Ofsted Letter Re: Early Years Foundation Stage

[crace]

Scuse me for being thick here, but what does this mean? Anyone else get it?

Apparently we are all mean to be part of the new Childcare Act; the Early Years Register and deliver the new EYFS and The Childcare Register, which is compulsory from 7-8 years and voluntary for 8 and over

Ok, I am confused.. help me understand this.

I got this too. Dont think we have to do anything yet as we will be informed via ofsted, and its not in effect till september next year, I think it is just to let you know what is going to happen.

I too am confused, but it does say we need take no action and will be notified in due course.

However......If you look after over 8's do you now have to register seperately for them?

Got the letter but not read through it properly, as been on a Fantasic play course this morning. But did read that they would get back to us nearer the time with more info.
Also read that if you want to care for over 8's there is going to be an extra fee.

What does the under 8 EYFS stuff mean for us? Is it extra planning?

rang ofsted about this last week as my support network of childminders and I were panicking big style.
YES we will now have to register separately for over 8s and YES we will have to pay an additional fee for this honour! We will also be given a set amount of 8 year olds we can mind depending on space etc.
This is going to hinder alot of my childminding friends as most of them have 10 or so 8 year olds for 30 mins before school but they wont be able to do this anymore! Annoys me as i only have one over 8 in the holidays and will be registering and paying all the fees etc just for him!

i got this letter and i couldnt really understand it either. i think OFSTED are taking the mick asking us to pay two fees!!
i dont make a great deal of money from it, as it is. all these new regulations are very confusing.

As I am not Ofsted Registered, instead currently under SureStart, though transfer to Ofsted later this year, I did not get this letter. I can not find it on Ofsted's website - can anyone scan it and send to me to have a look at?

I suspect it is talking about the Childcare Act 2006 and thus the Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR), which is in two parts (well 3 if you include the voluntary part). Some childminders will need to register under both parts, thus two fees. Nannies like myself also fall under the Ofsted Childcare Register though only on a voluntary basis.

Ofsted Direct Early Years Issue 5 has some details about OCR. One thing it says is:
"After the start of the voluntary register in September 2007, full implementation will occur in September 2008, when we transfer all existing registered providers to the new registers without a separate fee or application."

Therefore I don't think that currently registered childminders need to do anything at present. Come September 2008 you will transfer over and nearer to that time we will find out the costs for registration.

Also confused. If I don't look after children over 8, do I have to do anything?

GRRR! Am waiting anxiously for these new fees! I don't make a great deal of money either as only mind over 3's at the mo!

Why do they make everything so complicated??! Will also be interested in how they decide how many over 8's we can have (for example will this be more if you don't mind babies?), space will obviously come into it but not an issue for me.

Govenment Response to Consultation

The above document contains some information about the fees. As yet, the actual fees to be charged to my knowledge have not been confirmed.

"Providers who are registered on the early years register and request to join the OCR will be automatically registered as they will have met the OCR requirements through the early years register assessment. No additional fee will be charged for registering on the OCR."

So it appears that if you are registered under EYR, then it is just one payment.

"The fees for the voluntary OCR are: £100 for individual carers and £110 for group providers. CRB fees will be paid in addition, the total cost depending on the number of checks that are required per provider."

This is a little more than the current fee charged to nannies/nanny employers for CAS.
CAS fee £99 included an Enhanced CRB. As long as the CRB cost is added at cost, not with profit margins, then under voluntary OCR, cost for individual carer (1 x CRB check) would be around £135 per year.

I personally wouldn't pay that fee as I don't have over 8's atm. I think this could make lots of childminders decide to not have over 8's (unless they have lots anyway) and therefore parents may have more of a struggle finding care for their over 8's! I'm going on what it's like in my area.

I was at a conference in London last week and I'm almost certain that the OFSTED lady said that childminders would not need to pay two sets of fees. I'll try and dig out my notes and see if I wrote it down.

TBH i think i would either give up minding my over 8 ( which would cause big problems as i also care for his sister and brother aged 3 and 6 OR would mind him on a hush hush basis rather than have to register and pay separate fees and extra planning etc. Am so fed up with all the new rules and inconsistencies at the moment may just give up altogether!

I know lots of childminders who will be giving up with all the new stuff that is happening.

TP that's sad... why are they making things so difficult?!

So it's only the over 8's then this affects?

This was yet again a huge topic of conversation today at toddler group which is attended by mainly childminders. All agreed that all OFSTED is going to do with all these new rules is turn legitamate childminders into illigitamate ones. Many said they would still care for kids but would do it in a back hand way. HOW do all these new rules and regs make us better childcare providers> My parents are happy, my mindees are happy and surley thats what matters!

Couldn't agree with you more!!!