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My Hamster Letter

32 replies

StrawberryMartini · 27/10/2007 13:24

What do you think? I had to write it in fits of giggles due to the ridiculousness of it all.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to inform you of a change of circumstance. I am a registered childminder, registration number EYBlahblah.

I have recently acquired a hamster. I have informed the parents and asked them to sign permission forms to allow them to handle the hamster and to also help with cleaning out the cage.

I understand the risks involved with owning a hamster are minimal, compared with a larger pet such as a dog, however I have thought about the possible dangers and these are as follows:

· Child putting fingers through cage and getting bitten
· Child handling hamster and getting bitten
· Child becoming ill through handling hamster or from cleaning out the cage

In order to minimise these risks I:

· have placed the hamster?s cage on a fairly high cupboard
· have spoken to the children about the consequences of putting their fingers through the cage bars
· will never let a child handle the hamster without supervision and will wait until I have tamed the hamster sufficiently before allowing them to touch it
· will ensure that the children wash their hands both before and after handling the hamster, and after cleaning out the cage.

I hope this is acceptable to Ofsted and I look forward to hearing confirmation that you have received this letter and made a note of my change in circumstance.

Many Thanks,

HA HA HA

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
AskABusyPerson · 02/11/2007 23:44

LOL at this thread - I love the 'are hamsters a legitimate expense' quote!!!

I bet Ofsted reply with an action - they'd have to find one even if you'd covered every situation that might occur.....how about hamster losing weight and squeezing through the bars to escape!

LOL also at the risk of children being traumatised when hamster dies line!

Worringly I think Ofsted will treat this as seriously as we've treated in jest....

MaureenMLove · 02/11/2007 23:50

Now then, its quite handy that this thread has come up again, because my neighbours have just bought a hamster. When they go away, and they do often, I look after their pets. Not particularly sucessfully, but thats a whole other thread! So, when I have said hamster, do I need to inform OFSTED? It'll only be here a few days, maybe a week at the most. I will probably be minding during that time, so whats the drill?

ThePrisoner · 03/11/2007 12:50

Make sure that the hamster doesn't take you over your numbers, or you will have to try to get a temporary variation.

looneytune · 03/11/2007 14:40

You know what's the craziest thing.....a CM friend recently phoned OFSTED to ask if they need to be informed if a CM gets another day (i.e. extra dog) and they said NO, they don't need to know. Now SURELY that's something they SHOULD know about??!!!

looneytune · 03/11/2007 14:41

another dog (i.e. extra dog)

BoysAreLikeDogs · 03/11/2007 16:12

Strawbs you have given me a good laugh this afternoon.

Good letter too !

Heh heh heh. Ju

chel86 · 06/11/2007 10:26

LOL at this thread. It's ridiculous the way Ofsted have treated the hamster situation. Especially as when I got a puppy all I had to do was call them with a couple of details! Now surely that's not right??!!

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