food standards agency pack for childminders

[sydenhamhiller]

Hi all - any advice/ reassurance gratefully received )

Just looking thru the above pack (recommended to apply for this on a recent course). It states: "It is a legal requirement to keep a record of what food products you have bought, who you bought them from, the quantity and date... the easiest way to do this is to keep all your receipts..."

Does everyone else do this? I have just been writing down what food we eat in daily contact books.

I was Ofsted-ed 3 months ago, and no mention of this! )

The pack is a really handy way of recording (by omission) and proving food hygiene etc.

My EH inspector said that I could put my kitchen RA's in there, cleaning rota etc.

You should be registered with Environmental Health as well.

I don't think Ofsted see it as their role to make sure you are complying with food standards legislation. That is the job of the food standards agency.

If you now have to account for every food item you use it could be very difficult. Can you not give something to a childminded child if you don't have a receipt? What about food you grow yourself or are given by friends who grow it.I have a fair bit of that.

I'll stick to getting parents to provide food I think.

You're also supposed to keep samples of any meals you have prepared - cant remember how long for - incase any children get food poisoning!

I've never kept separate receipts - there are so many times when the children don't want THEIR food and end up sharing mine instead, and I certainly dont keep receipts for that .

IMO the world is slowly going mad with legislation - if we followed everything to the letter then we wouldnt have time to look after the children!

I had environmental health out to inspect my CM setting. They were happy for me simply to keep food receipts (where I have them). They certainly did not expect me to keep samples of meals I make. I explained that I buy the food for the children and myself in the same shopping and they are kept together in the fridge/freezer/cupboards. I also explained that sometimes we purchse food out and about, which I may not have receipts for and that parents might send in birthday cakes, etc. They just said to get and keep receipts whenever possible and keep a record of any food sent in.

Oh ... and I agree that there are not enough hours in the day to do absolutely EVERYTHING we are asked to do

Underpaid - where did you hear that? about keeping food samples.

I have never been told this and tbh i don't think that is accurate, what I have been told however it that you need to keep the receipts so that food can be traced back to its source.

yy told here to keep food receipts for a month

I keep reciepts for tax anyway, as for samples

Thanks everyone! First thread, and very grateful for feedback...loving mn )

K