CM CLUB:...So what would happen if..

[StrawberrySnowflakes]

you were as normal within your ratio's and one of your other mindee's parents had an absolute emergency, could you take in mindee and it be ok that once?

as in emergencies, i have in my t&c, i would either leave mindee's with dp(if i cant get parents here first)or my next door neighbour..all in total emergencies and ofsted saw this and said fine..so then if in absolute emergency, could you take one of your reg mindee's on top of that days ratio????

I'm not sure, I have in an emergency left mindees with DH, but never had to go over my numbers because of one IYSWIM

hmm, just thinking it would be safer to leave them with a cm, who knows them as a one off than someone you didnt know, but they would accept this??..i wonder what their word is on it?

Has something come up that's caused you to be in this situation?

i was asked by a mindees mum if i could have mindee one extra afternoon in few weeks, shes not from round here (no other family or even friends)and cannot miss this appointment, BUT..my new mindee's hours are never the same and i couldnt say wether he would be with me at that same time or not??..and am worried if i did say yes as she is totally stuck, Ofsted may decide to ring a day before and just turn up....just all the inspection horror stories on here lately amd a tad worried!

I was told that in a complete an utter emergency-like emergency hospital I could leave my mindees with another CMer which would of course taker her over her numbers-but that would not be for long as of course the parents would be rung to pick up etc.
I would guess in your situation SS its not quite an emergency so they wouldnt go for that=thats just my opinion of course

perhaps you could special coverage for 4 to cover in these circumstances - ring up and ask?

If it were a real unplanned emergency-type situation, there were no other alternatives, and I thought I could cope safely I wouldn't hesitate.
I would however give Ofsted a call immediately to explain and log the incident and to cover my back.

dont think its an emergency if she has told you weeks in advance

As I understand things, if there is a sudden and unplanned emergency, you can take an extra child. However, I think you are then supposed to make alternative arrangements to ensure that you go back within your numbers as soon as you can.

Pre-Ofsted, I had another CM's two toddlers with my three minded children as she had to rush a very-unwell child to hospital (parents away and uncontactable for ages). They were here for a couple of hours until their parents could leave work, and we notified Social Services afterwards.

Strawberry - in your situation, it is not an emergency as you already know about it in advance.

I think you have a few choices:

• Write to Ofsted and ask for a one-off variation.

• Tell the parents of the mindee (whose hours you don't know yet) that you won't be able to do that particular afternoon. If they needed you, you have effectively booked yourself a "holiday", and will have given them lots of notice.

• My dh is registered as my assistant so, if we knew about something in advance, he could take time off work to be here. Perhaps you could do the same (ask Ofsted)? (Not for my dh, obviously, you have to have one of your own!!)

• Ask another CM with a space to come to your house, and for her to be effectively responsible for that child (with permission from the mum, of course). She would then be paid for it, but they would be in your house.

so ofsted would be less than understanding if they did arrive and i was in this position?

If they really did suddenly turn up unannounced on your doorstep, and you had an extra child, you would have to lie through your teeth and say that the mum had to rush to hospital .... bit risky?!

yeah and judging by recent inspections, even if i was helping someone out, i would prob be given a satifactory or worse...cant win can you!