Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can't find any threads on here with reference to doing this...
...do you give out your Ofsted number to prospective parents if they want to look at your report on the Ofsted website?
I am just being hesitant as I am sure I have previously read on here that some parents ask for it so that they can use it on forms to claim benefits whether they take you up on childcare or not?
Is it better to provide them with a paper copy of the report to refer to....oh, but this has the Ofsted number on it as well???? Sorry I'm confused myself now!

I think Im right in saying that if prospective parent request your details from childrens information service they provide your number anyway.

If its any consolation if they do use your number fraudulantly there is no come back on you at all :D

Thanks for your quick reply & reassurance, much appreciated :)

Thanks for your quick reply & reassurance, much appreciated :)

No problem :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I dont give my number out until I have signed contracts, but if I havea prospective parent then I print a copy off myself and black out my number.
As it happens Ofsted say you can charge to provide a copy of your report - not sure I could ever justify that though:D

Family Information Services (FIS) are duty bound to provide the OfSTED URN in lists provided to parents/carers seeking childcare - in addition they can also supply Inspection Reports if requested.

One of my new nums has just said to me today that tax credits need my address and postcode, she said last time she claimed, it was only reg no. Anyone can get a reg no from ofsted online, so suppose they are making it a little harder as you would need to make contact with the minder to get their full address

in regards to the above any FIDy website displaying available fields uploaded by FIS is capable of telling you the OfSTED URN, name and address of the provider...

one plucked at random on hampshire FIDy site
http://pkhd.hants.gov.uk/details.php?recordID=158467&recordType=ECD&category=001-7

again is it a statutory requirement that FIS make this available - this extends to websites.

in the above example the provider has given consent for their full address details to be given out - not all childminders do and therefore the postcode and address would be removed leaving only the town name.

to change your consent levels you would have to contact your local FIS but we would still be providing it on lists as we are required to do so.

oh sorry forgot to say if you hover over the inspection report hyperlink its tells you the ofsted urn - and once again once clicked upon.

I include my URN on my brochure - it is not my concern if someone makes a fraudulent claim (although I suppose it is my taxes that support that payment!!!).

I think that with the various online databases/directories available, if someone wants to identify a Childminder it is not a very difficult thing to do, going between the Childcarefinder website, Ofsted and the childcare.co.uk site.

I had seen a couple of reports recently of inspections that were in my postcode area and with a bit of judicious work, I was able to identify them and an awful lot about them, within 10 minutes trawling around on the web using the sites above and other things like Royal Mail's postcode ID tool.

How ever much you conceal your identity, almost anyone can find out your details.