Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are you registered with Ofsted?
Yes, we are all registered with Ofsted. Ann and Dave have both, independently, achieved the highest grading possible - Outstanding in all categories.
Yes, we are all members of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). Ann and Dave are both, accredited Network childminders.
Our fees are something we like to discuss with each parent individually as the charge to you is often dependent upon a number of factors like full-time or part-time cover, early/late/all-day requirements, length of time in the setting and whether or not you have a sibling who is also attending. In line with EYE regulations, we do publish a downloadable PROSPECTUS that gives more details.
Q4. Are you qualified in Early Years Provision?
The National Childminding Association are working towards all childminders having a minimum qualification at Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A levels). At the present time (2011) about half the registered childminders in England meet this requirement.
Ann and I are both qualified at a much higher level than the current minimum requirement.
Ann is already Level 4 qualified and working towards her Early Years Degree. She has completed her first and second years and submitted her final assignment for her third year in April 2012.
Dave is one of the first male registered childminders in the UK to have achieved Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) at Level 6 and is also highly qualified at post graduate level 7 in IT.
Q5. What is an Early Years Professional?
The government wants to raise the standards in Early Years Provision by increasing the numbers of graduate qualified people involved in the education and planning of young children's development. The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) are the governing body that oversee the training and examination of prospective EYPS candidates.
Q6. What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
All children aged up to 31st August after their fifth birthday are within the age range of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This stage is designed to offer all children the best opportunity to meet and exceed their full potential. Every Early Years setting (including us) is required by law to be implementing EYFS for the benefit of the children in this age range.
Q7. How many children are you allowed in your setting?
We are registered for 12 children. This is the maximun number permitted by Fareham Borough Council (FBC) and also through our Ofsted registration.
Q8. Do you have planning permission to conduct your childminding business?
We hold a Certificate of Lawfullness to conduct our business issued by Fareham Borough Council as a result of a lengthy planning permission application.
Q9. Have you had an inspection from Environmental Health?
Fareham Environmental health regularly inspect larger childminding settings. We were last inspected in January 2012.
Q10. How long have you been childminding?
Ann has been childminding since 1979 and Dave since 2007.
Q11. Do you offer Early Years Education (EYE) Provision?
As accredited childminders we are qualified to provide the EYFS EYE provision to 3 year olds. Our setting is registered to offer this. Currently the provision is for 15 hours free cover paid for by Hampshire County Council.
Q12. Do you have a waiting list for a placement in your setting?
Some childminders maintain a waiting list or ask for a deposit for a place. We have made a decision to NOT offer either of these. We receive a number of calls each month and will indicate if a vacancy is imminent. If one has become available then this will be filled on a first-come first served basis.
Q13. Do you have any other childminders or Early Years staff in your setting?
Sometimes we offer placements to Fareham College for Early Years Students to come into our setting to gain experience in working alongside us whilst we provide our childcare. This (unpaid) facility is offered because there is no substitute to actually working with children. Whilst the theoretical and accademic work is very important, until you actually put that theory into practice with real children it makes little sense or meaning.
As both our daughters are registered childminders in their own right in their own homes they often visit us and bring their own children with them.
Q14. Do you employ any staff in your setting?
As we are self-employed Registered Childminders working in our own home we DO NOT employ any other staff. Occasionally we arrange temporary 'bank staff' cover from our daughters whilst one of us is out of the setting on training or other business related activities.
We are asked this question all the time. We are NOT a nursery we are very proud to be Registered Childminders working from our own home.
Q16. What schools do you drop off and pick up from?
We only pick up from and drop off to RANVILLES INFANTS and RANVILLES JUNIORS schools.
Q17. Can my child attend the setting if my child is ill?
As a childcare provider we have to abide by the Health Protection Agency [HPA] guidelines regarding illnesses. The HPA have produced a leaflet explaining the actions required for all manner of illnesses and how long the ill child will be excluded from the setting whilst the symptoms exist. The leaflet can be downloaded here HPA Infection control in settings.
Q18. Are you Registered for Data Protection?
We are registered Data Providers with the Information Commissioner's Office [ICO]. Our current registration document can be viewed here. This means we have a duty of care for the data we hold on the children and parents in our setting.
Q19. Do you provide any training for other practitioners?
We offer training to Fareham College students through a scheme to allow the students to gain practical experience working in a childminding setting. We also have delivered training workshops in heuristic play and treasure baskets for other childminders and Early Years Practitioners.
