Childcare payments

[Stag09]

Can ofsted stop childcare payments ? My partner runs a nursery and her childcare payments have been withheld. When she enquired she’s was told that ofsted had stopped the payment. Surely after caring for the said children she should be paid for her services. Now she’s having problems paying her staff due to lack of funds....surely this can’t be right ????

She needs to speak to the Funding team at her local authority.

In my authority (which I don't know, but assume is the same Nationally), the point of the government paying the funding was always to give a good education to 3 yr olds. If a setting has failed it's OFSTED, then it is deemed it can't be providing a 'quality education' to the children, so it won't pay the funding.

Has the Nursery failed an inspection ?

No her nursery hasn’t failed. All she has been told is that ofsted have withheld her payment. She has a disgruntled ex partner and she has had ofsted round 12 times now !!! He keeps changing his number and has even text her wishing her good luck with ofsted and social services. Surely this can’t be right ? That he keeps ringing these services and they aren’t now slowly putting her out of business. It’s a shame as ofsted are busy doing his dirty work for him.

*They aren’t = they are

No Ofsted wouldn't get involved in payments or contract issues. Who has told her that they have? Is it her funding team? Or a parent? What payment has been stopped?

Your partner needs to call them and discuss that someone is making false complaints to Ofsted and X no of visits have been carried out. She also needs to put in a freedom of information request for copies of the complaints.

I'd also speak to my insurers, most of whom offer legal cover and have a solicitor letter sent to the ex partner warning them off. I'd also consider speaking or the police about the harassment.

Well, OFSTED don't make any payments, so they can't have stopped them.
She needs to talk to her local funding team. Anything anyone says on here will just be speculation.

Ok....thank you very very much for you advise. I shall pass on your information.

Ofsted have nothing to do with payments
If Ofsted had any issues with the nursery they would be speaking to the registered person
I think there is more to this than your partner is telling you