If I don't have any young children on my register at my next inspection, can I use my own daughter (currently aged 1) or would this not be acceptable from a paperwork point of view?

No, they never consider you own children.

If you have no eyfs children they will not grade you just give you a met or not met outcome. Own children do not count as in law it is not considered childcare.

If I don't have any young children on my register at my next inspection, can I use my own daughter (currently aged 1) or would this not be acceptable from a paperwork point of view?

As others have said unfortunately your children will not be looked on as equally getting 'childcare and education'...so retrograde I think!
They count for ratio purposes but not for being cared for....rather serving the powers to be own goals.
Would like to see this debated on TV with Ofsted, DfE and a few cms...live!

Ofsted and DfE do not look at things in that way and what a shame it is too...considering that some mothers are fighting for the right to be 'at home mums' and care and educate their own children and CMinding came about so women could stay at home and care for their own children while earning a bit of money while looking after children whose mums wanted a 'home from home' environment.

CMs' own children are even denied access to funding...absolutely incredible.

Maybe that is another battle to be won on a different day...equality for CM's own children!

is there any way to get a good grade if I don't have any EY children? Can I borrow a child for the day? if that is acceptable, what paperwork needs to be in place for that child?

Sorry to crash the thread but I think its really poor when you have no children on roll and how you're inspected. Its so unfair! Especially if you've had children on roll for 3yrs and for some reason they leave (school,preschool) just before an inspection so you've worked your **** off for 3-4yrs but because you don't have any children then they come along and inspect giving childminders a grade for that day :angry:

Surely they should wait until you have some.......I really feel for you.

Sorry to crash the thread but I think its really poor when you have no children on roll and how you're inspected. Its so unfair! Especially if you've had children on roll for 3yrs and for some reason they leave (school,preschool) just before an inspection so you've worked your **** off for 3-4yrs but because you don't have any children then they come along and inspect giving childminders a grade for that day :angry:

Surely they should wait until you have some.......I really feel for you.

That's going to be my position in the new year. Been almost full for years with a wide range of EY ages, and then I'll just have one EY (2yrs old) left and about 3 school children. :(

so is there any way to get around it? can I just borrow a child for the day? Surely as long as all of the paperwork is in place then they can see me working and give me the appropriate grade?

so is there any way to get around it? can I just borrow a child for the day? Surely as long as all of the paperwork is in place then they can see me working and give me the appropriate grade?

Yes... BUT you'd need to get some kind of LJ, or similar, together so you can show how you found out about the child (All About Me) and your obs/starting points, etc just like any EYFS child. Nothing says that the child needs to be with you for any length of time... but it will not work in your favour if you don't know the child well. Even if you say to the inspector that 'the child just started that day' they are looking for evidence of your way of working, your knowledge of the child, your planning and obs, how you work with other settings etc. Inspector may want to speak to parent to hear about how you work together/communicate how you settle-in children etc so again you would not be in an advantageous position if the parent can't talk about that confidently.

The inspection of CMs when there are no children on roll has changed recently by Ofsted.....in the past Ofsted used to defer the inspection for a while....but now it has to go on. They set the rules and they are often pulled out of the hat!
I can't imagine what harm delaying an inspection of this kind could possibly do if no safeguarding issues were present?

I think the new rules actually disadvantage CMs ...a regular feature these days...because our practice is different from a setting which operates all year round and is not home based.

In addition Ofsted are well behind with their inspections in the 1st place...hence the 30 month rule now regardless of what excuse Ofsted give for the longer time ....so to insist on inspecting a cm with no children when hundreds have been waiting years for inspection is rather petty.

The grading ...or lack of it...reflect the fact the cm cannot be seen or observed as 'teaching'....I wonder if some inspectors know what teaching looks like in the 1st place?

Surely our representing associations are the ones who should be fighting CMs corner on this? we pay them for that very reason

Needless to say that I will be raising this issue at OBC...the list is never ending!

Hi Hon, I feel for you, this was me earlier in the year I had to have my inspection with no EY mindees on roll lucky I got a met.

I feel it was really hindered me getting any further work no matter how much I advertise parents just seem to look for that good or outstanding ofsted rating and if don't have you are not considered I am now considering looking into alternative jobs and giving up childminding, I am giving it until the summer and then making a decision as my youngest will also be starting school then.

Hi Hon, I feel for you, this was me earlier in the year I had to have my inspection with no EY mindees on roll lucky I got a met.

I feel it was really hindered me getting any further work no matter how much I advertise parents just seem to look for that good or outstanding ofsted rating and if don't have you are not considered I am now considering looking into alternative jobs and giving up childminding, I am giving it until the summer and then making a decision as my youngest will also be starting school then.

:( Oh No...that's sad