OFSTED are coming on wednesday for my registration visit!

[LoveMyGirls]

im not sure what i need? should i arrange for my 3 month old not to be here or is it best to have her here? should i already have my profile done? thanks

Good Stuff! I am in Scotland and i'm waiting on my first visit from the Care Commision, I'm hoping to be registered by March, I have most of my Policies and Procedures printed out, but like you I will have my two kids around when they visit, so no I wouldn't have her out the house! Good Luck and let me know how you get on!

i need to write my policies is there any chance you can me titles of everything i need to include? i also need to be registered by march, by feb would be nice because then i could have a month to advertise before my mat pay runs out.

what do i do about the house, i have cupboard locks, the place is clean and i have a range of toys what else do i need?

Don't go mad and buy lots of equipment straight away, but draw up a wish list of things that you will need. This shows the inspector that you have thought about what to do in certain situations. i.e highchairs, fire guards etc.

should i do a menu plan - hard to do when u dont know the age ranges though, my two are 6 and 3mth perhaps i could do an eg of what i give my dd?

I agree with Icemum about not buying specific equipment or extra toys until you know how old your first mindee would be, but obviously try to be aware of what you might need (age-appropriate car seats? reins/wrist straps?) to demonstrate to the inspector that you've thought about it.

Do you have to have policies actually completed for this inspection?

You need to be aware of having written permission from parents for lots of things - going out, taking mindees in car, seeking emergency medical treatment etc. I don't think you would have to have this all written up properly, but write lists!!

You will need business rate insurance for your car if you use it - you can tell inspector you know this.

I don't think you'd have to have a proper menu plan done (that can be another item on your list!) but you can tell inspector how important providing healthy, nutritious meals/snacks is.

I think it's so scary for newly-registering minders - there is so much that it seems that you have to do, but the main part is just being aware that (ideally) you have to work towards some of these goals.

I work as a mentor for newly-registering minders, and the best piece of advice I would give is to try and relax! The inspector isn't looking to trip you up!! Good luck.

Titles of policies, something like:

Welcome to my home
Mission Statement
Terms and Conditions
Partnership with parents
Equal Opps
Managing Behaviour
Emergency Procedure
Sickness and Administering Medication
Food
Child Protection
Health and Safety
Confidentiality
Lost Child
Comments/Complaints

Probably missed some out!

I did a menu plan and this went down well

good luck for your Registration visit on Wednesday

thanks for your help, the policies list will come in very useful and TP its nice to know im not the only one feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.
i already have business use on my car insurance (didnt cost anything either which suprised me)
have written lots of lists it does seem like theres loads to do my head is swimming! i think it would be nice if i can get my portfolio done in time any ideas for what i could include?

i this know type of thread has been done to death no doubt and i am slowly working my way htrough old threads but any info or advice would be great

just a quick one,
you will need a register for parents to sign in/out time collected/ who collects/visitors to the home also noted on this register....
a menu is a very good idea

Was just wondering how long it took from when you applied to when ofstead contacted you? I applied about 6 weeks ago but havent had my home visit date yet? Should i be worried?

chatee - what do you mean about having a register for parents to sign in/out etc? I write down the actual time mindees arrive and leave, but I don't ask parents to sign anything.

i sent my application on the 12th dec, if i were you i would ring them and chase it. it is nerve racking i am so worried about getting everything sorted in time i need to be able to advertise by feb ideally and i dont even want to think about what will happen if they turn me down.

The Prisoner - the parents should sign and write the time to protect you - it's a CP thing (you could just write any time - if they have to sign it has to be accurate)

Katymac - I already write down when mindees actually arrive and leave, but have never been told parents should sign anything. OFSTED were amazed that I did this in the first place (this was a long time ago!) as most minders didn't know they were supposed to (but I'd heard it through the grapevine from a minder who'd been picked up on it during their inspection). Having parents sign for this is a new one on me, and it's not something I've heard about anyone else doing in my area.

These poor parents will go nuts if I start asking them to sign for this as well!! Some time ago, one of my mindees was dropped off at some group we were attending, which was being organised by Social Services, network group, etc. The mum said, in front of All The Important People, to give Calpol if her dds teeth started causing a problem - I said that I ought to have written permission for this first (very tongue in cheek as I knew exactly how the mum would react). She dutifully laughed and told me to "bog off" and raced off to work.

