Frequently Asked Questions 

 

SOME THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW WILL BE ANSWERED BY THE VARIOUS SECTIONS ON THE WEBSITE BUT HERE ARE SOME BASIC THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW

 

AM I REGISTERED?

YES I AM REGISTERED WITH OFSTED AND HAVE HAD AN ENHANCED CRB CHECK

AM I INSPECTED?

YES I AM INSPECTED BY OFSTED EVERY 3 YRS (APPROX)

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF AN INSPECTION?

THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ARE

OUTSTANDING

GOOD

SATISFACTORY

UN-SATISFACTORY

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF MY LAST INSPECTION?

I HAVE BEEN GRADED AS GOOD AT BOTH MY PREVIOUS INSPECTIONS.

AM I INSURED?

YES I HAVE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE IN PLACE AND ALSO EMPLOYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE TIMES I HAVE SOMEONE WORKING FOR ME.

AM I TRAINED IN FIRST AID?

YES I HOLD A PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID CERTIFICATE FOR WHICH A REFRESHER COURSE IS REQUIRED EVERY 3 YRS AND A NEW CERTIFICATE ISSUED.

HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN I CARE FOR?

I AM REGISTERED TO CARE FOR

3 CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS & 3 CHILDREN  BETWEEN 5-8 YEARS

WHEN WORKING BY MYSELF. ( I HAVE A VARIATION ON MY REGISTRATION TO ALLOW ME TO TAKE MORE CHILDREN ON CERTAIN DAYS 4 ON TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS)

I AM REGISTERED TO CARE FOR

6 CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS & 4 CHILDREN BETWEEN 5-7 YEARS

WHEN WORKING WITH AN ASSISTANT OR ANOTHER CHILDMINDER.

IN ADDITION TO THIS I ALSO PROVIDE CARE FOR OVER 8,S

AM I A MEMBER OF NCMA?

YES I AM A MEMEBER OF NCMA, I USE MOST OF THEIR PAPERWOK SUCH AS CONTRACTS.

DO I TAKE CHILDCARE VOUCHERS?

 YES I DO ACCEPT CHILDCARE VOUCHERS. I AM CURRENTLY REGISTERED WITH SEVERAL VOUCHER COMPANIES .

ALL VOUCHERS MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE THE PAYMENT DUE DATE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO CLEAR BEFORE THIS DATE USUALLY 3-5 WORKING DAYS BEFORE PAYMENT DUE.

IF YOU ARE NOT SET UP 4 WEEKS BEFORE COMMENCING A PLACEMENT WITH THE SETTING PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY ANOTHER METHOD FOR THE FIRST 4 WEEKS FEES IN ORDER FOR THE VOUCHERS TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE SECOND FEE DATE.

TAX CREDITS

I AM AWARE LOTS OF FAMILIES ARE ELIGABLE TO CLAIM TAX CREDITS AND SOME OF THE MONEY CLAIMED IS TO PUT TOWARDS CHILDCARE FEES. PLEASE REMEMBER IT IS YOUR RESPONSABILITY TO PAY CHILDCARE FEES NOT THE TAX CREDITS OFFICE. REGARDLESS OF WHEN TAX CREDITS ARE PAID INTO YOUR BANK YOUR FEES MUST STILL BE PAID BY THE DATE DUE.

ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSABILITY TO INFORM THE TAX CREDITS OFFICE OF ANY CHANGES OR IF YOU LEAVE MY SETTING. tHE TAX CREDITS OFFICE DO CONTACT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS BY EITHER MAIL OR TELEPHONE ON SOME OCCASIONS TO CONFIRM THAT CHILDREN ARE IN OUR CARE, START DATES AND FINISH DATES. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU DO NOT TELL THEM OF ANY CHANGES RE YOUR CHILDCARE, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THEY CAN AND DO CONTACT ME ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS AND NOT ONLY AT REWEWAL TIME.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ILL?

I HAVE HAD ONE DAY OFF IN 6 YRS FOR A SMALL OPERATION SO THE CHANCES OF ME NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK DUE TO ILLNESS ARE SMALL, BUT I CAN NOT GUARANTEE TO BE WELL 100% OF THE TIME AS I AM ONLY HUMAN.

IF I AM TAKEN ILL AND UNABLE TO WORK I WILL CONTACT YOU AS SOON AS I AM ABLE TO LET YOU KNOW.

I HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE WITH SEVERAL OTHER CHILDMINERS, (AS THEY DO WITH ME) FOR POSSIBLE COVER SHOULD I BE UNABLE TO WORK. I WOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH TELEPHONE NUMBERS SO THAT YOU CAN RING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE TO TAKE YOUR CHILD WHILE I AM ILL. ALL THE CHILDMINDERS WILL BE KNOWN TO YOUR CHILD. DEPENDING ON HOW ILL I AM I MAY BE ABLE TO SORT THIS FOR YOU. I WILL COVER PAYMENT TO THE OTHER CHILDMINDER DURING THIS TIME FROM THE PAYMENT YOU HAVE MADE TO ME.

