CM Club - Advice please! Am I right in thinking...

[malovitt]

that if I only mind after-schoolers who are over 8years old, then I won't be inspected?

Previously that would have been true - as long as you weren't passing yourself off as a 'childminder'

Now however there is a voluntary scheme

See if you can ask Nannynick about it - it is quite complicated & I don't know much about it

AFAIK the voluntary scheme comes in sept 08, i would have thought you would need an initial inspection tho? maybe im wrong?

Applies to ENGLAND

Young Child = From birth, ending immediately before the 1st September next following the date on which he attains the age of five.
(Childcare Act 2006, Part 1, 19b)

Later Years Childminding = 5 to 8
(See: Childcare Act 2006, Part 3, 52(1))

Voluntary Registration

Childcare Act 2006, 62(1) A person who provides or proposes to provide in England? (a) later years childminding for a child who has attained the age of eight, or (b) early years childminding or later years childminding for a child who has not attained that age but in respect of which the person is not required to be registered under Chapter 2 or 3, may make an application to the Chief Inspector for registration in Part B of the general childcare register as a childminder.

So that means that you can register if you wish under the Voluntary scheme, as you would be providing later years childminding for a child who is aged 8 or above.

If you register under the voluntary section (Part B) of the General Childcare Register, then you may be inspected by Ofsted.

So, if you don't want ANY inspections, then you need to care for children who are aged 8 (they MUST have had their 8th birthday) or over, and not register under the voluntary scheme.

However, parents using your service would then be unable to use Childcare Element of WTC, or Childcare Vouchers, as you would not be a registered/approved provider.

Disclaimer: This is how I understand the legislation. I am not a lawyer. Please seek legal advice if you require it.

Does that help?

Thanks for that Nannynick, still a bit confused though.
I am a registered childminder but have only just started and only intend to do it for a couple of years.
I know the sort of person I am and will refuse point blank to implement procedures which I think are ridiculous, eg. the no smoking signs. I refuse to do what other childminders in my area do, borrowing impressive-looking resources from each other just for inspection day, then giving them back unused. Why should I?
I know I'm good at what I do and will not play the game.
Just trying to put off an inspection as long as possible, and thought that by only having the older children I might get away with it. Not that it matters really, I've turned loads of people away who have wanted me just after visiting and meeting me and seeing my home. None of those people cared about an inspection report.

What are you confused about specifically?

You can choose to care for only children 8 years old and over. You DON'T have to be registered to do that.

You can choose to be registered to care for children aged 8 and over... so that parents can use childcare vouchers etc. But by being registered, you may be inspected.

Requirements under the voluntary part of the childcare register can be found in The Childcare (Voluntary Registration) Regulations 2007, Schedule 3, Regulation 8

The law allows Ofsted to carry out inspections to check that you comply with those requirements. You also have to comply with other relevant legislation, such as health and safety, disability discrimination, food hygiene, fire regs, planning requirements.

Ofsted have published a more readable guide than the legislation linked above... so it is worth reading the Requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register document.

Thanks very much- it's all making more sense now.