Guest Posted October 11, 2007 Posted October 11, 2007 When, if at all, do you all have your christmas party for the children in your setting. We are a pre-school in a church hall and are planning our party for the last day of term. We intend to invite all 42 children on roll. I have been in contact with our insurance company (morten michel) to find out if we are covered and they say we will be as long as it is in one of our regular sessions and provided that ofsted will amend our registration document to increase the number from 26 to 42 for that one session. Have just written to OFSTED to request this and now await a reply. Does everyone else do this. Having just had a good Ofsted report, I don't want to blow it for further inspections!!
hali Posted October 11, 2007 Posted October 11, 2007 we have two parties on in the morning and the other in the afternoon... that we keep within our registration guidelines
Beau Posted October 11, 2007 Posted October 11, 2007 Hi, I'm going to move this into the Christmas forum. I think there have been previous discussions about this if you do a forum search.
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 Hi - we used to do the same, and Ofsted at that time said that they would expect us to hold such events, as long as our ratios met the legal requirements. However, that was under the old Inspection regime. But since then we have had 2 parties, one for the eldest children and one for the youngest which has been much better.
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 We always invite parents to party so while we have more children in building we arnt over ratios. never considered having to write and tell Ofstead!
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 We always invite parents to party so while we have more children in building we arnt over ratios. never considered having to write and tell Ofstead! Akire - Although you have extra parents in the setting so ratios are kept, are you breeching your registered amount of children. I have spoken to OFSTED and it is they who have told me I need to write to them for permission to increase my number of children for that one session. In this letter I must state that ratios can be maintained by my staff. I must state that they are all CRB checked and that if I have additional parents in I will complete a risk assessment to protect the children and that parents will not toilet/be left alone etc. Oh when a party was just a party!!!!!!!!!!!!! and could be fun. :wacko:
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 We always invite parents to party so while we have more children in building we arnt over ratios. never considered having to write and tell Ofstead! Akire - Although you have extra parents in the setting so ratios are kept, are you breeching your registered amount of children. I have spoken to OFSTED and it is they who have told me I need to write to them for permission to increase my number of children for that one session. In this letter I must state that ratios can be maintained by my staff. I must state that they are all CRB checked and that if I have additional parents in I will complete a risk assessment to protect the children and that parents will not toilet/be left alone etc. Oh when a party was just a party!!!!!!!!!!!!! and could be fun. :wacko: Well we might have some children whos parents dont attend who are still "under staff care" with a given adult usually keyworker. I always presummed that while a parent or carer was present they would be their responability, we are registered for 32 children, so say at party we have 40 children there. Then thats ilegal? Even if the unaccompained children say 10 are with staff? Wonder how it works our parties/summer events/parents evening often go over our registered opening times, is that then ilegal??
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 I think it would be best if we just carried on doing what we always do and deal with any concequences if they occur. Ignorance is bliss as they say:1b Like I say I have written to ofsted, so will keep you informed of their response.
Guest Posted October 12, 2007 Posted October 12, 2007 Thanks Brenda would be very interested to hear!!
Guest Posted October 17, 2007 Posted October 17, 2007 OFSTED rang me back today. They have received my letter and having proven that I can maintain ratios they are happy to grant us permission to have our party. She said they only really need to know in case a complaint is made or an incident happens, then they have it on record that we have sought and been granted permission. She said lots of people do breech their registration agreement, but it is better if OFSTED have it on record that we have contacted them. Only sent the letter on the 11th, so even with a postal strike, they have contacted me very quickly.
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 Following this post I asked the question to our Inspector when Ofsted came last week. She said she had never heard of anyone having to notify ofsted re increasing the standard number for a Christmas Party and she felt it was totally unnecessary. She said it was down to good practice and common sense. So long as we have sufficient staff and helpers to cover our ratios there is no need to notify Ofsted.
Marion Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 We have a magician the week before Christmas followed by a visit from Father Christmas and a party tea.
Marion Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 We have a magician the week before Christmas followed by a visit from Father Christmas and a party tea.
HappyMaz Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 Gosh I must have missed this thread - we are registered for 24 children and I think we have 25 children on roll at the moment. Strictly speaking does that mean I need to ask Ofsted for permission to go over ratios for our Christmas party? Luckily I don't think this will be an issue because already I know that one little boy won't be coming... Phew! I'm going to a childcare forum in a week or so about urban myths - I shall raise this because although its true I feel it ought to be just an urban myth... Maz
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 We have a magician the week before Christmas followed by a visit from Father Christmas and a party tea. Seems your magician and Father Christmas magically got an encore ( prior to the event) Peggy
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 I've never contacted Ofsted for such events, having parents attend and any child not accompanied covered by staff ratio. My PLA insurance covered the public liability without requiring Ofsted go ahead. The building I use has sufficient space for higher numbers than my current registration, but anyway all children stay within one room, exceeding Ofsted standards of a maximum of 26 children in one room. Like the Inspector stated, this should require common sense and anything other than than would not be workable. Would be interested in what Ofsteds response is, given that you get one before January 2008 ( oops, that was a tad unkind) Peggy
Marion Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 It went all funny Peggy and I hadn't finished typing but my daughter ran off with the laptop mains cable. I intended to say that day we will have all 86 children in the unit at the same time (4 adults).
dublinbay Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 We're having the children's party on the 14th December (staff 'do' later that night!) and finish for Christmas the following wednesday. We will have all 43 children in the room with 5 members of staff - maybe one or two parents also. Don't recall anyone ever saying we had to have permission from the big 'O' to do so.
Guest Posted November 13, 2007 Posted November 13, 2007 We to have a magician booked, followed by food & santa....all in one go on the last day of term Friday 21st Dec...then I can collapse and enjoy a long drink. Should have about 50 children and lots & lots of adult helpers!!!! That's the children taken care off....what about us adults, what are you all doing?? This is how my party season is looking......... 15th Xmas meal an party - school & nursery staff 18th School Bursar retirement party 21st Xmas meal with old work colleagues ( and believe me after the children's party I will need yet another drink!) The trouble is I'm not really a drinker.....so when I do actually get out & socialise I tend to suffer!
Guest Posted November 13, 2007 Posted November 13, 2007 A friend shared the attached with me which he received in an e-mail. 'Obituary for Mr Common Sense'. We were talking about common sense in an earlier post and last week our Ofsted Inspector said clearly we should use common sense and not notify them about a one-off party! Perhaps I'll send her a copy too! Enjoy and pass it on! Obituary_for_Mr_Common_Sense.doc
dublinbay Posted November 13, 2007 Posted November 13, 2007 Excellent stuff! Will definately pass it on! Thank you LJW.
Recommended Posts