Ratios AGAIN!

[loocyloo]

Hello!

Sorry ... I've just had a long chat with a friend, who rang Ofsted yesterday to ask for clarification about continuity of care and was told categorically that 'NO. YOU CAN NOT CARE FOR MORE THAN 3 CHILDREN, USING CONTINUITY OF CARE, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GO OVER 3 IS FOR BABY SIBLINGS.' She had parts of EYFS 2014 quoted at her. she thinks 3.40?

I've said that provided it is exceptional circumstances and you can fully care for all the children safely, then its up to each individual childminder to assess each individual situation and make their own decision.

I quoted 3.30 but she is worried, as she needs to go to 4 under 5 one day as a mum has had to change her working days ( and there is no other childcare available as friend is only minder in area! ( and no nursery! )

sorry, not sure what I'm asking, just what has anyone else heard?

Thanks

[Mouse]

Unfortunately the people who answer the phones at Ofsted often don't have a clue what they're talking about and continue to get things like this wrong.

Are you on the forum facebook group? I know there are copies of letters on there that clarify when you can exceed ratios - letters from people much higher up than those answering the phones. I'm not sure if they're on here anywhere, but admin would know.

If childminders are still being given wrong information it should be reported higher up the chain.

On the day of my last inspection I only had 2 children here, but the inspector could see I often had 4 EYs children at a time. There was no problem with it at all and she was such a dragon she'd have jumped straight on it if I'd been doing anything wrong!

[chris goodyear]

I also think they were wrong. I'm sure it states somewhere that continuity of care is there for parents who have to change their day or if their shift pattern changes and not just for baby siblings. It's to keep the care CONTINUOUS for the child!

[loocyloo]

:-) Thanks, thats what I thought, and I did read her the copy of the letter that I downloaded from the forum ages ago.

Can anyone give me a link to Facebook info? I'm not on Facebook but could forward it to my friend! Thanks x

[FussyElmo]

:-) Thanks, thats what I thought, and I did read her the copy of the letter that I downloaded from the forum ages ago.

Can anyone give me a link to Facebook info? I'm not on Facebook but could forward it to my friend! Thanks x

I'm going to ask Rick of he will put the copies of the letters from the dfe in here too

[FussyElmo]

:-) Thanks, thats what I thought, and I did read her the copy of the letter that I downloaded from the forum ages ago.

Can anyone give me a link to Facebook info? I'm not on Facebook but could forward it to my friend! Thanks x

Hope this works

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/03/Childminder_Ratios_FAQ.pdf

[Rick]

I put the letters in the following thread. For some reason I can't open the files now. Maybe it's just me.

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/general-childminding-chat/133312-important-info-ofsted-dfe.html

[loocyloo]

I put the letters in the following thread. For some reason I can't open the files now. Maybe it's just me.

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/general-childminding-chat/133312-important-info-ofsted-dfe.html

Thanks ... I can open the thread, but not the files :(

[sarah707]

Ofsted don't call it 'continuity of care' as those words aren't in the Eyfs ... but as the document linked above clearly shows we can offer it.

We can, as others have said, offer a space for a current child in our provision even if that takes us to 4 under 5 - with a risk assessment and after speaking to other parents and considering any concerns they might have.

More information here - Changes to Conditions of Registration (http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/freeresources/Free%20downloads/changestoconditionsofregistration.html)

Hth :D

[loocyloo]

Ofsted don't call it 'continuity of care' as those words aren't in the Eyfs ... but as the document linked above clearly shows we can offer it.

We can, as others have said, offer a space for a current child in our provision even if that takes us to 4 under 5 - with a risk assessment and after speaking to other parents and considering any concerns they might have.

More information here - Changes to Conditions of Registration (http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/freeresources/Free%20downloads/changestoconditionsofregistration.html)

Hth :D

THANK YOU!:D