assistants in sole charge

**jellytot** · 06-10-2008, 03:34 PM

have just got off the phone with ofsted inspector with regards to whether an assistant can be left in sole charge of children. basically she said an assistant can be in sole charge of children under eyfs but not the children who arnt covered by eyfs. she did name the 2 registers but i clueless with them.

so i gathered that children up to 31st aug after their 5th b-day can be left with an assistant once older they cant.

hope i made sense then not very good at making sense.

**mum2two** · 06-10-2008, 04:37 PM

That's weird, as the inspector on Fri said they only really inspect you on EYFS children. There are only three things you have to have in place to satisfy the other register, and that's a lost child policy, and complaints procedure, & another policy (which I can't remember).

So it seems weird she told me that assistants can't be left in sole charge any more, as it's the EYFS kids they're really looking at...

Who knows any more.... So glad hubby's registered!!!

Kelly x

**sarah707** · 06-10-2008, 04:59 PM

I suggest you get anything like that in writing...

They have been known to change their minds occasionally

**JoeBloggs** · 06-10-2008, 06:35 PM

Check this thread http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/...554#post243554 Like smarties, it has the answer!

**roseybev** · 06-10-2008, 09:53 PM

this is what gets me realy

1 says 1 thing and others say diffent they are all ment to be trained to do there job ?.but if we do thing wrong we get it .and if your officer does not like you well nothing you do will be good enough been doing this job now for 19 years and its where your face fits sorry if i upset anyone its just the way i feel about them

**Pauline** · 08-10-2008, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by roseybev

this is what gets me realy

1 says 1 thing and others say diffent they are all ment to be trained to do there job ?.but if we do thing wrong we get it .and if your officer does not like you well nothing you do will be good enough been doing this job now for 19 years and its where your face fits sorry if i upset anyone its just the way i feel about them

This is why it is vitally important to get everything in writing. If you don't and you go against any rules you could be working uninsured

**miffy** · 08-10-2008, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by JoeBloggs

Check this thread http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/...554#post243554 Like smarties, it has the answer!

But does it?

I'd like to see where in the regulations it gives that answer

Miffy xx

**tinkerbelle** · 08-10-2008, 08:45 AM

when i registered my assistant i was told she could be in sole charge of any of them as she increased my numbers to 11 under 8s as long as parents permission is given and its on certificate that they can be left in charge of childrenetc

**patevans** · 08-10-2008, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by miffy

But does it?

I'd like to see where in the regulations it gives that answer

Miffy xx

SO......my assisstants can be left in sole charge of the 0-5's with written consent?!

**miffy** · 08-10-2008, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Louise2613

SO......my assisstants can be left in sole charge of the 0-5's with written consent?!

I don't know but unless it was in writing I wouldn't risk it.

I am just curious to see where it is written in the regulations as there seems to be more than one answer to this

Miffy xx

**Pauline** · 08-10-2008, 09:29 AM

I agree with Miffy, don't believe anything at the moment unless you have it in writing from Ofsted either in confirmation in an email/letter or actually written on your certificate.

Perhaps we are to get another certificate for the Childcare Register? Maybe that will then state what happens with assistants in that group?

It just seems too stupid for words that on 31st August next year my assistant will be allowed to have two of our children on his own, yet on 1st September he wouldn't!

Where is the logic in that?

**jellytot** · 08-10-2008, 09:37 AM

its all just completely baffaling, even the inspector i spoke to said to her it didnt make sense that assistant could be left with under 5's but not older 1's, surely if they were going to change it woldn't it make more sense to allow assistant to have sole charge of older 1's and not younger purely on the basis that older 1's are more self sufficent and can speak up if anything does go wrong, although on a practical point I only use my assistant for the younger 1's.

It is wrong when they do these things and it leaves us not knowing what we can or can't do

**tinkerbelle** · 08-10-2008, 09:46 AM

my certificate states she can be left in charge of children doesnt specify which ones and mums have signed to say she can be left with children check with early years they seem to know more than ofsted at times

**crazybones** · 08-10-2008, 09:55 AM

My certificate also states "may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children"

I asked my Quality Worker yesterday about him needing paediatric first aid - she didnt know what I was talking about but is going to get back to me

I agree with Miffy until someone shows it to me in writing from Ofsted I will carry on this way. By the way my certificate is dated 03.09.08 - after EYFS came in.

**Pauline** · 08-10-2008, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by annie337

By the way my certificate is dated 03.09.08 - after EYFS came in.

That just about sums it up Annie - different things on different certificates now!!

Thanks for that.

**jellytot** · 08-10-2008, 10:10 AM

I asked my Quality Worker yesterday about him needing paediatric first aid - she didnt know what I was talking about but is going to get back to me

i was told hubby needed paediatric frst aid to be my assistant, i think it is better for them to have it anyway, just in case

**kiddiwinks** · 08-10-2008, 10:22 AM

I have just also rang ofsted, and the lady said that she not to familer with the guide lines but did read the statements of that said the same as some one else on here that assistants can be in sole child of of the under 5 with written permition but not over 5's or even 8's.

She said the requirments for under 5 and then over 5's are done by different people and that they have wrote it with conflict on each other but there is not alot we can do now they have been wrote..

It is nothing to do with ofsted they just inspect and make sure you are following it.

**kiddiwinks** · 08-10-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by annie337

My certificate also states "may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children"

I asked my Quality Worker yesterday about him needing paediatric first aid - she didnt know what I was talking about but is going to get back to me

I agree with Miffy until someone shows it to me in writing from Ofsted I will carry on this way. By the way my certificate is dated 03.09.08 - after EYFS came in.

I also said this when i just rang and she said it was in the guidelines some where they we had had, she said i would be breaking the law if i did even though it is on my certificate, as i said the only reason i asked about it as i heard of some one, not read it in paperwork

**JoeBloggs** · 08-10-2008, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Pauline

It just seems too stupid for words that on 31st August next year my assistant will be allowed to have two of our children on his own, yet on 1st September he wouldn't!

Where is the logic in that?

I agree completly it is rather daft...

In cases where assistants can be left in sole charge there will be something along the lines of either

"may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children"

or

"may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children (early years register)"

listed on the certificate, otherwise it unfortunatly isn't possible

**Pauline** · 08-10-2008, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by JoeBloggs

I agree completly it is rather daft...

In cases where assistants can be left in sole charge there will be something along the lines of either

"may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children"

or

"may at times agreed and confirmed in writing by parents, leave an assistant in sole charge of the children (early years register)"

listed on the certificate, otherwise it unfortunatly isn't possible

Yes we know that, but some certificates are specifying that it only applies to children on the Early Years Register and some are not specifying anything. These certificates have been issued SINCE EYFS came into force on 1/9/08 and it is that discrepancy that is leading to all the confusion!