Birth Certificates

[helendee]

Mrs O has just left and pulled me up on something I knew nothing about. Are all of you aware that it is a legal requirement for you to see the child's birth certificate to see who the named father is and whether he has parental responsibility? This should be entered on the first page of the NCMA contract form.

I was always under the impression that this only applied to parents who were separated and had joint care of their child.

This misunderstanding cost me a 'Good' rating which I am not too happy about!! Hope this helps some of you avoid the same mistake.

Helen xx

[rickysmiths]

No I have never heard of this, where does it say on page one of the NCMA Contract that you have to have seen the Birth Cert? Nowhere as far as I can see. You just record who has PR. and the parent/parents sign.

In 17yrs od minding I have never seen one of my mindees Birth Certs.

I would actually phone Ofsted now and ask them and then challenge the inspectors judgement.

[Minstrel]

I agree it sounds like a 'made up' rule.

Never have i ever seen it written down anywhere that we ave to see the birth certs!

[onceinabluemoon]

I've never seen any birth certificates either...

It wasn't even brought up at my inspection.

If I was you I would email OFSTED with a general enquiry asking if you have to have sight of the child's birth certificate as you'd heard it was so but had never seen any official matter on the subject. Dont mention it in any way with your inspection and then see what the reply is before you take it further. If they say no (in writing hence why you email not phone) then you have the basis for a complaint if you have been marked down for it.

[helendee]

She showed me a paragraph in the EYFS booklet about ascertaining who has parental responsibility but I just assumed that if the mother had signed and stated who she was happy to have collect her child, then all was ok.

Am going to phone Ofsted to get some clarification on this.

[onceinabluemoon]

email them hun (see post above, cross posted) x

[Chimps Childminding]

I have never heard of it before!!! Surely we can't demand to see birth certificates, we should just take what we are told by the parents as being true

[Donkey]

accredited childminders have to see a birth certificate to check the date of birth to see if the child is elligible but I thought asking the parents about p.r was sufficient...

[bexcee]

accredited childminders have to see a birth certificate to check the date of birth to see if the child is elligible but I thought asking the parents about p.r was sufficient...

I can understand that if you are applying for the funding but otherwise I can't see why and it's up to the parents to tell the truth and sign the contract which is a legal document.

I would be challenging it especially if that was the only thing stopping you from getting a good grade.

[nic t]

Omg, I'm fuming for you!!!

Yet another case of luck of the draw with who you get inspecting?

Did she give you an action? If not can't see how this could affect your overall grade and even if she did I would be disputing it.

Also thought that contracts had nothing to do with Ofsted?

How many of us have ever been pulled up on this? Ludicrous?!!!

[helendee]

Hi Nic
Yes she gave me an action on it for four weeks from now.

I have just phoned Ofsted for clarification and am waiting for an Inspector to call me back.

I will keep you all updated. x

[PixiePetal]

In 16 years of minding I have never seen a birth certificate for any child.

Ofsted never asked at my inspection either and as far as I know none of my CM friends have been asked either

I would question it. As there is no requirement to use NCMA contracts how can we be told to fill it in on the page there?

[wendywu]

I know parents have to declare who has PR and we have to know that information.

I think there have been forms posted on here.

But i have never ever heard that we have to ask to see BC. So ladies if Mrs O asked if we have seen them just nod and smile

[nic t]

Hi Nic
Yes she gave me an action on it for four weeks from now.

I have just phoned Ofsted for clarification and am waiting for an Inspector to call me back.

I will keep you all updated. x

We all miss things sometimes but surely if this was a requirement most of us on here would know about it!!! I wonder what criteria she is going to fit it under for the action? She can't just make up her own wording for it.

Also even if she has given an action then it shouldn't necessarily affect your overall grade. Did she say this was why you weren't getting good?

I got 2 actions regarding RAs (won't bore you with it now but I disputed them) yet was still graded good.

[Mouse]

Have you checked who has parental responsibility for all the children, even those parents who are married or single with no partner? You said you only thought it applied to parents who were separated and had joint care of the children, so maybe that's what she was picking you up on, rather than not having checked birth certificates?

[Pipsqueak]

Nope never realised that we had to see birth certificates - it that case I am going to say we should all hand back our gradings.

what made up rubbish and I think you should fight this all the way.....

[helendee]

hi everyone

Just spoken to a really nice Inspector at Ofsted and she is outraged at this mis-information. She said that under no circumstances should we ask to see birth certificates and that if both parents are named on the contract we do not need to supply any more information to Ofsted about parental responsibility, she said that is proof enough.

She advised me to wait for my report to arrive and if the action is still listed to complain against it, she said that she will help me all the way.

Hope I didn't stress anyone out too much. xx

[babs]

glad they have got back to you and sorted it out fingers crossed your report wont have action on it...

all my parents fill out and sign a PR form even if they are both on contracts if just one parent on they still fill out details of other parent....

[loocyloo]

hi everyone

Just spoken to a really nice Inspector at Ofsted and she is outraged at this mis-information. She said that under no circumstances should we ask to see birth certificates and that if both parents are named on the contract we do not need to supply any more information to Ofsted about parental responsibility, she said that is proof enough.

She advised me to wait for my report to arrive and if the action is still listed to complain against it, she said that she will help me all the way.

Hope I didn't stress anyone out too much. xx

so glad you got a helpful inspector. i was at having to ask to see childrens birth certificates!

i do give parents a form about PR, and ask them to fill it in, but can i make them? !!! they all do, and currently all my children have two parents with PR, but should one parent not wish to sign/not be involved in the care of the child, how should i know?!

[caz3007]

Glad you have someone from Ofsted on your side.

I have a mum who hasnt put dad on the PR form. I know from the LO that dad lives in India cos he likes it there so cant see him knocking on my door, but wonder where I would stand if Ofsted challenged me about it. Surely I cant make her fill in his details. We do have a bit of a language difficulty as mum is eastern european and sometimes we both get confused