Does anyone else do Childcare on Domestic Premises?

[KatyMac]

I'm having a hiccup

OFSTED say we can only be CDP when we have 4 adults; but the rules say there must be 2 adults on the premises

So can I use the CDP ratios when there are 2 or 3 of us working?

I believe that, it's two adults for one persons ratio or for one child. Although You can have four adults in ratio. It just drives you crazy, doesn't it. They
have always drove me crazy since they started. Hope it all works out.

NCMA page. if you open the questions and answers link, number 19 says there must be at least 2 members of staff on duty at any time.

That suggests that you can still be CDP when there are only 2 of you ???

(off to look some more)

But can we have
1 adult:4 2-3yos
1 adult:3

That's what I thought HSMM

Ofsted factsheet. if you open this fact sheet, on page 3 it says :

'If you are registered to provide childcare on domestic premises, perhaps because on some days of the week there are four or more people working together, you will normally keep this registration for all the times you provide childcare, even when there may be fewer than four people working together. '

Which also suggests that when there are only 2 or 3 of you working you are CDP

If we want to be?

I mean we can be childminders when we want but CDP gives us flexibility with ratios

We are 2 CMs and can have up to 4 < 5 each with our variations (normally 3 each), so I would have thought your numbers would be OK. Anyway ... I think Ofsted's sheet (dated Jan 2012 by the way) says your registration is the same and therefore that should mean the same ratios.

How much space do you need for childcare on domestic premises? Can it be done in just a normal house?

It's the same as for childminding & nurseries, so 3.5 for babies, then 2.5 & 2.7 for older ones

Or is there a 2.3 - I can't remember now

If your registering as a domestic childcare and not a childminder, you must have the registered person, plus three others. If at the end of the day or at the beginning or if due to low numbers of children on some days,you can continue to have this registration with less staff.But if there your numbers, and you want this registration. You have to have four of you. It says you will normally keep this registration, if there is less than four staff on some days.

I already hold dual registration but don't really use it

Why does it say 2 people on site if you can't work like that?

I already hold dual registration but don't really use it

Hmmm, that doesn't appear to be how Ofsted intend it to work - it seems that registrations are not intended to overlap, so there are certain times/days when you must have 2 adults, 1 qualified etc. on the premises, and at other times you don't need that but can only use CM ratios.

They (OFSTED) know I use it on a random basis if the parents need me in an emergency

I'm just trying to work out if I can use it with 2 or 3 people to increase my ratios temporarily

If they are allowing that it would appear to be an unusual exception to the normal conditions of registration (which are as I say that at any particular time you are either one or the other) so it seems reasonable that they can attach additional unusual conditions too.

It seems that the exception has created a loophole that allows two people to care for more children than would be allowed under the normal conditions of registration: I am sure that was not the intention of granting the registration, so I think that you have two choices:

• accept the additional condition
• accept that they will not renew the two registrations on the same terms

We don't overlap at all; we are either one or the other (we have a notice which tells us what we are )

I was just wondering about the at least 2 people working at a time thing......it mentions in the Q&A bit

If you have to go to hospital with one child, do you have an emergency assisstant, this might be away of getting the registration. It's just any idea to put forward to ofsted. Plus an agency that you can call for assistants or employ 2 other people for lunchtime cover. ( 11.30 - 1.30). Therefore if needed you can extend their hours. I have know idea whether they would except that. But I would ask!, it's just a couple of ideas. Goodluck!

The Q and As apply to a standard registration which would show on your certificates (for example) that between 8am and 4pm you are registered as CDP and after 4pm as a childminder(s). In this case then between 8am and 4pm, if you don't have enough children to need 4 staff then you don't need to have 4 staff.

If Ofsted have given you something unusual which says that you can 'switch on' your CDP registration whenever you want to provide 'emergency' child care for additional children, you can't say 'but the normal conditions of registration are X, Y and Z and I want all of those conditions plus this extra one too', you have to accept what is on offer (or negotiate - not demand - a better offer).