CM's Assistant

[carrotandcoriander]

Hi, I just have a quick q. If a childminder is employing an assistant (who is not a registered childminder), is the assistant allowed to be unsupervised with the children, eg, the childminder picks up children from one school, whilst the assistant picks up children at another, or the assistant stays at home with some children whilst the childminder goes out on the school run?

I think so , as long as she is registrred as having an assistant

My dh is my assistant and he's allowed to do this for 'short periods of time' as long as all agreed in writing from the parents. This is all clearly mentioned on my certificate.

If you are concerned about a CM then you can have a look at their certificate online (if can't see on display at their setting, which it should be)

Thanks, I'm asking on behalf of a friend, so I'll let her know, she hasn't said if the certificate is on show. Would the certificate be current, or is it only updated every Ofsted inspection? And would variations be on the certificate too?

The certificate has to be on show (the idea being probably so parents would be able to look whenever they wanted without having to ask). The certificate should be the latest one they have, the only thing that I guess could happen is someone could no longer be registered but use the one they had? Any variations would be on there too. Would it help to see an example? Mine is full of bits and refers to assistant and standard variations on my own too, I'm happy to link it if that helps (most people already know who I am in real life now so nothing to hide ). As for picking up from other schools........obviously the assistant should have business insurance for the children going in a car they are driving.

Seeing an example would be very helpful, thank you! But even if the CM wasn't displaying the latest one, it would be the latest one online, right? We just tried to look on the Ofsted website for her certificate, but don't know her "Unique Reference Number", so friend is going to have to see if certificate is on display tomorow, so she can memorize code and we can look online together! Thing is, if the certificate wasn't on display, by asking to see it kind of implies she doesn't trust the CM/is unhappy in some way, don't you think?

Could she have had a query from tax credits & just need her EY no?

Ok, this is mine here. As for not knowing the EY number, have you tried a postcode search? Sometimes the details mentioned in the write up in an inspection report can help (i.e. they live in such and such village with X children and Y pets)? Failing that, if she wants to find out the EY number without asking the CM, she could call Ofsted and ask? I asked them for the EY number for our school a little while ago and they emailed it back. If she wants to email them instead of call, it's [email protected]

Hope that helps :)

Oh clever Katy!!! Yes, that would be a bog standard good reason to ask for her EY number!!!

Thank you so much for your help. We've managed to find the report online (due to some major sleuthing using looney technique!), it doesn't have the clause that yours has, looneytune, that you "may leave an assistant alone with children for short periods of time providing...". Does that mean she shouldn't? Also it says when not with an assistant she "may care for no more than 6 children under 8 years; of these, not more than 3 may be in the early years age group", but she actually has 4 under 5s at any one time, how likely is it that the Ofsted website isn't up to date?

Mine says no more than 3 in the early years age group and then further down it says I have a variation for 4.

The Ofsted website should be up to date. My certificates have always shown exactly the same information on website and paper (and believe me my certificates are changing nearly every month at the moment!)

Well done

In answer to your questions......

1. HSMM is right, it SHOULD update overnight on the night they make any amendment (note mine was updated on Monday as my son turned 8)

2. That bit of writing......I'm not sure but I don't understand why I'd have it and another wouldn't but be ok? I'd definitely question it if not on the certificate

3. She has 4 under 5s but not a variation on certificate - only reason I can see for this being OK is if a) one of them is at full time school therefore although only 4, they are classed as outside of the Early Years age group or b) if one of these under 5s is her own (as our own children are not included in the numbers on our certificates therefore they are on top of those numbers).

HTH :)

HSMM - it doesn't say further down that there's a variation, but I can see on loonytune's what one looks like.

Looneytune - Friend forgot to look at the certificate today, but she said that sometimes the CM has friend's 2yo dd and 3 other pre-schoolers (all 4 and under) for a full day when the assistant isn't there - they haven't started school yet. The CM doesn't have any dc.

Don't think this is relevant but I'm just curious, is the "early years age group" between 0-4 or 0-5?

Hmmm, sounds dodgy to me!

As for Early Years age group - this is basically any children who are not yet in FULL TIME education. This does NOT include those who do a full day at preschool i.e. a 3 year old could go all day every day and need care after but this child would be in the EY age group.