:idea:
HI im looking to send of my ofstead form but dont want to this until i know i have everything in place.if any body can help this would be great i feel like my head is going to explode. ps does anybody else sometimes wonder if there doing the right thing.

my questions

do you have to have a bannister on stairs if it is walls on both sides and there is a baby gate fitted at the bottom?

can i keep my fitted beer fridge in kitchen it is on low level it does now have a child lock on this? was going to put baby gate on kitchen door but door so small cant find one to fit.

do i have to have a large fire guard or can i have a small one i dont use the fire so i really dont want a large one around it?

can you advertise before you get registered and if so do i have to put pre reg?

does any body no what ofstead do when they come to inspect do they look all over house at every plug socket every wire ect keep worrying i have forgot one.

does anybody know what the need for childcare is in morley area ?

:idea:
HI im looking to send of my ofstead form but dont want to this until i know i have everything in place.if any body can help this would be great i feel like my head is going to explode. ps does anybody else sometimes wonder if there doing the right thing.
often , but i love it really!
my questions

do you have to have a bannister on stairs if it is walls on both sides and there is a baby gate fitted at the bottom?
Are you only registering downstairs? If they have no access to the stairs then it should be fine. I would guess a banister is needed if they need to go up / down though.can i keep my fitted beer fridge in kitchen it is on low level it does now have a child lock on this? was going to put baby gate on kitchen door but door so small cant find one to fit. As long as its locked , but wouldnt be the best thing for parents to see on home visits possibly?do i have to have a large fire guard or can i have a small one i dont use the fire so i really dont want a large one around it? Probably depends on which inspector you get tbh - do a risk assessment and show that you have weighed up the dangers..
can you advertise before you get registered and if so do i have to put pre reg?
Yes , but be sure to say available from .....does any body no what ofstead do when they come to inspect do they look all over house at every plug socket every wire ect keep worrying i have forgot one. You dont have to have socket covers at all! Again , show how you intend to keep children safe using a risk assessmentdoes anybody know what the need for childcare is in morley area ?
Sorry wrong area!


I really think youre worrying too much about your visit. the inspector will be there to advise you , she will point out anything you still need to do before registering if there is anything! have a look through some posts about the prereg inspection and almost everyone says it was actually pleasant and they were silly to worry so much! The inspector is there to help get you ready for childminding and check you know what to do , not that you have it all in place. Good Luck x

Or thank u so much

I've just ordered this stairgate, after recommendations from... I can't remember, one of the forum stars.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lascal-12300...1845443&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000J4E5GW?ie=UTF8&tag=childminding-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B000J4E5GW">Lascal KiddyGuard Safety Gate</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=childminding-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B000J4E5GW" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;)

If you go through the forum (top of the page, to the right, help the forum) to amazon you help the forum too.

It is for the top of my stairs and will fit spaces 30-130 cm wide.

xx

I had my pre-reg visit a month ago. Remember it is a visit, not an inspection as such, they wont grade you this time.
I had written down the things I still needed to do, which I hadnt got around doing yet and she was fine with that, didnt give an action list. So my advice would be not to worry, just write a list of things still to be done.

Trine

Don't fall into the trap that Ofsted want your home to be like a nursery.

I have 3 sets of stairs and no stairgates, a fire with no fireguard and no cupboard locks in the kitchen or drawer locks.

I justified why and how I safeguard the children, hence no unwanted holes anywhere

Good advice already

Just think of 2 main main questions

If I was a child would I be safe here?
If I was a child would I have opportunities to develop to my full potential?

As Debbie has said - it is your home and not a nursery. There is no 'right' way - everything has to be tailored to your setting - and so what one person does may not be the right thing for you.

So comparing my practice to points Debbie made
I have fireguard - not because fire is on because it keeps children away from the thing I like to keep on hearth.
I do not have cupboard locks - I have gate across kitchen doorway
I do not have a stairgate on stairs - but have one across lounge door which prevents access to stairs and front door.

We both keep the children safe - but in a way that is personal to our setting. You will most likely do things different to both of us!

As others have said - at this point do not rush out to buy things that you may not need - when inspector comes just run through your ideas and she / he will advise / agree.

It is only at the first graded inspection that they make the judgements - and by then you WILL know what you need to have in place because you will have mindees and therefore will be able to plan to meet their safety needs - which is what Ofsted will judge on - the needs of the children in your care on graded inspection day.

Good luck - everyone does get stressed but then says afterwards ' don't know why I stressed so much' - so relax and don't worry so much.

Penny :)

hi
re the advertising..... be aware that it might not just take a few weeks....mine took 10 months from inspection to my crb & certiicate to come through. i lost 2 potential clients due to the officials taking there time. some parents need a quick start :)

Or my gosh 10 months I hope not was told 12 weeks feels like its been forever really worried will do all this and then not get any children to care for