Childminging and Builders

[Saz73]

My neighbour is having a conversatory built in the school holidays. The builders will need to come on my property to do work and the boundry fence will be removed. Does anyone know what OFSTED have said about anything like this in the past, are they allowed on my premises whilst I am minding children?

I will be working through the school holidays and there will be days when including my own there will be 5 children in my house/garden.

Sorry it shoud of said 'minding' quite funny really as my DS was on my knee filling his nappy at the time ..... must of had something else on my mind

You need to do a risk assessment (keeeping the children safe)

You need to put in writing how you will ensure that the builders are never alone with the children (CP)

You need to explain to the builders (& the children) that it's OK to chat while you are there - but that the builders are still "strangers"

You also need to inform OFSTED before you start I think??

Maybe ring them say you are going to do the above and is there anything else you need to do

at 'stranger danger' policy .. that's a little ott isn't it?

Not really they might met them whilst out and as their parents don't know them it's safer to err on the side of caution - remember it is OFSTED we are talking about - they don't have a sensible bone in their body

Just make a list of all the potential hazards (building materials, builders, what the children have access to with the fence removed etc) and consider what you might have to do differently to provide a safe environment while the work is carried out. Eg, you might say the garden is out of bounds until the fence is replaced and the work complete.

The builders are allowed on your premises while you are minding but obviously don't leave mindies alone with any of them and keep the mindies away from any hazards.

Yes I will ring Ofsted today. The neighbours will be building a 7ft wall just the other side of my boundry so it's more safety I am concerned about.

Yes I will ring Ofsted today. The neighbours will be building a 7ft wall just the other side of my boundry so it's more safety I am concerned about.

i would do as everyone else said and do a risk assesment
also as long as builders are not left for a second with the children you should be ok
i was having a new bathroom fitted so everytime a child needed loo i had to go up with them and the men had to leave the b/room
did try the potty but kids wernt keen

They should erect temporary fencing, it's not expensive

because of the size wall planning/works to be done to neighbours property (on our boundry) that I have to write to Ofsted and most likely a inspector will have to come and visit. Is it just easier to refuse access to my property!

gets tricky if ofsted have to come out it will be like an extra inspection
what if they say you cant work all summer!
or that you cant use garden with mindee children