ofsted and pet policys... any advice!!!!

[boo70]

Hi Ofsted want me to include a pet policy in my porfolio, has any one got any ideas what i can put in it. Thanks

This is mine - I am about to amend it to add two guinea-pigs!

We own a friendly family dog who has her own space in our house and her own garden area which is not used by children.

She is a family pet and, although not allowed entry at any time in the playroom or in the children?s gated garden, will often be in supervised proximity to children in our home.

She is fully inoculated and all hands are always washed after petting her.

Parents/carers will be requested to sign a permission form stating that they are aware of our pet?s presence in our home and that they give their permission for their child/children to pet our family dog

1. List of animals on the premises:- (and any other info eg, dog is not allowed in playroom.)

[I currently do not own any animals but would advise parents before acquiring any]

2. Visiting animals

[From time to time, pets belonging to our relatives/neighbours may visit the property or I may look after other people's animals while they are on holiday] List of animals and any other info.

3. Outings

From time to time we may visit places where animals may be present, eg farm, zoo.

4. My child has no known allergies or aversions to birds, fishes, insects or other animals.
   OR My child is allergic/has an aversion* to the following animals:

5. I have no objections to animals visiting the Childminder's property and I give permission for the Childminder to take the Child to premises where animals are present.

Children are never left unattended with animals.

I don't have a pet policy as such and OFSTED didn't ask me for one on their inital visit. My 'about me' information states the following:

We have two pet Labradors who are very good with children, but nevertheless, they are outside in a secure kennel and run during the day. Peter Rabbit also lives with us and is very used to being handled.

I haven't had my first inspection yet though, as I have only just got my mindees! I'm sure it will be soon, do they require a Pet Policy or is boo70's the only officer to ask for one?

Hmmm, this is Ofsted being Ofsted again!! I've not heard of anyone having to have a pet policy before.

boo70, I'm assuming your Inspector said this as a suggestion?

Its not mandatory, but if you do have pets its an easy way to show Ofsted that you have taken appropriate steps re safety & hygiene.

Hi thanks for all of your help, yes ofsted said i need a pet policy in place as i have two dogs and i also need a signed agreement from parents to say that mindee is ok to be around the dogs. Ofsted said if i did not have this in place she would assume i had not bothered to think about the welfare of mindees within my home. ( even though dogs out in kennals for the day)!!!!!

That's wierd! like you, I have two dogs, kept in a kennel outside during the day, yet I wasn't told I needed a policy!

If this is a new OFSTED requirement, maybe they should contact all us minders and let us know!