cm club - pets and ofsted

[eleanorsmum]

ok thinking about getting 2 cats. have thought about how it will affetc the children (not much so long as not allergic, and both mine have cats at home anyway so!) aslo food wouldn't be kept on floor, it'd go down after they go home in the evening. but when do i tell ofsted (or should i say ask!) before i get them or after? TIA

I have never told OFSTED about rabbits/guinea Pigs/chickens/fish/frogs etc

I wouldn't tell them about a new cat (we have one) - but I would write a policy

A dog yes - but not a cat

Hmmm ... am a bit worried now as we came back from the afternoon school run yesterday to discover that my cat had brought in a rather large magpie (through the cat flap!) The cat was cowering in another room, and the magpie was gaily flying around the kitchen, completely trashing it. I am not sure whether I should write to Ofsted to tell them about our temporary new pet, or to tell them that I left a 10 year old keeping an eye on two small toddlers in another room so that I could catch the stupid bird.

On a more sensible note, I mention our (hunting) cats on my health and safety policy, and that food bowls will not be accessible, cats are wormed regularly etc. As pets are mentioned on our reports, it might be worth putting a letter together to tell Ofsted (not that I think you should, but I don't know if you have to).

I've acquired two cats (one now 9 months and one nearly 2 years old) since I've been childminding (6 years) and it didn't even enter my head to tell Ofsted. There's no need - only something major like having an extension or major work done to your place.