YOUR OTHER OPTION IS TO TAKE THE TIME OFF WORK AND LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILD WHILE I AM ILL, PAYMENT WILL BE REFUNDED TO YOU FOR THE DAYS I AM UNABLE TO WORK.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OR YOU CHILD ARE ILL?

IF YOU ARE ILL AND CAN ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE TO DROP OFF/COLLECT YOUR CHILD THEN I WILL CARE FOR THEM AS NORMAL. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET YOUR CHILD TO ME AND YOU KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME THEN YOUR NORMAL PAYMENT WILL STILL BE DUE.

IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL THEN THEY CAN NOT ATTEND THE SETTING AND YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. YOUR NORMAL FEE WILL STAND.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF YOUR CHILD IS TOO ILL TO ATTEND PLEASE ASK. IF YOU BRING YOUR CHILD TO ME AND I THINK THEY ARE TOO ILL TO ATTEND THEN I WILL CONTACT YOU TO COLLECT THEM. I ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO TAKE A CHILD WHO IS OBVIOUSLY ILL, BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT BE PUT IN THAT POSITION.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD TO THE SETTING KNOWING THEY ARE ILL AS THIS CAN CAUSE DISRUPTION TO OTHER FAMILIES AND TO MYSELF IF I BECOME ILL I WILL BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ANYONE

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GO ON HOLIDAY?

I USUALLY TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF WORK FOR A HOLIDAY DURING THE SUMMER, FOR THIS I WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU MORE THAN THE REQUIRED 4 WEEKS NOTICE. I CAN TRY TO ARRANGE COVE FOR YOU DURING THIS TIME IF REQUIRED AND COVER PAYMENT FROM THE PAYMENT YOU HAVE PAID TO ME. YOUR OTHER OPTION IS TO TAKE THE TIME OFF WORK TO LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILD WHILE I AM ON HOLIDAY AGAIN PAYMENT WILL BE REFUNDED OR DEDUCTED FROM  NEXT FEE'S DUE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GO ON HOLIDAY?

IF YOU DECIDE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY DURING THE TIME I WOULD BE CARING FO YOUR CHILD, FOUR WEEKS WRITTEN NOTICE IS REQUIRED. THIS IS BECAUSE PLANNING FOR CARE IS DONE WELL IN ADVANCE SO I NEED TO KNOW WHO WILL BE HERE FOR FOOD & ACTIVITIES.

YOUR NORMAL PAYMENT IS DUE WHEN YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY AND ANY FEE'S THAT WOULD BE DUE WHILE YOU ARE AWAY MUST BE SETTLED IN FULL BEFOE YOU GO.

DO I WORK BANK HOLIDAYS?

NO I DO NOT WORK BANK HOLIDAYS.

DO I CHARGE FO BANK HOLIDAYS?

YES I DO MAKE THE USUAL CHARGE FOR BANK HOLIDAYS EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT WORK IF A BANK HOLIDAY FALLS ON ONE OF YOUR CONTRACTED DAYS.

WHY?

MOST PARENTS ARE PAID FOR BANK HOLIDAYS BUT DO NOT WORK.

PARENTS RECIEVING HELP TOWARDS CHILDCARE ARE PAID ALL YEAR ROUND AND BANK HOLIDAYS ARE NOT DEDUCTED FROM THE MONEY THEY RECIEVE SO THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID TO PARENTS TO PAY FOR THE CARE FOR THESE DAYS.

IF I DID WORK BANK HOLIDAYS I WOULD CHARGE DOUBLE TIME OR THE NORMAL FEE ANYWAY IF YOU CHOSE NOT TO BRING YOU CHILD ON THE DAY. MOST PARENTS WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO BRING THEIR CHILD,AS  LIKE MYSELF, THEY FIND IT IMPORTANT TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY.

THIS ALLOWS ME USUALLY A FEW DAYS PER YEAR TO RECHARGE MY BATTERIES AND SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY WITHOUT THE WORRY OF NOT BEING PAID. 

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING FOR MY CHILD?

DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF YOUR CHILD YOU WILL NEED TO BRING NAPPIES AND BABY WIPES FOR YOUR CHILD, THESE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR FEE'S.

YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH SUITABLE CLOTHING FOR THE EXPECTED WEATHER LIKE A WARM COAT AND HAT IN THE WINTER OR A LIGHT JACKET AND SUMMER HAT IN THE SUMMER. CHILDREN WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED 10 MINS OF OUTDOOR PLAY IN SUNNY WEATHER IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A HAT. SUNCREAM MUST ALSO BE APPLIED BY PARENT'S BEFORE COMING TO THE SETTING ON SUNNY DAYS AND SENT WITH THEM ( OR A SPARE BOTTLE LEFT WITH US). ALTHOUGH I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY TO TOP UP YOUR CHILD'S SUNCREAM THROUGHOUT THE DAY I WILL NOT HAVE THE TIME TO APPLY SUNCREAM TO EVERY CHILD AT THE START OF THE DAY BEFORE THE SCHOOL RUN AS I ALSO HAVE MY OWN CHILDREN TO DO. 

WHAT ARE MY FEE'S?

PLEASE SEE MY FEE'S PAGE FOR CURRENT FEE'S. 

I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP FEE'S AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, I WILL TRY TO DO THIS BY HOLDING REGULAR TABLE TOP SALES AND OTHER THINGS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SETTING BY DOING THIS I HOPE TO PUT OFF RAISING FEE'S FOR AS LONG AS I CAN. I HAVE ONLY RAISED MY FEE'S ONCE IN 6 YEARS, BUT WITH THE RISING COST OF FOOD/PETROL AND OTHER ITEMS I NEED TO REMAIN OPEN IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SUSTAIN THIS WITHOUT FUNDRAISERS. I AM ALSO CURRENTLY REGISTERED WITH EASYFUNDRAISING. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OUR PARENTS PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING US FUNDRAISE EITHER BY DONATING ITEMS OR REGISTERING WITH EASYFUNDRAISING SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO RAISE FEE'S OR SO THAT IF WE DO IT WILL BE SMALL.

HOW DO I SECURE MY CHILDS PLACE WITH LADYBIRD CHILDMINDING SERVICE?

A DEPOSIT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SECURE A CHILD'S PLACE WITH US. THE AMOUNT OF THE DEPOSIT DEPENDS ON THE START DATE OF THE PLACEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WISH YOUR CHILD TO START WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THEN £50 DEPOSIT WILL SECURE YOUR PLACE AND WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR FIRST FEE PAYMENT. IF YOU REQUIRE THE PLACE TO BE HELD FOR A LONGER PERIOD BEFORE YOU ARE READY TO START, THEN A DEPOSIT WILL BE REQUIRED AND 50% OF THE DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED FROM YOUR FIRST FEE PAYMENT. THE AMOUNT OF THE DEPOSIT WILL DEPEND ON THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU REQUIRE THE PLACE TO BE HELD FOR.
IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO TAKE UP THE PLACE ONCE YOU HAVE SIGNED THE PAPERWORK THE DEPOSIT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.

WHY DO I KEEP 50% OF THE DEPOSIT?

50% OF THE DEPOSIT IS KEPT BY LADYBIRD CHILDMINDING SERVICE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ASKED US TO KEEP A PLACE FOR YOU BEFORE YOUR CHILD IS READY TO START. BY KEEPING YOUR PLACE SECURED FOR YOU WE CAN'T OFFER THAT PLACE TO ANOTHER CHILD WHO COULD MAYBE START STRAIGHT AWAY GENERATING REVENUE FOR THE BUSINESS. SIGNING UP NEW CHILDREN COSTS LADYBIRD CHILDMINDING SERVICE TIME AND MONEY DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK INVOLVED. THIS PROCESS IS DONE REGARDLESS OF YOUR START DATE SO THE SOONER A CHILD CAN START THE SOONER THE COSTS ARE REGAINED. WE ARE HAPPY TO SIGN CHILDREN UP EARLY SO THAT PARENTS CAN RELAX AN KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS ORGANISED ON THE BASIS THAT THE 50% REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT POLICY COVERS PAPERWORK COSTS AND A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOST INCOME DURING THIS TIME. 
IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO TAKE UP THE PLACE ONCE YOU HAVE SIGNED THE PAPERWORK THE DEPOSIT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SIGNING UP EARLY AND PAYING A 50% REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT?

