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Original poster

CMs - do you get your parents to sign your attendance register?

29 replies

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 26/03/2012 07:23

Some of my fellow childminders do and some don't. Do you get parents to sign? I have heard conflicting information as to what OFSTED expect/ want.

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wishiwasonholiday · 26/03/2012 07:48

I don't but I made my own out of a calendar as I didn't like the layout if the ncma one. I've had 2 malicious complaints and they didn't check it either time and at my inspection they never mentioned it not being signed. Think you'd get a different answer depending who you speak to.

Flisspaps · 26/03/2012 08:12

Nope. I did at first at the end of the week but it was a faff.

Some minders record attendance in their diary or electronically so it would be hard to get parents to sign those. The requirement is simply to accurately record attendance (to the minute), it is good practice to get parents to sign (and a form of arse covering IMO) but not required.

LesbianMummy1 · 26/03/2012 08:33

It is not a legal requirement. Ofsted will never check if a parent has signed (And i have asked for an email confirming this which I have). Some people feel it's best practice but as flisspaps says not all registers can be signed

KatyMac · 26/03/2012 08:35

OFSTED can & do check - they did for me

& I have to record when DH is in the house as well (he is a childminder but not working currently)

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 26/03/2012 09:22

Thanks, everyone. Maybe erring on the side of caution with OFSTED is the way to go.

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looneytune · 26/03/2012 10:56

I don't as whether or not Ofsted check, it is NOT a legal requirement and thanks to some run fights with Ofsted, I have much more confidence to stick up for myself if one particular inspector kicks off about something! Wink

ChildrenAtHeart · 26/03/2012 12:24

The only legal requirement is to keep an accurate record/register of each child's attendance showing their name, arrival & departure times (to the minute), and a record of any adults working with the children (ie co-childminder, assistant) with their start/finish times.
Anything else you do is over & above the legal requirement & is done for your own benefit if you want to do it eg getting parent's to sign in & out can be used as proof of hours if there is a dispute over fees or if you are accused of injuring a child or other incident when they weren't with you.
If an Ofsted inspector tells you parents should sign challenge them & ask where it states this in the EYFS or any other legal framework that governs childminders. They won't be able to show you cos it isn't there! However, it is considered in many quarters to be good practice.
I don't get parents to sign & have 2 Outstandings with the inspector looking at my register on both occasions

DeepThought · 26/03/2012 17:34

yes record accurate times ie 8 32 to 5 36, sigs not a requirement

ofsted checked my reg at last inspection, but did not comment on the non-signatures. I use my own created one. It has names dates times attended.

Outstanding at last inspection.

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 26/03/2012 17:39

i just get the parents to initial times/days at the end of each week

our register sits in the hall by the front door

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 26/03/2012 18:41

So we cannot even round up to the nearest 5 minutes? This is so daft. Do preschools, reception classes and nurseries also have to record attendances to the minute?

Angry
OP posts:
DeepThought · 26/03/2012 18:47

no don't round up, that is not accurate and you may be picked up on it

no idea about other settings

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 26/03/2012 18:50

Okay, thanks, Deepthought.

Does anyone else know about other settings?

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HSMM · 27/03/2012 08:09

I always think that getting the timings accurate to the minute is a bit misleading. Is that the minute the parent rings the doorbell, or the minute we shut the door behind them? These times could be at least 10 mins apart!

I haven't got parents to sign my register for the last 12 years and I have never been pulled up on it.

I know our local pre school never got parents to sign the attendance register, they always have someone on the door noting children in and out.

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 27/03/2012 08:34

HSMM, I would guess that the timing would be when the child left your premises. But then is it over the threshhold, off the property, into the parent's car???
All very unclear, innit?

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Flisspaps · 27/03/2012 10:21

I log the arrival time as when I open the door, and the leaving time as when I close it.

ElizabethDarcy · 27/03/2012 13:11

I had my inspection yesterday and this was checked and commented on... I time to the minute, NO rounding up... parents sign too. It's good practice.

looneytune · 27/03/2012 19:01

I log time as per when the child is in my care (sometimes a parent may stay and chat for 20 mins but they aren't in my care any more so I've logged them out). I know we SHOULD do the nearest minute but I find that isn't accurate anyway as no matter how hard I try, my mobile always runs too fast and so the time on that differs from my clock at home. Anyway, I do it to whatever clock I'm looking at at the time.

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 27/03/2012 19:10

Thanks again for all the additional replies and your hot off the press info, ElizabethDarcy!

Looney, I agree with you, I think - once the parents take over, then the child is in their care. But then it could be queried: who is in charge when the parents and children are in your home?

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HSMM · 27/03/2012 20:11

My policies clearly state that when parents are there,I am no longer responsible for the child - they are.

Original poster
Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 28/03/2012 07:30

HSMM, how do you deal with the children if they play up or misbehave and the parent does nothing? Do you step in or do you ask the parent to manage the child's behaviour?

It is such a difficult time for childminders when the parents collect. My children on the whole behave themselves but sometimes there are incidents that call for intervention!

OP posts:
HSMM · 28/03/2012 08:00

I step in if the child is damaging anything or the parent is obviously struggling. I tell parents I am quite happy to play bad cop when their children play up.

anewyear · 28/03/2012 09:12

In my house once the parents arrive to pick the children they are responsible,
However, I have no qualms stepping in and asking the children to behave, get shoes/coat on etc if it appears they dont want to leave/do as they are asked..lol

My house, My rules Grin

ayla99 · 28/03/2012 13:17

I log the arrival time as when I open the door, not when parents leave as this is the time I have started working. If you log when they leave you with sole care of their child, your record may not show if the parent is arriving earlier than contracted.

Unless I need to step in immediately for safety, I give the parent a moment to deal with any unwanted behaviour first. If the parent does nothing or the child ignores them I will then step in.

poppiesmom · 03/04/2012 16:46

It depends on what you have in your policies and procedures surly... I used to get parents to sign... half the time they were to busy... so i amended my p & p to say that i signed them in and out in a daily diary... i would honestly recomened it to protect yourself if nothing else...

thebody · 04/04/2012 13:33

No don't get parents to sign as want them to take children and just go home.

Mindee Angels can turn to devils at pik up time so I have them ready to go as soon as parent at the door, all info in daily diary do don't need to chat.

If bad behaviour my house my rules and I tell them off.