sarah707
11-09-2009, 07:21 AM
I received the following questions earlier in a pm ... I thought everyone might find the answers useful.

They relate to the information posted on the forum yesterday that said the Childcare register has been updated. :D


Regarding arrangements with other childcare providers - what wording would you suggest. I always suggest people if I am on holiday or sick, but don't guarantee, I always say that at interview and ask if they have alternative care.

The Childcare Register says we must give parents information for if we are off sick...

Either say you can't suggest other childminders because they might be full and give parents childcare link website details... or give the name of a childminder you work together with... or talk to parents about the need to have emergency care of their own set up.


What would I say on the activities I undertake, would I just list the activities.

Routine - collect from school, snack and drink, free play from a range of resources, computer, tea time, reading session before home... that kind of thing.


Safeguarding procedures - what would that entail? Would that be my child protection policy - would I have to give that to them.

Your child protection policy is now your safeguarding policy and procedure. For the childcare register you must give this one and complaints to parents.


What would I say on the registration system for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

I have a paragraph in my welcome booklet that says that I am registered on both the Early years and childcare registers. I say that people who are offering care who are not registered will not have an Ofsted registration number and will be offering unregistered and uninsured care.


Do you have to give the parents a copy of every single policy. I have a folder which I circulate and they sign that they have seen it. A girl I know has just had her inspection and the inspector said she must give a copy of every single policy to the parent!!!! I was told that what I was doing would suffice.

For the childcare register you must give parents a copy of the safeguarding and complaints procedures.

For Eyfs it is good practice to ensure parents have easy access at mutually convenient times to your policies and procedures. Mine are in a clear wallet by the back door with my register, menus etc. I also offer them to all new parents on CD (more eco friendly than using half a tree).


I am moving soon and the garden is quite mature and needs clearing out. Can you tell me where I would get a list of poisonous plants?

http://www.rhs.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5..._e_harmful.pdf


Do I have a timescale to let Environmental Health know that I am moving or is best to as soon as I get the date of moving.

When you're in should be soon enough. Concentrate on getting the address changed through Ofsted and risk assessments for the new house. They are taking up to 6 weeks to process straight forward variations at the moment so you might be out of work for some time - plenty of time to ring EHO while you are waiting.

tammerisk
11-09-2009, 07:30 AM
i like te idea of a cd for the policys i have a new parent coming to sign today and was thinking OMG how much paper and printing am i going to have to do

so will just print out permmision forms and put the rest on a cd for them now thanks for the idea sarah

Muffin
11-09-2009, 07:55 AM
Sorry if I'm being thick but if I only have children 0-5yrs do I still need to give copies of complaints form and safeguarding procedure to parents or is it ok to have it in a general folder kept at my setting

Thanks

sarah707
11-09-2009, 09:08 AM
Sorry if I'm being thick but if I only have children 0-5yrs do I still need to give copies of complaints form and safeguarding procedure to parents or is it ok to have it in a general folder kept at my setting

Thanks

It is very good practice to share your policies and procedures with parents...

HOWEVER they do not need to be actually given so long as parents understand what you have written... according to the Eyfs.

HOWEVER the inspectors I have met want to know how I share them and I'm not sure how you would if they weren't written down.

If you care for children on the Childcare Register, it states you must give copies of safeguarding and complaints to parents.

Hth :D

Mollymop
11-09-2009, 09:15 AM
I have a "welcome pack" which I give to parents to keep when they have signed. In that -it includes my safeguarding childrens policy and complaint policy/procedure.
I also have an "acknowledgement of Policies" form, that the parents sign to say they are aware I hold policies and that they are available to look at when whenever mutually possible.

It's a small world
11-09-2009, 09:26 AM
All parents read my polciies then sign a form (to save on trees) they get a copy of safeguardig /complaints and then if they request any othes they I am happy to oblige. All my policies are in my portfolio that is available for all parents at all time (so OFSTED/EYFS covered)

With regards to sickness my friend and I are thinking about being each others back up but we are both newly reg would that be a problem...I give childcare link website but say that I will try and help too.

Activities . In my parents handbook I have a list of acticvities that we do plus an example of a typical day.

Just when you think youve got something covered something else crops up..its never ending ...SEF next...:eek:

hello kitty
11-09-2009, 10:54 PM
Thank you Sarah, again. :)

miffy
18-09-2009, 05:25 PM
Thanks for this Sarah :thumbsup:

Miffy xx

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