Help needed with researching Child Minders

[HaveToWearHeels]

I am returning to work on 5th July and will need a childminder 2 days a week. I have been looking at the direct.gov.uk website and am totally confused so wondered if you help. Under "Other details" you have the Ofsted grade but then you have the "Inspection and Report Information" with the last inspection date and the judgement. What does it mean if the Inspection Judgment is "unknown" ?

Also is there anywhere I can view and reports relating to the inspection ?

Any other advise appreciated also !

Oh and can someone explain the places, how can they have more places that that registered with Ofsted ? My brain is mush !
Thanks

That website is flawed & doesn't work properly

the location information is often incorrect as are contact details etc

The old website was removed before the new one had been properly tested

Sorry

You might do better putting your postcode into the OFSTED website & trying to see what you can find that way

I wondered this too. I've been looking for a CM and I was very worried that there appeared to be only one CM in my local area!

I'll try the ofsted search, thanks katy.

If the grading is unknown then that would more than likely mean they haven't undergone an inspection yet - making them a relatively new minder. Or perhaps they have recently had an inspection and the new grading isn't up yet.
there have been a few teething problems with the direct'gov website.

I thought there was a link with the minders listing to their inspection report - perhaps this facility is not up and running yet.

you can review reports online but you would need the minders EY number to be able to match it to a specific minder.
Be aware though, many minders will not give their EY number prior to signing contracts HOWEVER if you go to visit a minder a copy of their inspection report (if they have been inspected) should be available for you to look at.

Some minders may appear to have more spaces than they are registered for due to the times other children attend.
For example a minder may be registered for 6 children at any one time BUT they could potentally have more on their books - I know one minder has 18 children on her books over the course of a week.
A minder may work with an assistant or co-minder (again an example a mum/daughter team i know are both registered separately both having 6 registered to them each - making a total of 12 children they are allowed).
A childminder may have a variation in place as well.

Hope some of that helps

thanks will try the OFSTED website.

Just found this listed under one childminder

Inspection and Report Information
Last inspection: 19 January 2010
Inspection type: Eyr Inspection
Inspection judgment: Inadequate 1

Surely she shouldn't be looking after children ?

Inadequate 1 means that the inspector will be returning within a certain date to ensure that the recommendations have been met/carried out. This time frame is no more (usually) than 3 months.

sometimes it can be as simple as a lapsed first aid certificate - even by 1 day. thats an automatic inadequate. There may be more or other reasons - such as safeguarding issues, lapsed insurance, not a good understanding of EYFS - a multitude of reasons

Inadequate 2 is when the inspector can close you down or give you a very severe time limit to improve/meet requirements - ie/ a week.

the best way to find a minder is through word of mouth. ask friends, family, co-workers. ask a parents groups that you might go to - again recommendations.

Give your local FIS a call and they can supply you with a list of local minders.
Go and visit them - lots till you find one who you click with - and it may not be the top ranking (Outstanding or Good graded) minder.

Another place to look it childcare.co.uk or even on childmindingforum.co.uk (childminders from across the UK are on there)

Thanks Pippin, very helpful. I thought I would visit as many as I could before deciding. I seem to be quite lucky that there are a lot in my area. Although I would like her to go to someone who currently has other children so that DD has that interaction with other children and the majority seem to have no other mindee's.

The direct.gov. site is awful - I have been a cm for nearly 4 years and I am not on it, despite complaining several times

In addition to the excellent advice already given try looking on childcare.co.uk and googling childminder and your local town as anyone with websites locally should come up.

good luck

i live in kent and find this
website more helpful

I found the directgov website less than helpful

i think there are similar ones for other counties and you can also phone the NCMA for local associations - most have a vancancies coordinator who would put you in touch with childminders local to you