BY PAYING THE DEPOSIT YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT YOUR PLACE IS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO START. PARENTS WILL LOOK ROUND MANY CHILDMINDERS/NURSERIES/DAYCARE CENTRES, BEFORE DECIDING WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILD. CHOOSING CHILDCARE WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS YOU WILL MAKE AS A PARENT, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHOOSE BASED ON WHAT MEANS THE MOST TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERNT OPTIONS OUT THERE, OFFERING DIFFERNT STYLES OF CARE. IF YOU DECIDE THAT WE ARE RIGHT FOR YOU THEN SECURING YOUR PLACE IS THE BEST OPTION. IF YOU DECIDE WE ARE RIGHT FOR YOU BUT YOU DO NOT WANT TO PAY A DEPOSIT TO SECURE THE PLACE, THEN THE PLACE IS NOT YOUR CHILD'S AND WILL BE OFFERED TO SOMEONE ELSE IF THEY REQUIRE IT BEFORE YOUR DESIRED START DATE. ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN CHOOSING CHILDCARE, PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT YOU ARE NOT PAYING OUT THE DEPOSIT FOR NO REASON, YOU ARE PAYING IT TO HOLD THE PLACE OPEN FOR YOUR CHILD.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEPOSIT IS ONLY WORKED OUT FROM THE TIME WE HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE. FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU ASK FOR A SPACE FOR SEPTEMBER IN APRIL, AND WE HAVE VACANCIES FROM APRIL THEN IT WILL BE WORKED OUT FROM THAT POINT. IF WE DO NOT HAVE SPACES UNTIL JULY THEN WE ARE KEEPING THE SPACE FOR A SHORTER TIME AND THIS WILL BE ACCOUNTED FOR.

WILL MY CHILD HAVE A PROFILE/FOLDER?

EACH CHILD WITHIN THE EYFS AGE RANGE WILL HAVE A PROFILE. THIS WILL INCLUDE ALL YOUR CHILD'S DETAILS ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK AND OBSERVATIONS AND USUALLY A DAILY DIARY. THE DIARY WILL BE FILLED IN WITH A BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF YOUR CHILD'S DAY, WHAT THEY HAVE EATEN, NAPPY CHANGES AND ANY OBSERVATIONS DONE ON THAT DAY. MUCH OF YOUR CHILDS PROFILE FOLDER WILL BE MADE UP OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN UP TO DURING THEIR TIME HERE.
KEEPING YOUR CHILD'S PROFILE AND CARRYING OUT OBSERVATIONS WITHIN THE EYFS IS REQUIRED BY OFSTED AND THESE ARE USUALLY CHECKED DURING AN INSPECTION SO YOU WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN TO SAY YOU ARE HAPPY FOR THEM TO VIEW IT IF THEY ASK TO. YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THIS IF YOU WISH AS YOUR CHILD'S PROFILE WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL TO ALL OTHER PARTIES SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT YOU DO NOT WISH OFSTED TO VIEW IT, HOWEVER THEM BEING ABLE TO VIEW IT WILL AID MY INSPECTION.
I CURRENTLY WORK 50+ HOURS PER WEEK AND HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN. AS I AM CONSTANTLY CARING FOR THE CHILDREN PLACED WITH ME IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO KEEP ON TOP OF EVERY PIECE OF PAPERWORK REQUIRED. MY FIRST PRIORITY WILL BE THE CHILDREN AND I WILL NOT PUT THE CHILDRENS CARE TO ONE SIDE TO CATCH UP WITH PAPERWORK. ALL BASIC PAPERWORK WILL ALWAYS BE IN PLACE I.E. POLICIES & PROCEDURES , CONTACT FORMS, CHILDRENS REQUIREMENTS ETC.... AND NO PAPERWORK WILL BE MISSED THAT WILL AFFECT THE CARE GIVEN TO A CHILD OR THE SAFETY OF A CHILD, BUT I CONSIDER ANY OTHER PAPERWORK TO BE SECONDARY TO THE CARE AND STIMULATION OF THE CHILDREN. MAKING SURE THE CHILDREN ARE HAPPY AND WELL CARED FOR AND SAFE IS MY MAIN PRIORITY AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LOOK FOR IF I WERE PLACING MY CHILD IN CHILDCARE.

EVERY OLDER CHILD WILL HAVE A FOLDER FOR ARTWORK AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND ANY REQUIRED PAPERWORK.

WHAT IS EASYFUNDRAISING?

EASYFUNDRAISING IS A WEBSITE I HAVE REGISTERED WITH. WHEN SUPPORTERS (HOPEFULLY YOU) LOG ON TO EASYFUNDRAISING BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE WITH HUNDREDS OF MAJOR RETAILERS THE RETAILER MAKES A DONATION TO THE REGISTERED CAUSE (LADYBIRD CHILDMINDING SERVICE) BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE TRANSACTION, AT NO COST AT ALL TO THE SUPPORTER. THEY CAN DO THIS AS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHOP ONLINE MEANS THAT THE STORE/RETAILER HAS  LESS OVERHEADS AND PASSES A PERCENTAGE OF THIS SAVING ON TO THE REGISTERED CAUSE.

HOW DO I REGISTER TO SUPPORT LADYBIRD CHILDMINDING SERVICE?

LOG ONTO http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ladybirdchildminding TO REGISTER TO START RAISING MONEY AT NO COST TO YOURSELF.

 

 

  


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