How do I find Childminders contact details from Ofsted report?

[car25]

Having searched the Ofsted reports as a starting point in my search for a local childminder, how do I get the contact details from the Ofsted reference number. I phoned the local authority childcare service (can't remember what it is called) and they said due to Data protection they couldn't give me that information, although they could give me a list of contact details for childminders in my area.

Is there anyway to find out which ofsted report relates to which childminder, without having to ring all the childminders to ask them?

Thanks for any advice you are able to give.

hi there car, maybe this site will get you on track

\link{http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk}

Sorry if this dosent work.....not good with these links

I don't think you can Car25

This is one of the reason a lot of C/Mers weren't too keen on their reports going on OFSTED

If you like a report I don't think you can "find" that perticular C/Mer

But I could be wrong

I vaguely remember being told that there were ways and means of being able to find a childminder by giving the Childrens Information Service the reference number??? I'm really unsure about it though, as the conversation we were having (a boring meeting) was more to do with how we would want to find out who the minders were who had low-graded reports (from a nosy point-of-view).

The Childrens Information Service would probably be able to answer your question though (and OFSTED of course).

This is from the Ofsted site.

'To protect childminders' privacy, the reports and registration conditions published here do not show their names and addresses. You will be able to find reports about childminders in your area by searching by your postcode. If you want to know which childminder from your local area a report is about, or if you want details of childminders in your area, you will need to contact your Children's Information Service (CIS) ? Childcarelink will provide details of your local CIS. You can call Childcarelink on 08000 96 02 96, or visit its website at www.childcarelink.gov.uk. However, please note that your local CIS will only be able to tell you about childminders who have agreed to their details being passed on.'

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Thanks for all your replies, I have tried the Childrens Information Service/Childcare Link and they were the people who told me that due to Data Protection they couldn't tell me who the reports were for (although they did provide me with a list of childminders with contact phone numbers, surely this is a data protection issue too???). I would have been quite happy to leave my phone number with them for them to give to the Childminders to call me.

Guess I'll have to ring all the Childminders on the list provided in my area and ask them for their ofsted reference number, and hope that the childminders with good ofsted reports that I have been reading are still childminders! The trouble with this list provided is it lists only childminders that have immediate vacancies, I would be prepared to wait for a vacancy for my choice of childminder.

I didn't realise it would be so difficult!

If you look at the Childcare Link website you will be able to see the whole list of minders. Not every childminder is listed on as it's our choice as to whether or not we are shown online, but I think most people are listed.

HTH

Its a real pain, my sister has had the same trouble. Like you she looked up local childminders using Ofsted's website, read the reports and liked some of the ones she read. But then struggled to get in touch with them.

Why don't childminders see their work as being a REAL business? Nursreies and Pre-Schools are listed by Ofsted and in directories such as Yellow Pages. Yellow Pages lists some childminders... but not many. I know that Ofsted did argue that it was to protect children, but in reality I don't think that is a concern as the premises should be suitably secure anyway. If it was a major concern, you'd find nurseries withholding their address as well, wouldn't you?

Roll on the day when you can look up full details about ALL childcare providers, instead of having to go on a wild goose hunt via CIS.

I'm listed all over the internet (believe me! ) but I couldn't justify the costs of listing myself in the paper directory like Yellow Pages (on yell.com though) as the costs are very high. It's different for nurseries etc as they have lots more children to take on but we have a limit as to how many children we can have (obviously) and it's just not worth the money for the odd person who may look for a childminder in the yellow pages. I do pay for adverts in post offices, newsagents etc. but the yellow pages adverts aren't cheap. That's probably why not as many people advertise this way.

Oh yeah, and I do see my business as REAL

jothorpe I treat my business as REAL and dont know of many childminders that dont.
Nurseries and Preschools etc all have a capital layout at the beginning of their business set up and are more 'bulk' as Helly said. As a childminder first setting up costcan be quite high. making your house safe and secure as well as having toys etc in accordance to OFSTED rules. And all this cost is taken on by the childminder personally .
So therefore costly advertising like the yellow pages or yell.com is not an option and most childminders choose to advertise locally and in schools libraries etc.

Sorry for hijack car25

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If you request a list of minders from the Childrens Info Service for minders in your particular area/town, they will send you the list of ALL the minders if you want it.

Even though there is a list with "immediate vacancies" available, I always think that these are a bit of a problem - if I have a space available in 6 months time (older one perhaps going to school), then I'm technically not "immediately available", but it's plenty soon enough for someone who's just had a baby and wants childcare later. It also doesn't take account that some of us may have part-time spaces, or could accommodate schoolchildren. Lots of childminders I know don't get themselves put on the "immediate vacancies" list even if they have a full-time under 5s space either.

I know alibubbles, I'm on them, was talking about the directories in our homes (paper ones)

Message withdrawn

Oh the little monkeys - I had them call me to try and sell some space recently and the charges were really high. I said I was online and they did the sales pitch about being in the book. Hopefully I'll be in the next one then - they should be getting delivered soon as a note came through our door looking for people to deliver them!