Environmental health???

[Bonkerz]

I have just been registered with ofsted as a childminder. When I was going through the process my development officer told me I needed to ring env health to see if I should register. I did this and had a visit to inspect my kitchen. At the time I planned to provide food. Te inspector said I needed to fulfill two criteria which means spending about £200 on my (new) kitchen. As I can't do this till I'm earning I rang the officer and told him I would not provide food and parents would now supply I would only serve. Apparently I still need to register and pass the inspection. I'm now at a loss as inspector has said I can't serve food but my minded children have to eat!

What do they want you to do to the kitchen?

What works are required?

A loan of some sort? Or sell something, maybe. It's work you need doing to start earning.

What do they want you to do?I have an old kitchen and I didn't have to make any changes

Apparently my tiles are porous and need painting and I need to fix my extractor fan but it's completely busted and will
Mean a whole new hood unit. I'm not even providing food. Parents will send food in a lunchbox!!!!

Seal the tiles with a tile sealant - cam be bought cheaply from b&q etc.
I would question the extractor fan tbh as if you're not preparing food why would you need it, and also it's not a required bit of kit it's an extra so whether it's working or not should make no difference. What about a kitchen where one isn't fitted? I'm sure you have a window to provide ventilation if necessary?

Call them back to query it and also ask their advice on which sealant they would recommend for the tiles.

I have spoken to the inspector. He is very strict that these things need to be done. The tile thing I can manage. The fan unit I cannot. I'm already minding. I emailed him two weeks ago saying I was no longer offering food and he emailed back saying that's fine. Then an email out of the blue states I am still expected to correct the criteria. Thing is no other childminders in my area have had to be inspected for just serving food.

Will you be reheating or cutting up any food provided by parents? Heating milk?

Taken from London Borough of Merton's website:

Circumstances when you don?t need to be registered
If all you do is the following then you don?t need to be registered:

a) Provide mains drinking water.
b) Provide crockery and cutlery for use by children to eat their own packed lunches.
c) Provide chilled storage for packed lunches that belong to the children.
d) Occasionally assist children with cutting up their own food in response to individual need rather than as an established service.
e) Occasionally provide food that is not part of the normal service (e.g. a cake to celebrate a child?s birthday or provision of food where a parent/guardian has been delayed).
f) Operate in the child's own home and serving food that belongs to the child's parent/guardian e.g. nannies or home childcarers.

*Melton Borough Council.

I'm an EHO btw, and if you meet the criteria in the post above then I'd tell your EHO to do one....

I am in Scotland and was checked against FSA ask him what standard he is coming from and to provide you with a copy.

BONKERZ, all sounds very ott. Email or write to him asking for confirmation on what standard/criteria you are being measured against. If the only 2 things you are being asked to correct are the tiles and the extractor fan, I would seal the tiles as suggested above and question the justification for needing it to be repaired.

An extractor can be a health issue if not kept clean as it collects dust, dirt, grease etc. but surely this is the case whether it's working or not?