Have ofsted coming this week. and need to know what is correct with keys by doors?

I always lock front door with a bolt accross at top and hide keys away. But a friend said they want to see them haging next to the door on a hook. so olderopnes can get it but younger ones cant. So im thinking the door bolt is gonna be bad news as its a fire hazard.??

Back door the same, pin them up next to it.

Everyone sayes such different things its hard to know whats correct????

I use to leave mine in the front door afte locking it as only mind little ones but ofsted no they MUST be removed from front door and hung on a hook at the the side out of reach.

So mine are now hung high up out of reach but in sight.

Not sure about older mindees being able to reach them, maybe check with your development officer for advice on that one :thumbsup:

Good luck

Mine are on a hook at the top of the door so no-one can reach them but me. Then that brings the question of, what if I collapsed and the kids couldn't get out???? The inspector was happy with the keys being out of reach but in sight.

Mine are hung up in reach of adults only, next to front door.
Door is locked(which does my DH head in):laughing:

Hi,

I keep a door key on a pully string and attach it to my trousers/skirt, that way i always have it to hand but if i did collapse the children know where it is and could get it if they had too!

Waiting to get my first registered CM inspection but that was what we were advised to do on the ICP course and also by my DO.

Nicole x

my window keys i stick at the top of the window with blue tack:D

Mine are on a hook at the top of the door so no-one can reach them but me. Then that brings the question of, what if I collapsed and the kids couldn't get out???? The inspector was happy with the keys being out of reach but in sight.

Mine is out of normal reach but if they got a chair to stand on it could be reached, there is no way its going totally out of reach incase DD needs to open it if I need medical attention.

I think I will need to move my keys before I start minding then as they are on a hook inside the cupboard under the stairs - high up but out of sight although both my kids know where they are and DD1 can get to them if she really wants to :)

my front door key lives on a shelf, handles are thrwon up but never locked as I want to know that I can get out fast.

my kitchen door key is on a pinboard next to the door out of reach of yournger children but within reach of my over 8's - used daughter as a hieght tester

my patio door key is on a shelf out of children's reach but again my daughter and any other over 8 knows to stand on the chair to reach in an emergency.

i used to carry my keys with me until I stabbed myself in my leg! so I refuse to carry keys due to self harming.

The fire department will tell you to lock the door and keep the keys in as if there was a fire and smoke everywhere you would not see the keys to find them, let alone put them in the door itself.

I told this to my Ofsted inspector and she was happy about it but did point out that if the children were at an age where they could unlock the door I would keep the keys on me. Again this was acceptable

My windows all have locks and keys permanently in them. They have to be turned and there is a press switch under the handle to open them - children cannot do this and I struglle sometimes. Again she was happy with this.

I don't think that there is a right and wrong way to do things, you just have to be able to justify what you do.

I agree with Debbie that you need to find a way that works for you and can be justified properly.

I am a supporter of yale lock on front doors as it removes the worry about keys. My back door in to the garden is always unlkocked during the day and it only leads in to the garden anyway. The door into the garage was a bit of an issue as if you left the key in when it was locked it could be turned by a child but if i took the key out there wasn't any where safe to put it. So i put the key in the drawer and fitted a big bolt high enough that the smaller kids couldn't reach but low enough to use in an emergency by the older ones.

Mine go on the key holder near the front door and I am forever telling hubby to remove his key from the front door (he works from home) as mine love to play postie so would open the door at every opportunity!:laughing:

It's another one of those grey areas that if you can prove what you do is safe then you're ok.