

saltire · 18/03/2011 11:26

looney - stupid complaint. it was funny though as they tried to "surprise" me, but because I live on a military base they couldn't get in, and ahd to go to guardroom and get them to ring me,

Just my off her head neighbour shit stirring again

OP posts:

Original poster

saltire · 18/03/2011 11:27

clumsy - the Care Commission once told me off for having bottles of wine and beer in the locked (key kept on hook up high)shed at front door. Apparently I mgiht ahve given it to the children

OP posts:

MrsRhettButler · 18/03/2011 11:28

when i did my training i was told to keep a set of keys on a nail up high by the front and back doors

TwistAndShout · 18/03/2011 13:07

I've got keys to all the doors on hooks by the doors out of children's reach. As much about knowing exactly where they are if there was a fire or something as anything.

However, I should point out I'm new to childminding and following the rules closely to cover my own back!

BoysAreLikeDogs · 18/03/2011 13:09

yy mine are on high hook too, front and back

looneytune · 18/03/2011 14:00

Saltire - if you've been set an action and aren't happy, appeal/complaint to Ofsted. If you have an action, your complaint will be on file for the world to see (even though did nothing wrong). Remember I had a few STUPID actions because of the nut case that came for my silly complaints but they all got dropped and I got an apology I have so much confidence in myself now that Ofsted know not to push me!! LOL If the Fire officers told you the best place was in the door then you could argue that point (doesn't stop you from changing where it is if you prefer to at a later date).

Sorry about your complaint, it's crazy how much this stuff happens to us :(

HSMM · 18/03/2011 16:20

I have a high hook by the door

onceinabluemoon · 18/03/2011 17:50

My keys stay in the lock but I have a bolt at the top of the door

Tanith · 18/03/2011 19:07

In my pocket - I'd never find them otherwise

PositiveOutlook · 19/03/2011 08:28

My door is never locked but I do have an audible contact alarm which I turn on when the children are present. I would not be happy keeping the door locked, what if there were an emergency and I was injured or unconscious? When we do our evacuation drill we discuss such scenarios.

HSMM · 19/03/2011 09:13

PositiveOutlook - you are right. When I worked on my own, I used to have in my policies that if I was unconscious the children would not be able to get out of the house (unless the older children were there in the holidays). However ... they are in the safest room in the house in the event of fire (the conservatory). The children were shown where the panic alarm was, because our neighbours are retired and always home and have keys.

Now I work with my DH, it is not a problem (unlikely that we would run into each other and knock each other out)

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/03/2011 09:26

i would have thought on a high hook on wall by door makes sense

anewyear · 19/03/2011 15:21

Mine are also on high hooks by the front and back and french doors.

SKYTVADDICT · 19/03/2011 15:26

Up high on stick on hooks by the front and patio doors.

Also have my emergency escape whistle hanging by the front door too - hope the fire isn't in the hall .

supersewer · 19/03/2011 17:17

does that mean I have to get rid of my lovely, trendy wine rack?!

Am waiting to be registered.

thebody · 20/03/2011 19:26

well I have a wine rack.. (am cm )..who doesnt.. and imo children need to understand what they can touch and what they cant... they arent allowed into the kitchen area anyway unless with me.. have locks on the door.. I keep keys up on shelf out of reach..

I think we all have to understand that by totally baby profing our houses we are taking away the need to teach children what is acceptable behaviour and what is not.

my mindees know that my sofa isnt a play area and my ornaments arent to be broken... thats what I taught my own kids.. dare I say its respect!!!!

as for the bottle of wine on the kitchen surface.. whats wrong with that?? how bloody silly.. children need to be taught that actually not everything is for them to explore or touch and that when they go home, or to bed, Mummy and Daddy do things that they arnt involved in.. end of....

HSMM · 20/03/2011 20:33

I agree with thebody. I do however include my alcohol stash in my risk assessment.

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 20/03/2011 21:57

I was told by mine to keep my doors unlocked at all times when minding and had to put chains on my both my doors. And to keep the chains on, so that in case of a fire etc there is no rushing about looking for keys as you could just unchain the door and voila!

Personally i think my CCO is talking crap and i havent done what he has said. lol I would be more scared that my doors unlocked would be a hazard, as everyone in the local area knows i am a cm and if they wanted to i know just about anyone could kick my unlocked door in if it only had a chain on.

looneytune · 21/03/2011 12:14

My Early Years rep has been over this morning and I asked her about this...........she said as you can't cover both issues then it's best to make sure kids CAN'T get out of the house as that is the bigger risk as much less likely I'll be unconcious somewhere. She said it was fine to put that on my risk assessment.

HSMM · 22/03/2011 18:48

Wow! Sounds like I got something right (in our LA anyway)

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