Hi, just been browsing on Mumsnet on the CM thread and there seems to be a bit of a panic going on about OFSTED not telling people that they have to have food hygene qualifications.
Not sure if it applies to all counties but everyone should check and they can PREVENT you from providing food on your premises and even warming up a baby's bottle!!:eek: :eek:
The enviromental health people also have the power to inspect your premises but OFSTED recon they won't use that power.
Sounds like everyone is going to have to do a food hygene course.
Have a look on Mumsnet and see what you think.:panic:

i was at a meeting last week where it was mentioned that all nottinghamshire minders had to be registered now, i have done my food hygiene but am not reistered yet, thought i'd wait until ofsted told me it was mandatory

Don't panic, they won't shut you down or anything like that. They are not there to cause problems, just to have a register of people who are providing food.

Phone your local council and just ask if you need to be registered, they will probably send out some forms to fill in, but it costs nothing, so if anyone asks for money DON'T PAY!! It is unusual for them to come out and inspect domestic premises, they are very busy with big businesses to bother with us!

There are some very silly rumours going around at the moment about it all but don't worry, the best place to come for advice is here! :thumbsup:

in the seven years i have been registered you have always had to do food hygiene course.

there was a thread before about this...

as pauline said, contact your local council...I was told I dont need to register as there are too many childminders in the area( unless working with an assistand)...but they did say it was a bit of a grey area

Jana

I've just finished an online food hygiene course and don't even know if it was the right one but I've done it and it cost me nearly £30!!! The pass mark was 75% and I got 90%. So annoyed I didn't get 100% though.

Sue x x

I always struggle with the wording on those online courses Sue ...

I have a letter from my local authority confirming they do not want me to register ... :D

My dev officer told me a few weeks ago that I should register myself with food standards agency (or some place like that???? - those people who inspect restaurants ha)
I have a food hygiene certificate.
My friend registered herself with the council a good year ago, but they have never inspected her yet.

Hi heard from lady at NCMA that we all have to register with the foods standards people regardless of whether we provide food, or if the kids bring their own, as this will also be stored. There will be an article about this in September's who minds apparently.

I had my food hygiene course last saturday, found it very interesting, but it was definitely geared more towards business than our homes.

I would not panic I agree with Pauline

I am registered though because we had letters in my area - I think we were the first area to do this - Dec 06

They have never ever come out to me and I was told that they will not be inspecting me

I had to fill in a very brief form send it off and then they calls me to ask if I mind more than 6 children at any one time
Then they sent out the certificate

Not sure why these silly rumours fly around to cause everyone to panic

Its no big deal if you do have to register - it is easy peasy

Angel xx

Ive yet to register we have been told to do so. I have booked my food hygine for oct.
Slightly on topic but i noticed on big brother they had so nice chopping boards. You know they different colour boards? Well they had a block to keep them in and each one had a tab on(like folder tabs) with a symbol ofwhat to use for. Has anyone seen them?

Lou

I registered and they came out to inspect me within a couple of months and a couple other minders in my area

Angela

Ive yet to register we have been told to do so. I have booked my food hygine for oct.
Slightly on topic but i noticed on big brother they had so nice chopping boards. You know they different colour boards? Well they had a block to keep them in and each one had a tab on(like folder tabs) with a symbol ofwhat to use for. Has anyone seen them?

Lou

no but i think i want some, they sound ace!!!

were they plastic though?

louise are these them??

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joseph-Index-Chopping-Boards/dp/B00144WDTW

I don't know if I've done the right thing. (Story of my life lol) I went to the food hygiene website and merrily clicked on something and did this 3 hour course. I got my certificate this morning and it's a virtual college (http://www.virtual-college.co.uk/?A=469&B=1Target=%22_blank%22) one and says Foundation Food Hygiene, learning course as defined in the Industry Guide to Good Hygiene. I just clicked on the first one I saw! Duh!! Will this be ok do you think and should I also ring my local council and tell them I'm now working as a childminder in my home?

Love Sue x

You are best to ring them and let them know you are registered.

Whether they contact you or not is down to how busy they are and their resources from what I can gather, but if you make a note of who you've spoken to, date etc then you've done your bit.

The course sounds fine - it's about being aware and trained at the end of the day :D

Thanks Sarah, again.

Sue x x

Well they had a block to keep them in and each one had a tab on(like folder tabs) with a symbol ofwhat to use for. Has anyone seen them?Lou

These are what I have

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?SiteType=cat&productCode=S122

on some sites the boards cost more than this on there own

here we all have to register with enviromental health and they inspect us too!
food hygiene course not compulsory YET!

I was told on my food hygiene course that I had to register and that they wouldn't inspect childminders but I registered and they did now I have to follow Safer Food Better Business - I had no actions to take so I don't think they will be back for a while - I was a nervous wreck though.

With regard to my chopping boards I got a set of cheap very thin coloured ones from Makro and I put them on top of either my glass one or my other thicker boards that I had from Ikea - the inspector was more than happy with that - I don't have colour coded knives though.

I'm just wondering as I'm under the same council as Sarah Nev why she got a letter to say she doesn't have to register and I got an inspection. You think ofsted are bad.

I'm just wondering as I'm under the same council as Sarah Nev why she got a letter to say she doesn't have to register and I got an inspection. You think ofsted are bad.

No idea! Our Welsh friend told us only the other day while on eyfs training that Cheshire didn't want childminders to register yet ...

She said she'd keep us informed :rolleyes:

I'm in Kent and I registered and Enviromental Health Officer is visiting the house this Thrsday - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I also did the Virtual College Food Hygiene course.

Mel

Sarah NevThat friend of ours also told a fellow minder from this town who has been minding for years and years and who has known our friend for years and years too that she couldn't mind her own grand child and be paid by her daughters tax credits. - Thats not true is it? This woman has been minding for years and got an outstanding in her inspection last Sept (only minder in this town with that).

Our friend gets the odd thing wrong here and there you know (quite a bit by all accounts actually).

I was told to do it when on my ICP course last year - I don't know if right hand knows what left hand is doing sometimes - When I said same council meant borough but I know yours is different to mine at the moment but its all the same for Environmental Health - my little man came from Macclesfield but works in Congleton sometimes. I just wish someone would get it right sooner rather than later and stop wasting peoples time and government money - I'm not bitter but I just hate being the only Environmental Health inspected childminder in Cheshire.:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: - Would have liked a ceretificate to put on my wall to prove it.

I think I have this correct...

I know it hasnt been compulsory unless you were preparing food for a large number of children (and not just 3/4) but from Sept new childminders will have to do the basic core training which includes food hygiene before they register. This is replacing the ICP and its about 30 hours and is called induction training programme so I guess we will have to do it from Sept and keep it upto date