HELP!!!

[LaurenD]

Hi everyone!
I desperately need some advice / information. I have completed all the steps that my local NCMA have told me to to register as a child minder. Including, Diploma in Home-based childcare (Unit 1), Policy file, safety amendments to my home, risk assessments etc. In addition to this I had to wait nearly 3 months for a NCMA rep to visit me at home!!! Now I am simply waiting to complete my first aid course (30th May, 6th June) and I can send off my registration application HOWEVER I called OFSTED today and they said that from the OFSTED registration visit I can expect to wait about 3 months to be registered - because of CRB's, health check follow ups etc - AAAGGGGGhhhhhhhhh!!! Will it really take this long? Should I send the forms off before I've completed the first aid course and then ask OFSTED to come to my house after the course so at least the CRB checks are under way?
I am really worried because I need to start working asap and have had so many delays already! ~I would really appreciate any advice / info etc especially from anyone recently registered.
Many thanks

i think, but know that the rules have changed, you can. you can tell ofsted the date of your course then send them a cerfificate when finished, then they will complete the registration process.

however, i'm sure someone will be along soon who knows alot more than i do.

why did you start off by going through the NCMA? your local authority should be the first place to start when you register as a CM.

why did an NCMA rep have to visit you?

worried that you have been given some wrong advice somewhere along the line.

When i registered and i must admit it wasn't recently - the first thing i was advised to do was book a breifing session to help decide wether or not it was right choice for me - from there i got all forms etc - i was told to fill them all out and send them off so they were being processed as it can take ages and in the meantime do my first aid ICP etc etc while i was waiting for all that to be processed- it can take ages waiting for people to send back references etc - ofsted came to do my prereg visit once all my paper work was back and because i had done everything else was able to start minding just waiting for my CRB to return - didnt take long -this was when all the changes were being made and OFSTED were taking over - i was then fully inspected 6 months later my sister has recently registered -she did the same process pretty much although different area and they all vary -she had her pre reg visit 3 months after her ICP and was able to mind from then as she had already completed her first aid etc. she was then inspected 6 months after that to check every thing was in place and anything they had asked of her was done.

Hi
Thanks to everyone for their advice (this is without a doubt the most helpful site I've found by miles!) - Numberfour, I went through the NCMA as they work with my LEA (ESSEX) and run pre-reg briefing sessions etc. You have to complete the Diploma in home-based childcare before you are allowed to register - unfortunately I couldn't attend the course they arrange as my son was breast-fed on demand at the time so had to pay to do it through the NEC (£180 plus an extra £50 for the exam!). The visit from the NCMA was to go through all my policies and files etc.
I sent the Ofsted registration today - spoke to Ofsted on the phone and they said becaue my first aid course was so soon I could send it off in advance - phew!
Fingers crossed it all goes through quickly!!!
Thanks again for all your advice / info etc
Lauren