does anyone work just downstairs

[sandra79]

Hi there, everyone,

I was thinking of just using my downstairs area for childminding, but I only have a lounge/ diner, kitchen, cloakroom downstairs. I really want to work just downstairs as I want to keep our sleeping areas private, etc. I am worried that i wont be able to have as many children if I only use downstairs. My lounge is 18ft by 18 and my kitchen is quite small. What do you think I should do.
And do any of you just do your business downstairs?

I only really want one full time under 5 child but I really would like to have over 5's after school, etc.

Also, just a query - would over 8's be able to use upstairs with out it being registered.
Thanks alot Sandra XX

[hazel2]

hi Sandra, i just use my downstairs for child minding i live in a typical terraced house, so not much room but i can still look after 3 under 5 and 2 between 5and8 my daughter is still 7 so counts as one of my 5 to 8s but i shall ask ofsted to up it to the full quota when she turns 8. i do have a large front and back garden though and go to toddler groups twice a week so we are not in that often you will learn to utilize the space you have like under the dining table becomes extra play space when turned in to a den! hope this has helped a little.

hazelx

[susi513]

I have an upstairs wc but thats all the mindees go upstairs for. When Ofsted have come round I have shown them all the bedrooms (they usually just glance in or step in & straight out again). But explained that my bedroom is not used. Older mindees do go in my children's bedrooms from time to time but only at the invitation of my child and with my consent (I don't allow under 5s to play upstairs without me).

So, in practice we rarely use upstairs but my Ofsted certificate doesn't state that I can't use upstairs. Don't know the wording used but I've seen certificates that say they can't use upstairs. In which case you've lost the option for all age-groups. And if your house is quite small this might limit the number of children you can care for as you need a specific amount of space per child.

Its been suggested that if an accident occurred in a room or garden your certificate says is not used for minding then your insurance might not cover you.

I think its best, as far as Ofsted go, to explain you don't allow children in certain rooms without you (this might be bedrooms, kitchen & garden) but explain which rooms are mainly used for sleeping, eating & play.

[custardcream]

I am the same, my mindees only go upstairs to use the bathroom, all the bedrooms are out of bounds unless my children invite a mindee in to their bedroom.
I have always felt that my own children deserve some privacy and somewhere they can go to get away from everyone if they want to. I done this ever since my children started school as i did not think it fair on them to have other children in their rooms while they were not here, and also anything that they do not want the mindees to have they have to put in their rooms out of the way.

[susan]

custardcream said:

I am the same, my mindees only go upstairs to use the bathroom, all the bedrooms are out of bounds unless my children invite a mindee in to their bedroom.

i didnt think OFSTED allowed this ?


xxx

[sarahnev707]

Mindees don't go upstairs in my house at all - unless they are older and like custard cream says, my children invite them up

Ofsted didn't have a problem with it.... I don't state it's out of bounds (except for the 3rd floor which is locked) but I do say my children's bedrooms are their private space and it is their choice who they do and do not invite up there.....

Plus all the toys are downstairs!

You have to show you have somewhere children can rest and sleep away from others... can you do that by sectioning off one section of you lounge/diner Sandra?

Sarahx

[custardcream]

Sorry susan i dont understand what you mean, you didnt think ofsted allowed what?

Ofsted have never queried anything

[sandra79]

Thanks guys. I think it will be best then to have my whole house inspected so that I can have a place for a little one to rest if it is too hectic, like in the school hols or after school. I have a large square lounge/diner but really havent got a particular place that would be ideal for a travel cot where they wouldnt be disturbed. So i think, maybe, having a quiet place in my bedroom, upstairs?? Is that ok with ofsted. But i don't like the idea of a little one being so far a way from me while sleeping, even with a baby monitor. Both of my kids, when they were tots, used to sleep on the sofa in the daytime!

Thanks a lot again!! Sandx

[hazel2]

sarah i have just read your reply and i read as they can only go upstairs if they like custard creams lol! it is the end of the day!!!!! i thought to myself, whats custard creams got to do with anything! i not thick honest.

hazelxxxxxxx

[fionamal]

My mindees are only allowed upstairs to use the bathroom. the bedrooms are all off limits unless my kids invite them which is not very often as they like their own space at times.

