Please Help me with my first ever Variation

**DinkyDigits** · 02-05-2012, 10:28 AM

Hi I havent a clue what to do have two under 5 on friday just got new parent with a 2 year old and a 4 year old who starts full time school in sept so need a variation, so i can look after the older child until sept when she will be classed as an over. The variation form dosent seem to accomodate this scenario, only if you already have sibling or its continuity for your other mindees. i dont know what to do.

I would appreciate some good advice ;-)

**blue bear** · 02-05-2012, 12:45 PM

they don't normally give variations for new business. I do know someone who did get it granted as it was for two children from the same family and mum did not want to split them, the childminder put it down as continuity of care and explained in the box why.

good luck x

**The Juggler** · 02-05-2012, 12:56 PM

you might as you DO have a space and these are siblings plus older child is nearly a rising 5. you've got nothing to lose by asking.

Or ask mum if you can start one of them first then you can ask for a variation for the sibling in a few weeks

good luck xx

**Mouse** · 02-05-2012, 01:01 PM

It's worth a try, but the Ofsted info is quite specific that they won't grant a variation on the grounds of continuity of care to take on siblings if you don't have the necessary space (ie if you don't have 2 spaces, you can't take on 2 siblings, citing continuity of care).

As someone else had said, the only way round it is to take on one child, then after a while apply for a variation to take on the other.

**DinkyDigits** · 02-05-2012, 05:05 PM

Thanks for your post I really appreciate it, I told Ofsted it would be for continuity of care for the children I already mind as in july one is leaving and one is dropping a day so I will only have two mindees on a thursday and friday, and therefore I will have to stop being a childminder so I can get full time employment and then my two mindees will then have to go to another minder.
I will keep my fingers crossed :-)

**Mouse** · 02-05-2012, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by DinkyDigits

Thanks for your post I really appreciate it, I told Ofsted it would be for continuity of care for the children I already mind as in july one is leaving and one is dropping a day so I will only have two mindees on a thursday and friday, and therefore I will have to stop being a childminder so I can get full time employment and then my two mindees will then have to go to another minder.
I will keep my fingers crossed :-)

Good luck. Let us know how it goes