Going over ratio? Is it ever allowed?

**trickiedickie** · 23-05-2014, 10:26 AM

Me again. I am unsure what to do about settling a baby girl due to start with me on Friday 15th August. She will be 15 months and only coming on a Friday. I usually offer 3 2 hour settling in sessions free. Ideally I would have liked to do this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12, 13th and 14th then she would come all day on the 15th. On the 12th and 13th I have 6 kids (4 are mine and at school those days).

Do the wee ones definately count in your numbers when you are only doing a settling in session?

**FussyElmo** · 23-05-2014, 10:56 AM

if its the same rules as ofsted then no it allowed to go over ratios for settling in.

Hopefully one of our Scottish members will see this and answer

**Koala** · 23-05-2014, 11:02 AM

If you are ofsted registered - I pressume you are allowed 3 under five? as you will only have two under five (as all your 4 children are school aged and over 5yrs possibly over 8yrs therefore not in your under 5 numbers) why would you be over your numbers? just arrange the settling in sessions at a quiet time - if possible - maybe when other lo's have a sleep!?

Or have I missed something.

**FussyElmo** · 23-05-2014, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Koala

If you are ofsted registered - I pressume you are allowed 3 under five? as you will only have two under five (as all your 4 children are school aged and over 5yrs possibly over 8yrs therefore not in your under 5 numbers) why would you be over your numbers? just arrange the settling in sessions at a quiet time - if possible - maybe when other lo's have a sleep!?

Or have I missed something.

Trickiedickie is in Scotland

**tulip0803** · 23-05-2014, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Koala

If you are ofsted registered - I pressume you are allowed 3 under five? as you will only have two under five (as all your 4 children are school aged and over 5yrs possibly over 8yrs therefore not in your under 5 numbers) why would you be over your numbers? just arrange the settling in sessions at a quiet time - if possible - maybe when other lo's have a sleep!?

Or have I missed something.

OP is in Scotland so not under OFSTED. In Scotland all children under either 12 or 16 (depending on registration) that are under the care of a childminder are counted.

I would check with SCSWIS but I am sure that if you only have 6 spaces and 4 are taken by your own children (even if at school) you cannot take on a child settling if you are already full to your ratio.

CSSIW/OFSTED (I have worked under both) do not allow us to go over the ratio for settling or our own children's friends coming to play. If we are responsible for a child then there has to be a space for them in the ratio.

**Koala** · 23-05-2014, 11:19 AM

Ahhhhh just found scottish reference at bottom of page!!

So what is the ratio in scotland??

**tulip0803** · 23-05-2014, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Koala

Ahhhhh just found scottish reference at bottom of page!!

So what is the ratio in scotland??

Either 6 under 12 or 6 under 16 depends on the registering inspector. think like us it is 3 under and 3 schoolies.

**Koala** · 23-05-2014, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by tulip0803

Either 6 under 12 or 6 under 16 depends on the registering inspector. think like us it is 3 under and 3 schoolies.

Thank you Tulip - that is a lot less flexible than ofsted then - taking your own children in your numbers up to 16yrs - very hard to provide flexible and wrap around care and make a living?

Slighyly unfair in my lowly opinion.

**trickiedickie** · 24-05-2014, 01:57 AM

Thanks everyone. I really knew I couldn't provide settling in for this child apart from the one day a week she will attend. As I only have space that one day!

Yes Koala - I share your sentiment about it being unfair to only be allowed to mind 6 children under 16. I have four children of my own but my eldest 2 are 9 and 12. I would only want to mind 3 children a day, taking my numbers including my own kids to 7. Since I can only mind 2 children a day I am earning less than minimum wage an hour.

I know this is partly my fault for having so many kids! I accept my ratio's for now as I also factor in that I don't have to pay for childcare myself.

When I was registering (a few months ago) I thought you could mind 6 children under 12 a day. My eldest was about to turn 12 so I was quite happy at 3 minded kids a few days a week. All the childminders I knew were allowed 6 under 12. After registration I checked my certificate and noticed it was 6 under 16. The rules have changed and all newly registered childminders in Scotland are only being registered for 6 under 16 now!!

I have previously posted about this and was advised I could apply for a variation. I may do this if any of my existing mindee's need an extra day.

Thanks again everyone.