Useful Information for Childcare Providers
This page contains useful information for you and your
setting from both the Cheshire East site and external websites.
26/08/10 - Beware bogus inspectors. NCMA
has brought it to our attention that childminders have
been contacted or
visited by people saying they are from Ofsted or one of
the two new inspection
service providers. Sometimes
the caller asks if they can have more details about the
childminder and their setting and may also ask if they can visit prior to
inspecting them. If you are contacted by someone who says they
are from Ofsted, Tribal Services Plc or Prospects Service Ltd and
you have doubts as to their legitimacy, you should not give any
personal details out. A genuine inspector should know these already
and be able to read your details to you for confirmation. Ask
for the callers to give their full name, the name of the
organisation they work for and tell them you are ending the call to
check their authenticity.If they are at your door you should carry
out your usual checks, such as requesting an ID
card or asking them to wait while you call their head office
number. You should telephone Ofsted on 0300 123
1231 and explain that you have been contacted by a person
who claims to be working for the named organisation. Ask
Ofsted to check that the person is known to Ofsted as either its
own employee or someone from one of its inspection service
providers.
23/08/10 - A
flexible childcare training course is set to launch next month,
allowing childminders and nannies to fit studying around work.
Goverment Vetting Scheme Halted
The following three documents relate to the recent
announcement from the coalition government stating that the vetting
scheme has been halted
More information on this and the current regulations
are available via the Independent
Safeguarding Authority.
Applying to be an early years provider? Now you can make the
move online.
From 22 July 2010 all those who
apply to be early years providers on Ofsted’s Early
Years Register will be able to do so online. Previously, only
those who wanted to join the Childcare Register could apply
online.
Did you know that Ofsted have changed their numbers? More
information on this and more is available on the Ofsted
Website.
Other Useful Websites
Cool Milk
supply free and subsidised school milk to children in
pre-schools, nurseries and primary schools - Every child under the
age of five is entitled to a free 189ml serving of milk whilst in
attendance of a registered daycare provider for two or more hours a
day.
The
SafeNetwork helps to keep children safe when taking part
in activities – from after school art clubs to weekend reading
groups and more – outside the home.
Mind the Road is a site which
contains useful information for Childminders (but can be used for
all settings) containing information and activities to use with
children and families you work with.
Other useful pages on the Cheshire East Council website
also include:
The role of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Childcare Team
in Cheshire East is to lead quality improvement for children
from birth to age five in all in private, voluntary, independent
and maintained settings (including Children’s Centres, reception
classes and the Maintained Nursery School) and in any childcare
provision for children up to and including the age of 14 (17 for
disabled children).
The Childcare Workforce Development
Team provides a programme of training, information, and
advice as well as funding for Early Years and Childcare
practitioners to attain qualifications, and access continuing
professional development. Additionally, they help people find out
about careers in childcare and support employers with information
about training and employment issues.
Current information from Cheshire East Council
regarding the Early Years Single Funding Formula can be
found on the Early Years Reform pages.