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URGENT PLEASE - which of you CM's MOVED HOUSE recently????

65 replies

looneytune · 29/09/2006 16:18

I was chatting to one of you recently about the stresses of moving house and you were just about to.

I need you ASAP - Ofsted causing me problems, just like they did you but I can't find the thread to remind me what you did about it!

HELP!!!

May be moving in 2½ weeks

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looneytune · 07/10/2006 17:10

Oh dear. I've just had a really stressful week and have been really annoyed with them since all this started and just typed it as soon as I saw Nannynick's post. Maybe I should have calmed down first - oh well, not a lot I can do now!

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nannynick · 07/10/2006 17:24

End of the day, as I said before, what are they going to do about it. Unless you are breaking a law, they can't do anything about it. If they feel you are breaking a law, then let them take it to court.

nannypoppins · 07/10/2006 18:13

I moved house a year ago and as I understood it I had to inform Ofsted with 14 days of moving and do a risk assessment of the property myslf while I waited for an inspector to visit. As a network childminder I asked my development worker and she advised me. In the meantime I carried on childminding. In fact we moved in on the Friday, made sure all areas used for minding were safe and children came to me on Monday morning. Ofsted inspected 2 weeks later and my full inspection was almost due so I asked for a full inspection to save them coming back at a later date. I was graded good in all areas so all the hard work to get our new house up and running for minding was worth it.

ThePrisoner · 08/10/2006 00:31

looneytune - you have done nothing wrong, and your letter isn't rude. If you had moved and done something they had told you not to (even if they were wrong, but you didn't know it!!), then you'd have something to worry about.

I think you should follow up your email with another one, suggesting that perhaps they would like to go and sit on the naughty step (not that childminders use one), and think about what they've done. And they can apologise afterwards.

They will learn not to do it again.

looneytune · 08/10/2006 08:02

Thanks TP. Must say due to some people's reactions to my letter, I've been worried about how I worded my letter. Nothing I can do though so no point I suppose. Just hope they judge my variation request on that alone.

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nannynick · 08/10/2006 08:26

Childminders (and anyone) has a right to complain about Ofsted Policy and Procedures. In addition, if Ofsted make a decision regarding your registration that you don't agree with, then you can take them to the Care Standards Tribunal who will decide the case.

Ofsted produce two leaflets which would apply in the current situation regarding complaining about Ofsted policy, procedures, communication and variation of registration.

Complaints About Ofsted Early Years
Building Better Childcare: Objections and Appeals

ThePrisoner · 08/10/2006 22:53

Shall we take bets on whether Ofsted actually know that they have produced these leaflets??! (Sorry, I think I had better crawl back into my box ...)

looneytune · 09/10/2006 07:52

Thanks Nannynick

TP

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looneytune · 10/10/2006 10:58

Check this out, my reply from OFSTED..........

Thank you for your e-mail, regarding your house move and with regard to
the following excerpt - which I will now explain further to you.

The applications this excerpt is referring to is the CM1 application
pack ( one of these is not necessary) - Ofsted asks that you do a risk
assessment - like the one you sent to us and there are certain criteria
laid down which decides whether or not an inspection of your new
premises is necessary - usually this is because a complaint that has
been made against a childminder since the last inspection or there have
been actions made against the property previously ( normally this is
because of health and safety issues) and if the only visit a childminder
has ever received is a registration visit.
The Childminder cannot mind from their new property until a certificate
is received from Ofsted with the new address on it, as this would
otherwise negate their insurance.

As Ofsted is here to ensure the safety of the children in childminders
care you will appreciate that certain criteria has to be met.

Having checked through your letter it meets the criteria and a new
certificate is on its way to you - and you should receive it in the next
day or so.
With regard

Sharon
Ist Team Supervisor

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HenniPenni · 10/10/2006 11:47

Wow, what a result!!, that should be a big weight of your mind!

looneytune · 10/10/2006 16:13

It is but I still don't understand their reply?

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nannynick · 12/10/2006 23:13

Have you wondered what happens if you move house and DON'T tell Ofsted?

Well, it's certainly something that has happend in the past - you can read about it in the following CM Inspection Report . The Outcome was: Notice Of Action To Improve. Ofsted DID NOT cancel the CM's registration.

With regard to Ofsted's letter:

The applications this excerpt is referring to is the CM1 application pack ( one of these is not necessary)

Not sure I fully agree that the excerpt is from that, but they are right that a CM1 is not required.

Ofsted asks that you do a risk assessment

If you phone them they might ask you to do that. But has that happened every time a childminder has told Ofsted they are moving house? What public document does Ofsted produce which gives guidance to childminders moving house, which mentions this risk assessment?

like the one you sent to us and there are certain criteria laid down which decides whether or not an inspection of your new premises is necessary

The criteria is found in:

Childcare registration and inspection legislative changes: March 2005 local authority briefing sessions presentation materials - prompt points for inspections

Not exactly the place you'd first look, is it?

The Childminder cannot mind from their new property until a certificate is received from Ofsted with the new address on it, as this would
otherwise negate their insurance.

Would it? Does your insurance terms state that your address must appear on your Ofsted registration certificate? Will need to contact the usual insurers to see what they say... my gut view is that they don't require the address. Could be wrong though. Anyone want to read through the fine print of the insurance documents?

ThePrisoner · 13/10/2006 21:47

Well I have read my insurance document (couldn't resist the challenge nannynick!) - throughout the document, it only refers to children being "in the care of" the childminder, and doesn't say anything about where.

nannynick · 14/10/2006 01:10

The two leading insurers of Childminders have both got back to me quickly regarding the query.

I have more queries for one of the insurers so I am following that up... so it could be another few days until we get more info.

One thing they both did confirm was that the childminder should notify them of a change in address.

One didn't mention anything about the insurance not being valid during the move process, whereas the other said the insurance would become 'inactive' - I am following that one up to see if they will provide further information.

Interestingly, one insurer imposes an admin fee (for new documentation), the other didn't mention any fee.

looneytune · 14/10/2006 10:35

Wow Nannynick, been busy again haven't you I've got our buyer coming to measure up very soon so when she's left, I will read through all these updates I've got another letter to do to Ofsted this weekend about variation of numbers and am worried about my last email to them but there's nothing I can do!

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