This way all the mess is contained to the downstairs.

[lauralou]

When i manage to get some mindee's they will only have access to downstairs, upstairs is out of bounds.......


Laura xxx

[charleyfarley]

Yep I only use downstairs for minding.

I have always said that upstairs is our space also if dd has toys, possessions she doesn't want to share they stay upstairs in her room and do not come down till mindees have gone home

Carol xx

[jo]

Hi!
I live in a two bed terr. My bedroom is "out of bounds" and it is stated on my certificate. The inspector said for this to happen I would have to keep it locked at all times when minding as it wouldn't be covered on my insurance.
Jo x

[susan]

custardcream said:

Sorry susan i dont understand what you mean, you didnt think ofsted allowed what?

Ofsted have never queried anything

children upstairs into your own kids bedrooms....

when i had my insoection the woman said.... you wont be using upstairs other than the bedroom or bathroom will you as you shouldnt have mindeees in your childrens bedrooms !!!!



xxx

[custardcream]

Hi Susan

My whole house was inspected but it was my decision not to allow my mindees into the bedrooms. If my own children want a mindee in their rooms then they can, only the older ones obviously, but that does`nt happen often now as my children are much older and value their own space.

[mel]

I only use downstairs as my stairs are open and ofsted would have not been happy with them. It works out ok for me but we have quite a bit of downstairs space and a separate sleeping space

Mel x

[lorraine2767]

Hi I only use downstairs for the mindees and they use the bathroom upstairs and that is it. Regarding sleeping they sleep in a pushchair in the dining room which Ofsted said they were fine about.

Lorrainexx

[2kidsunder5]

Hi

I live in a mid terr house and only use downstairs for minding (our bathroom is downstairs). My cert states "must not use the first floor". I am very strict about it, if my two want to take any mindees up to their rooms it is a def NO!!! as I would not be insured.

I also let children sleep in the pram in the dining room, or if ail the others are at school they sleep in the travel cot that I put up in the corner of the living room.

I am allowed to mind 4 plus my own 2, so basically the max that you can mind.

Diane x

[son77]

The whole of my house is registered even though I mainly use downstairs but at least I have the option just in case.

[lesley]

Only had downstairs registered. I have a downstairs toilet which helps a lot. So no nosy older ones looking into our bedrooms.

Lesley

[susan]

She said as children need to be with me and supervised at all times this wasnt allowed though................ !!!!!!!!

[sj]

Im only registered for downstairs too, having a downstairs loo helps. Im registered for the full quota bar 1 under 5 as my daughter is 3.

Sam

[sandra79]

That great help, everyone thanks alot XX

I have a downstairs toilet so I shouldnt have any problems with childminding and not using the upper part of my house. But what about if I get loads of rioting 8 year olds in the school holidays, for example, and they really wanna play on the computor, etc that are in my sons room? I think I will get all of my house registered and only allow the older children that are over 5 to go upstairs accompanied by my own children who are 9 and 3. But then it wont be fair on the little tots who want to go with them. But then again I am only hoping on one full timer under 5 and lots of school children, it may only be a problem in the school holidays. Love sandxxx

[rasharoon]

I just use the downstairs. I have a small room where all the toys are stored, then everything is done in the frontroom. Thankfully, I have a downstairs toilet.
I had the whole house inspected for ease but my rule is that the children are not allowed up there. I only had the whole house done due to the fact that should I have a young one, they could sleep upstairs and as my bedroom is at the front of the house and has a phone in it, should there be a fire upstairs, this would be our escape route.

[heldraincloud]

Hiya

If I remember right the space required for the max amount of mindees is something like 17square feet, each age range requires slightly different space, ive got an odd shaped open plan house so went round on my hands and knees adding all my space up lol...

[sandra79]

I should be ok then as my lounge is 18ft square and thats without my kitchen which is 9ft by 8ft. So thats what I am going by as I read somewhere you can't count cloakrooms and hallways is that correct?
Thanks everyone.