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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

CM CLUB Can you believe this?

24 replies

OFSTEDoutstanding · 01/05/2009 10:22

Hi I was on the school rn this morning and one of the other cm in my village was there too. She seemed really upset and I asked her what was wrong. She said that Ofsted had dropped in on her yesterday acting on a complaint they had received and she has been caught overminding. I have noticed that she seems to have alot of children with her but assumed she had a variation. I asked her what they had said and they told her they would be in touch. Apparently she didn't realise she was overminding as she had 1 under 1 and 2 under 5's like it said on her certificate but she hadn't factored in her own children into the numbers so actually had 1 under 1 and 4 under 5's though her daughter was at pre-school full time so not really there in week and one of her mindees is term time only so I suppose in a sence she was over by 1 child and 2 for an hour in morning during term time. She seemed genuinely upset and is really worried about what will happen next. I really think it was a genuine mistake and as she got good on her last inspection I just assumed as I have already said that she had a variation. Have any of you known any childminders that have been caught overminding either intentionally or otherwise, was just wondering what happened to them so I can tell her when I see her later and try to put her mind at rest a bit or at least warn her of what might happen.

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Original poster

OFSTEDoutstanding · 01/05/2009 10:25

Sorry I should also have asked do you believe that the overminding was a genuine mistake? I really don't know what to think if she was doing it intentionnalyy then it serves her right although she always looked like she copes so well with them all and if it was a genuine mistake I feel so sorry for her if they take away her registration as she is such a good childminder.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 01/05/2009 10:55

Not sure if it was a mistake or by intention - no one can know

Do you have any spaces & she needs to stop immediately afaik she cannot give 4 weeks notice (the poor parents)

I doubt they will take away her registration but she will be subject to spot checks for s while I think

BradfordMum · 01/05/2009 11:49

She probably is a good cm and is upset about it, but I think that a Cm ought to know how many children she is allowed including her own, and even if her own child is at nursery or playschool, then they mush be included in her numbers.
I don't think pleading ignorance is acceptable, but this is MY opinion.

Sally x

PinkChick · 01/05/2009 12:19

my certificate show 3 under5 of which no more than 1 under 1 and 2 between 5&8, ive treble checked and those figures DO NOT include my dd, she is, in efect my 6th place, so it can be confusing i had to ring 3 times LOL

squirrel42 · 01/05/2009 12:25

If she hasn't been over her numbers before she will probably get a "slap on the wrist" letter saying don't do it again and reminding her to keep to her conditions of registration. This warning is likely to be mentioned when Ofsted publishes information about her registration. Going all thr way to cancellation is a very large step for Ofsted to take, and usually only comes after series of cumulative breaches.

HSMM · 01/05/2009 16:07

Her certificate should say no more than 2 under 5, so that her child is taken into account. The fact that one is at pre school is irrelevent, because the pre school could send her home at any time. I'm surprised she didn't realise, but I'm guessing that OFSTED will just tell her not to do it again.

atworknotworking · 01/05/2009 19:16

yeah i doubt she will lose her reg over this i know of one that was overminding (wasn't an error either ) lots of other bits too like no 1st aid and assistant without crb, so lots of actions for that cm she didnt loose hers with all of that so I doubt the CM you know will loose hers, as squirrel42 says will prob get slapped wrist and they will check up later, shame if it is a mistake though why doesn't she try for a variaton? might be worth ago . Agree with Pinkchick numbers can be a bit confusing I rang loads to double check too LOL.

thesilverlining · 01/05/2009 20:06

friend of mine got caught overminding on her inspection day. Worst that happened was she got satifactory overall with needing improvement on safety and welfare

I was shocked she got away with such a light touch to be honest

And yes its possible she didn't realise but a bit suss that shes that naive!!!

Chatkins · 01/05/2009 20:08

It is possible she didn't realise I suppose, but I do find that a bit hard to believe. Surely all cms know their own children count in the numbers they are allowed ??

starcatcher · 14/05/2009 18:33

Pleading ignorance is a cop out, overminding puts children at risk and public liability only covers you for the number of children you are reg to care for, you would not have been covered if any of the children had been injured and parents decided to sue

BradfordMum · 14/05/2009 19:37

Is there any update on this story?

saz73 · 14/05/2009 20:44

I was questioned by Ofsted about 3/4 yrs ago. someone at DD school thought I had too many children in my care. it was all proved to be incorrect. In my village there are only a few cm's and I have learnt to be so careful. i was even questioned today as a cm thought my two mindee's were under 1's old (act 14mth and 24mth) and told I shoudln't have two under 1.

