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JennyM
24-07-2011, 11:03 AM
My kitchen doesn't have a door. I am wondering if I need to put a gate on the doorway.

I really don't want one as there is one on the bottom of the stairs close by and I am worried my house will start to look like a prison. Also, the back door leads to the kitchen so if children are in the garden they can easily get into the kitchen.

I have locks on the cupboard under the sink and the drawer with sharp items inside. Will that be enough do you think?

annalg
24-07-2011, 11:09 AM
What did Ofsted say on your pre-reg visit? I was told to divide my kitchen with a room divider to ensure children couldn't reach the cooker & oven.

Penny1959
24-07-2011, 11:20 AM
Provided you can explain to Ofsted how you will keep the children safe - there is no need to have a gate.

However I would personally be considering how I would keep them safe when the cooker was on.

Penny :)

JennyM
24-07-2011, 12:25 PM
What did Ofsted say on your pre-reg visit? I was told to divide my kitchen with a room divider to ensure children couldn't reach the cooker & oven.

My pre-reg was in my old flat. I did have a gate there but had no stairs.

What I try to do at the moment is batch cook so that I only have to use the microwave and then the back hobs for pasta, rice etc. My oven door doesn't actually get hot but I suppose it is a risk when taking things out of the oven etc.

Would a kitchen/cooking risk assessment cover it all do you think?

My own children (aged three and ten months) are aware that the cooker is hot and not to touch it and I think it's important to teach children that and not just have everything locked away.

I know Ofsted might not agree.

rickysmiths
24-07-2011, 01:17 PM
In all the 17 years I have mined, in our flat, in the house as we bought it and now with the extention I have never had a kitchen which I could shut the door on. In my new kitchen i have RAs and I don't have a cupboard lock on any of the doors or drawers. I am lucky enough to have a seperate Utility room now so all my cleaning stuff etc is in there in a high cupboard with and I have an alarm on the door to the room.

The main thing is that the children are not in the kitchen without me anyway.

carol cameron
24-07-2011, 02:03 PM
I live in an old Victorian house and the children have to go through my kitchen to get to the bathroom. I have never had a gate on, either for my own children or in the 15 years I have been childminding.It has never been an issue for Ofsted.:)

JennyM
24-07-2011, 02:32 PM
Thank you all.

I will just make sure I have a confident, thorough, answer when they ask me about it.