If they were due a to go at 5 and mum picked up at 4.30, then had an accident.......you would be responsible??unless you had evidence that they weren't there (in an extremem case)

For the Calpol I have one of those use anytime NCMA forms for all the kids

In my records, I write down the time they arrived and the time they left. In brackets, I write down their contracted hours (in case I forget when doing bills!).

If mindee is picked up at 4.30pm, but due to be picked up at 5.00pm - my bill will still charge till 5.00pm, but my records will show that they were collected at 4.30pm. This is, from the sound of it, exactly what you do? I can imagine my parents being really impressed if I have to start asking them to sign this on a daily basis if they don't arrive on the dot!!

Haven't seen these NCMA forms you've mentioned. Can you use them for giving "more serious" medication if you are using your own judgement about it rather than something which is given on a regular basis? (eg. asthma)

Yep - but in a legal situation you would nly have you word for it.....my way the parents write time and inital when they drop off and collect

The forms are in the NCMA accident & medication book (at the front) they just sign and put 5ml calpol (or ibufrofen) and put as necessary or when the c/mer feels necessary (and provide the calpol)

I charge like you.....contracted hrs

Much as I agree with you about covering our own backs when it comes to ensuring our position if ever there was an allegation made of abuse, I am really fed-up that someone even had to think up some of these rules!!! The thought of standing in my hallway doing a written-and-signed roll call as the children march in really irks me.

The minder who first told me about having to record the exact drop-off/pick-up times had the OFSTED inspector explain to her that if the child was seen being smacked, for example, at 8.05am on the minder's driveway, and it was reported by a passer-by, then the minder would be seen as being the "guilty" party if she had written down 8.00am (as the contracted time), even if it was a parent dropping off. Just how utterly ridiculous it that really!!

I did make enquiries about it at the time to see whether this could actually be the case, and was assured that it was. Assuming that the passer-by would be able to identify who had done the smacking, I would jolly well hope that somebody would see sense and not shove the "responsibility" onto the minder.

It reminds me that I'm sure there was discussion on another thread a while back about recording the times you collect children from school - my minded children come out in dribs and drabs up to 10 minutes after the bell has gone. There wouldn't be anyone to sign my register then to prove that they weren't in my care. Ooooh, I'm getting all hot about red tape!!

Sorry, LoveMyGirls, will calm down now ...

Nice to see two sides to it

what are the chances of me being turned down im getting really worried i havent got a criminal record and i do like looking after kids but im just stressed incase she thinks im not good enough.......it'll be just my luck that my gorgeous contented baby will play me up for the first time in her life just because ofsted are here - eeeek so excited and scared!

Lovemygirls, the inspector wont come to your house expecting to trip you up and fail you!!

Yes she does need to find out if you are a suitable person but also will point out and advise you about things that you have not thought about.

As for you DD playing you up, My DD3 then aged 3 decided it would be a good idea to go into the kitchen, get undressed and parade back into the living room totally naked infront of the inspector!!

Don't worry about the inspection you will be fine. (says she who came out in the most horrendous nervous rash on her hands!)

I think you'd have to be doing something horrendously awful to be refused registration. If your house really wasn't seen as safe enough, then you'd be told.

All childminders struggle during their inspections when even the most even-tempered of children will create a revolution. It is a fact of life!

They don't like it if you make "jokes" about anything to do with child abuse, smacking etc. etc. They sometimes ask how you feel about working parents - so don't say anything negative about that either!

And put the kettle on.

ok i think it is starting to come together i have written some of my policies they need adding to but im getting there i have fitted all cupboard locks and made sure things like shampoo, cleaning fluids etc are all stored away. i have written a laflet that parents can take home with them that gives them a good idea of the service i provie it also has details of my website and telephone. i have got my paperwork together and sorted out a few toys and books as well as a creative box (inc paints, crayons, felts, tissue paper, glitter etc) all thats left to do is cleaing the house and finishing my policies thanks for your help girls fingers crossed for wednesday!

Does anyone know how long it takes to get a decision, also has anyone had to give permission for all of their medical records to be sent off to ofsted? im worried because they have requested them and i did have bad PND 6 years ago and i tried to overdose and had to see a counsellor im hoping it wont make them turn me down.

That last bit really makes me look bad when i read it back.