visitors book

[Nikki125]

Its me again, sorry everyone, just a quick one, i'm just getting my visitors book together and i have a section for 1. date/time 2. visitors name 3. reason for visit 4. any other details of visit. do i need to to have a section about weather they saw/had contact with the children?

[rickysmiths]

You know you don't have to have a vistors book.

I have been minding for 18 years and have never had one. I know who is in my own home at all times and if I have a visitor who is not another minder the children are never left alone with the visitor so there is no problem the children are safe at all times.

Ofsted have never commented, and nor should they because it is not a requirement that we have one.


I'm not sure how this idea was ever put forward for cms or for what reason.

I have always been Inspected as good and the last 2 Inspections with Outstanding in keeping the children safe.

[sarah707]

A friend had an action recently for not getting the inspector to sign in... so some inspectors do want to see a visitor book.

However as Rickysmiths says it is not a requirement.

You can record the information in your daily record book if you prefer

[miffy]

My visitor record has date of visit/ name of visitor/ contact number/ reason for visit/ arrival time/ departure time.

Rickysmiths is correct, a visitor record is not a legal requirement but some see it as good practice.

Miffy xx

[Daisy1956]

I record time, date, reason for visit etc also add no contact with children were appropriate.

[alwaysright]

A friend had an action recently for not getting the inspector to sign in... so some inspectors do want to see a visitor book.

However as Rickysmiths says it is not a requirement.

You can record the information in your daily record book if you prefer

how did she get an action if its not a requirement then? did she not complain to ofsted??

[sonia ann]

how did she get an action if its not a requirement then? did she not complain to ofsted??

I would be interested to know this too

[rickysmiths]

A friend had an action recently for not getting the inspector to sign in... so some inspectors do want to see a visitor book.

However as Rickysmiths says it is not a requirement.

You can record the information in your daily record book if you prefer

She can not get an action on something that is not a requirement. I would have challenged that as factually incorrect.

Through 4 Ofsted Inspections I have never been asked for one or has it ever been commented on that I don't have one. If it had been I would have asked for whom and why they thought I needed one.

Having one makes it feel as if we cms have hoards of visitors we don't know and that is not the case. I am not an institution who has a number of staff and visitors who may not be know or their presence be known to the staff in the building, therefore a visitors signing in book is required especially in case of an emergency evacuation. You need to know how many and who may be in the building.

It is not needed for a cm because you know who is with you and in your home at all times and you never leave them with a mindee. I honestly don't even see how it can be regarded to be good practice to be honest because there is just no need for it. It is a meaningless piece of paperwork.

[alwaysright]

She can not get an action on something that is not a requirement. I would have challenged that as factually incorrect.

Through 4 Ofsted Inspections I have never been asked for one or has it ever been commented on that I don't have one. If it had been I would have asked for whom and why they thought I needed one.

Having one makes it feel as if we cms have hoards of visitors we don't know and that is not the case. I am not an institution who has a number of staff and visitors who may not be know or their presence be known to the staff in the building, therefore a visitors signing in book is required especially in case of an emergency evacuation. You need to know how many and who may be in the building.

It is not needed for a cm because you know who is with you and in your home at all times and you never leave them with a mindee. I honestly don't even see how it can be regarded to be good practice to be honest because there is just no need for it. It is a meaningless piece of paperwork.

i agree with this!! think its a complete waste of time, i have very few visitors during the day as my family and friends avoid the house then as they know its full of kids

[Tink]

I don't have a visitors book either. It's my home and I will decide who comes in at what time. I work with my husband and this is our business so we are not going to let anyone in are we?

I can see it's good practice but the book would be full the amount of times my Mum pops round to see my daughter!!!

[cupcake mummy]

I was recently visited by our Childminding Network coordinator who asked to sign in in my visitors book, when I told her I didn't have one she told me that it was now an Ofsted requirement and I have to get one asap. I just printed a sheet out from the internet but it seems there are different opinions on whether this is actually a requirement or not or just deemed as good practice.

[sarah707]

I was recently visited by our Childminding Network coordinator who asked to sign in in my visitors book, when I told her I didn't have one she told me that it was now an Ofsted requirement and I have to get one asap. I just printed a sheet out from the internet but it seems there are different opinions on whether this is actually a requirement or not or just deemed as good practice.

It is not a statutory requirement of the Eyfs now or the Eyfs revised to have a visitors book.

It is good practice to note the arrival and departure of visitors - you can use a book, a sheet or your diary.

Hth

[greenfields]

I'm recently registered. It was a requirement that I had a visitors book in order to become registered.

[sarah707]

I'm recently registered. It was a requirement that I had a visitors book in order to become registered.

Who told you it was a requirement greenfields?

Because I know the Eyfs (old one and new one) backwards as do a lot of people on this forum...

And it's not!

[greenfields]

Who told you it was a requirement greenfields?

Because I know the Eyfs (old one and new one) backwards as do a lot of people on this forum...

And it's not!

I'm in Wales so it's the Foundation Phase for me. An inspector from CSSIW stated it was a requirement. I have no problems with having one so I didn't question it, just got it done to get registered ASAP. So what regulations/document she was referring to, I don't know.

[sarah707]

I'm in Wales so it's the Foundation Phase for me. An inspector from CSSIW stated it was a requirement. I have no problems with having one so I didn't question it, just got it done to get registered ASAP. So what regulations/document she was referring to, I don't know.

Ahhhhhh! That makes sense now!

Yes it's a requirement (24.5) on the WELSH standards... not the Eyfs in England

[greenfields]

Ahhhhhh! That makes sense now!

Yes it's a requirement (24.5) on the WELSH standards... not the Eyfs in England

We can sleep easy tonight now that one's solved.

So those producing visitor books, target Wales!
(Yes I know you can make your own but they are so cheap on eBay!)

[Polly2]

I use the template on this site.
http://www.freechildmindingresources...ecord_Book.htm

its free!

[manjay]

We can sleep easy tonight now that one's solved.

So those producing visitor books, target Wales!
(Yes I know you can make your own but they are so cheap on eBay!)

It doesn't stipulate it has to be a visitors book though. I would argue that I am complying with the standards by making a note of vistors in my daily diary

[greenfields]

It doesn't stipulate it has to be a visitors book though. I would argue that I am complying with the standards by making a note of vistors in my daily diary

Yes, I get that completely. But for a fiver I'm happy to have the visitors book. A record of visitors in one place suits me nicely.