HSMM · 14/05/2009 21:38

I bumped into an Ofsted inspector in PC World (!) who first asked me if I was a childminder and when I said yes, she told me I should not have 4 under 5 (they were with me). I told her I have a variation and she looked at me very sideways. Was expecting a visit, but never got one.

JenniPenni · 15/05/2009 08:24

Jeepers, it's almost like we have to carry our certificate around with us! I have a variation twice a week... I have 3 1 year olds and a 2 year old. Would definately have been stopped in PC World too. Would not have been happy with the skew glance though haha. But of course, she wouldn't know me from a bar of soap.

BONKERZ · 15/05/2009 08:36

i finished childminding over 3 years ago now but still have my friends 2 children after school tues and wed from 3pm till 4.30pm. I had a call from OFSTED saying i had been seen doing school run for children who were not mine and saying they wanted to visit as i was minding illegally! not sure who reported me but once i sent a letter stating i looked after the 2 children for 3 hours a week over 2 days they didnt bother visiting!

thebody · 18/05/2009 16:49

if someone in pc world stopped me to ask for any details of mindees I would assume was a peadophile and ask the store to call the police, how totally unprofessional.
I have told Ofsted that I would NEVER open the door to any stranger even with ID, I am alone in the house with the children who are my main priority. I asked for the full name of the inspector ( including the middle name )and also a password, if they dont know the password they aint coming past my door.. I was complimented for my approach to safety... lol..
As for nozy bitches at the school gate, how sad that they havnt got any thing better to do than twit on people.. how bloody sad..

mumjojo · 18/05/2009 19:06

Probably a silly question- but what exactly is a 'variation'?
(I assume it means a crossover between morning and afternoon, or perhaps a morning child waiting to be picked up, so added to afternoon numbers??)

Original poster

OFSTEDoutstanding · 18/05/2009 19:33

She is still waiting to hear Though she has given notice now so is minding in her numbers and includes her children in those.

OP posts:

Crackopenthebaileys · 18/05/2009 20:50

Her certificate will state the amount of children she is allowed to mind. Her own children will have already been factored in, and do not make up the numbers on her certificate. So, IF she had 1 under 1 and 2 under 5, like she says her certificate says, then she was not over minding. So I am confused!

Crackopenthebaileys · 18/05/2009 20:52

mumjojo a variation is changing getting ofted to add numbers onto the regular ones on your certificate. For example, if you wanted to mind 2 under 1s, you would have to write to them, they would then decide, and in some cases, award the 'variation'.

looneytune · 19/05/2009 08:15

Now I'm worried people with think I'M overminding. I have 4 children aged 2.3 and under, 4 days a week (one of the toddlers is the same height but thinner than my 11m old ds2 so they both look like under 1's when in the buggy). On top of that, the 3 after schoolers I have are 4,5 and 6 and the 4 yr old is about the same height as the 2.3 yr old so people think she's also younger. (by the way, don't worry about my numbers, I never had the 4+3 at the same time, it's all over the place but on the days I have all after schoolers, one of the toddlers shares the space with one of the schoolies).

I feel like buying a t-shirt saying 'LOOK, I am within my numbers and have the certificate to prove it!!' but that's a tad in your face isn't it

I can see why people would be concerned but to be stopped in a shop by an inspector and then have them talk to you like you were wrong about your own variation!!

Can I just ask......do any of you carry a photocopy of your certificate around?

Also....what I wish Ofsted would do is also put our own children on the certificate. Something like a note at the bottom saying on top of those numbers, you look after your own children aged * - would make things clearer for people who look us up but don't understand the 'minding' bit!!

HSMM · 19/05/2009 10:45

I don't carry my certificate around. If I am stopped by someone in PC World and they say they are an Ofsted inspector, they could be a wierdo for all I know, so it's no-one's business what is on my certficate except the parents and Ofsted (and my insurance).

looneytune · 19/05/2009 12:15

Good point

thebody · 20/05/2009 08:33

as I said Looneytune.. I would complain to Ofsted about strangers approaching the children.. and also call store security to have a strong word with the inspector.. how funny would that be.. what a bloody cheek..

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