can we open?

[gracygrey]

Hi,

Can anyone please clarify where we stand as I can't get a straight answer out of our chairperson. Can we open our pre-school setting with one level 2 and 2 crb'd assistants? Poss 3 crb'd if required as all our committee members (mostly mums) are crb'd.
there would be on average 12 children bewteen 2yrs9months to 4yrs old.

We have 2 'level 3' play leaders but have had a few instances due to sickness and other work committments that they cannot cover for each other.
Our level 2 has worked at the setting for years and has a lot of experience and often runs the day to day while the lev 3's do our paperwork and planning etc... (onsite).

Thank you

[tutu]

No. those with level 2 do NOT have a license to practice they are completely irrelevant in terms of opening the setting. you need a fully qualified level 3 who DOES have a license to practice, this is the crux. ofsted would answer this question very simply with a very short phone call. do not rely on a volunteer chairperson. if the level 2 has that much experience get her qualified with the 3 and the license that comes with it

[Heidi]

Tutu has given you your answer.

I know of one Pre-school that found themselves in exactly the same circumstances, desperate parents wanted them to open so they could get to work, but they had a chairman that was not prepared to open against government legislation.

She rang Ofsted to inform them of the Pre-school's plight as one or two parents had said they would be reporting them to Ofsted for not opening. They (Ofsted) comfirmed the setting were doing what was expected of them and were also made aware of any possible 'complaints' that may be made against the setting.