So, I rang ofsted to a) inform them I am now minding & b) ask them about registering my partner as my assistant as he recently been made redundant. They told me he needs first aid if I want to leave him alone and no safeguarding, is this right I just can't believe that they would need no safeguarding at all.

I might ring back and double check!!

I think you would be responsible for giving him safeguarding training and ensuring that he knew what your policies are and what he should do if there was a concern. That's the way I believe it works in pre-schools the manger goes on safeguarding training and then delivers it back to the staff, well that is at least what happened in my daughters pre-school. If I were u I would ring again and clarify and if that is the case make sure u do train him on signs of abuse and procedures to follow as I believe ofsted are quiet hot on this topic.

So, I rang ofsted to a) inform them I am now minding & b) ask them about registering my partner as my assistant as he recently been made redundant. They told me he needs first aid if I want to leave him alone and no safeguarding, is this right I just can't believe that they would need no safeguarding at all.

I might ring back and double check!!

I think that's right. I had the same conversation and the same answers, having asked Ofsted, my LA and LSCB.

I've tried to get my assistant (Mrs Bunyip) on an LA course but no luck. They prioritise CMs, nursery/school staff above CM assistants, and won't accept a booking for her more than 14 days before the course. By that time, the course is full and she can't take up a place if someone drops out cos her employer (part-time job outside CMing) needs more notice to give time off. LA refuse to give an access code for her to do the online course instead.

I make sure she knows my safeguarding policies, and work through my notes from the safeguarding course I did. The course was pretty much one of those standard LA 'death by Powerpoint' exercises. So Mrs B is just as well-informed by viewing the Powerpoint print-out as she would be by going on the course itself. :rolleyes:

Thanks for your help guys

With regard to safeguarding, I think because they are your assistant you are only leaving them with the child for maximum of 2hrs a day and that's only if you need to. If there were safeguarding concerns you would be the main point of contact, if your partner had concerns he would report it to you, as a member of staff would at a school

I have just recently registered as a cm and it was not compulsory for me to have any safeguarding certificate from Ofsted's point of view. Only first aid was the required certificate. However if I didn't do any safeguarding training and write and follow my safeguarding policy then I would not be adhering to the EYFS. I think it is like being registered with the ICO, you need to do it to comply with the law/EYFS but it is not a direct requirement from Ofsted. If you can get your husband on a course I would, if not do as Bunyip has and train him yourself and make sure he knows your policy (you may have to rewrite it now you have an assistant), especially about 'whistle blowing',

The nspcc do an online reasonably priced course, not la approved so no good for childminders themselves but it's a good course for generic information for assistants.

Thanks I have managed to get him on group 3 safeguarding at the of April with local children's centre. Yay!!