Person in Charge

Person in Charge

by: newsetting - 12-10-05 20:20

Hi everyone. Im new to this site and i think its great!
I am setting up a new day nursery at the moment and am recruiting staff. I have never worked in the industry before so this is all new to me. I am appointing someone who is Level 3 and with two years experience to oversee the childcare and be the OFSTED named person as I dont have the experience or qualification to do it.

The only question I have is "Is this person allowed to work in the rooms with the children?" I have had conflicting advice about this. I want to appoint her the OFSTED named person and have her in the room with the children as Im going to be doing all the paperwork. There is no need to have two people work in the office.

Also, does my named person need to be on the premises at all times? Or is it ok if there is another Level 3 qualified on site if she is on holiday or sick? All my staff are either level 3 or level 2 qualified.

The other question I have (sorry to keep going on!) is to do with the "half your staff must hold a relevant childcare qualification" rule. Does that mean half my staff have to have Level 3? Or is it ok for them to just have level two? Sorry but its so confusing!!

Thanks xx xx

by: jakevin

Hi. I have been led to believe that if you have more than 20 children in a building you have to have someone supernumary. I believe that you could maybe make one of your level 3 deputy so she can stand in when your appointed person is not there. I also thought the appointed person had to have 3 yrs +. Have you checked that one. Level 2 is now classed as qualified, sorry i dont agree with that. I am also led to belive it has to be half or more in the individual room that have to be qualified. The best thing is to read the standards (2 books )and go through it with someone who has worked as a manager before. Where are you setting up and have you soke with ofsted yet. Good luck. I did look at starting a nursery but the location was the difficult bit.

Jackie

Person in Charge - 12-10-05 21:42

by: joshuajones

newsetting

I have a 50 place nursery where the manager is not supernumerary, and I have to say it is not appropriate. In order for a manager to have her finger on the pulse with what is going on in the nursery, with staff, be available to parents to undertake parent views answer parent queries etc, I would suggest you make her supernumerary for some of the time. Your deputy needs to be L3 qualified to stand in. It is true that 50% of your staff should be qualified to L2. However a word of caution, L2 staff may be cheaper, but they do not have the experience and qualifications that your parents will come to expect.(my apologies to all L2 holders). L2 does not enable you to hold a supervisory role. Your Baby room supervisor MUST be L3 qualified and hold relevant experience in the Baby room for a period of 2 years. I would be cautious taking on a manager with only 2 years experience, whilst I am sure that there are many mature candidates out there my experience as an employer has taught me that you will be asking for trouble if you take a manager on with such limited experience. You are better looking for someone with 5 years behind them. Managing is not an easy job, and managing staff requires a maturity and understanding that many people just do not have. I have been an employer in Daycare, having set up 3 sites of my own, for nearly 30 years now, the best advice I can give is choosed your staff VERY carefully.

Person in Charge - 13-10-05 14:51

by: nixster

If your ever unsure about staffing levels and ratio's ect always refer to the National Standards booklet, if this still does not clarify things try ringing your local Childrens Information Centre they offer free advise from some very experienced people. You can also go along to one of the workshops which is purely for setting up and running a nursery, they will take you through everything it normally last half a day.

Person in Charge - 14-10-05 20:11

by: calvin

some of thisis direct from national standards, others OFSTED inspections etc

preson in charge must hold at least level 3, and suitable experience

over 20 children in a setting, the manager is supernumerary

ALL supervisors should hold a level 3 qualification and the person in charge of underones must have experience of working with under ones

ratios must be met at ALL times- staff muct be available to be with the children to count in- on lunch, on the toilet or preparing meals do not count as available

Person in Charge - 14-10-05 22:29

by: joshuajones

Not strictly true, the standards state " where staff take breaks you must maintain overall required staffing ratios by measures such as making sure sufficient staff remain on the premises. There is not anything in the national standards section 1 suitable person that states over 20 children the manager needs to be supernumerary although this is considered good practice.