Signing in area

[Sez1980]

Hi I was just wondering if anyone could give me advice on setting up a signing in area for parents/ visitors. Any pictures would be great. I only have room on a kitchen bench would this be acceptable or classed as unhygienic?

[moggy]

What do you mean by a 'signing in area'? I have not heard of one and CMers certainly do not need one, parents do not need to sign in at all. We do need to keep a detailed register of children's attendance but we can do that any way we want and parents do not need to see or sign that. You can use a diary, notebook, online system etc for register. You may want to have a visitor book but that is not compulsory and again if you want one you can do it any way you want- a diary, notebook etc and you do not need to ask anyone to 'sign in', you can make a note yourself of any visitor during working hours. I hope this answers your question, or I may have completely miss understood what you meant! Have you been on your Local Authority pre-reg briefing? They should be available to help you with your questions while you get registered.

Edit- I am assuming you are in England? Scotland and Wales have their own rules so i have no idea what is needed there.

[sarah707]

I am very lucky that I have a back entrance hall with a shelf so I can put my register and parent paperwork on there - but it's not a requirement or anything!

[Sez1980]

Thanks for the advice, it was for parents paper work and attendance register and a small notice board. I wanted it to be all in one place but maybe over thinking everything. I have been on the pre reg course but to be honest it was rubbish didn't tell me anything I had not all ready found out on ofsted/ gov websites and forums. I'm pleased I didn't have to pay for it!

[moggy]

Thanks for the advice, it was for parents paper work and attendance register and a small notice board. I wanted it to be all in one place but maybe over thinking everything. I have been on the pre reg course but to be honest it was rubbish didn't tell me anything I had not all ready found out on ofsted/ gov websites and forums. I'm pleased I didn't have to pay for it!

That is a shame about your course- Sarah707 and Simona (and others) are active in attending meetings with Ofsted to ring these issues to the table, maybe you can message them with your LA details as the more evidence that comes out the more pressure the forum can put on the LA/Ofsted/Dept Ed to solve these problems- LAs have a duty to support registering childminders.