I had it in mind that you had to be 17 to be a childmider - why?

[KatyMac]

I can't find any evidence of it - am I making it up as I go along?

bump

Hmm.. not sure have never thought about it. When we all need level 3 quals in the future then it wouldn't be possible anyway really, would it?....

Why do you ask? {nosey emotion}

I'm advertising for an assistant & I thought they had to be 17 - but apparently it's only for nurseries "trainees under 17 do not count towards ratios" but I can't find it on-line

its cause Katymac has just had her 16th birthday

I do recall seeing somewhere about there being a minimum age. Can't recall where though. May be in one of the appropriate Acts.

As you are asking in relation to an assistant, then in National Standards Childminding, there is:
"trainee assistants under 17 years of age are supervised at all times and are not counted in adult:child ratios;"
This is under Standard 1.5

Thanks Nick

Where is that on-line 'cos I have been asked to 'prove' it

It's in the Blue book which you may well have, as Ofsted used to send them out back in 2001.

Online, it is on the SureStart website - National Standards: Childminding

Also, another way to prove it... is to e-mail Ofsted with the enquiry and hope that they respond with an e-mail which says that an assistant can't be under a certain age.

If it helps - for H&S regs Children at work i.e under 18 must be closely Supervised at all times - I would translate thet in Childminding to mean that 17 year olds should also be Supervised therefore not left in sole charge.

HTH

No - on the phone OFSTED said they didn't know of any regualtions about age - I would say but we all know that's fairly typical

Thanks Mick

fab