Continuity Of Care or a Mess? :/

[tinyp164]

Hello lovlies!

I hope your all almost ready for the weekend!?

I have a question and I have read th 'free resources' on variations and have read the EYFS section too!

Anyways...I have a chid whos mum was on a 4mth contract at work with the hope of staying on, we didn't write this on the contract...silly me! but today she came to me and said shes being kept on, not sure for how long hopefully forever! He only comes 1/2/3days per week for 10hrs per day depending on how many days she can book at work. However, I have another family who have already signed their contract (he is 8 1/2mths) and have started settling in sessions ready for sept. He will be 3 days a week x 8hrs.
This wouldn't be a problem until sept when newbie starts properly, the problem is if I have original child and newbie on a thursday morning (until 2pm) I would have 4 in the EYFS. (Already mind 19mth-thought was leaving! a 13mth and 10mth)

I am now a little confused as I don't need to sort it until Sept but seems as I'm USUALLY organised lol then I'm preparing myself for everything now. I know I will have to RA, but would I need to apply to anyone, I'm thinking I don't as long as I see fit (and do the things listed in thefree resources) or do I have to tell someone? Basically I dont know what to do so going to stop guessing and I'm asking lol! :D

Thank you in advance and thanks for just reading! :D x

[funemnx]

As I understand it, as long as you can provide all the children's needs, including learning and development then you don't need to ask anyone else for permission - as long as you don't have more than 6 children in total :thumbsup:

[tinyp164]

Ahh thats exactly as I thought! :D Thank you!!

[cathtee]

I'm understanding that we don't need a variation from september, but had already applied and not heard back, I would have thought that if i didn't need one that they would have let me know by now,(been nearly 5 weeks) just a thought but I think I would check just in case it is necessary for you to have one. :idea: Always best to cover yourself.

[jadavi]

That's still six under 8s right?

[LadyC]

I have just been on our local authority training, updating us on the new EYFS and, as I understand it, so long as you stay within your numbers, you can exceed your numbers in the early years, so long as you explain to parents that you are doing so and can show what extra measures you are taking to keep all the mindees safe (and amend your risk assessments as necessary).

[onceinabluemoon]

My LA training two weeks ago stated very clearly that we still have to tell ofsted that we are taking on more children and they have the right to say no. I have seen other posts saying much the same thing. I told the trainers we had been told differently on here and she said it was wrong. apparently the trainers have got the info from very high up in ofsted, just as sarah has done so I really have no idea who is right and certainly won't be doing anything until I have it in writing form ofsted myself.

I would check this out very carefully if I was you as it will be you that gets into trouble not the people giving you advice. Does anybody know if we are any nearer getting the guidance from ofsted themselves?

[CH1957]

My DO has told me that we can still take the 6 under 8 but they can all be under 5 as long as we dont have any between 5-7 years. I havent seen anyone else say that on here so am going to clarify again with her next time I see her.

[Bluebell]

yes BUT the variation for the 4 in the EY groups should be in extreme circumstances ONLY - it says clearly in the new EYFS that this means continuity of care or sibling care or another measure that we would have been able to apply for variations in past - you will have to demonstrate how long child has been coming to you to allow continuity of care - you can't do it for new business which this will be as they only start in September?
If your settling in sessions have started and been going on for almost 2 months by September then it could be said to be continuity of care but I think we need to be very careful not to be seen to be adapting the use of these variations to just get round things iyswim
As for the guidelines for Ofsted - I would wait and see what Sarah says because she is the one very up on this!
I had my 'briefing' last night with DO and an early years specialist. They said that they've been telling everyone they need to phone Ofsted to tell them when we give ourselves a new variation but they had an e-mail from Ofsted YESTERDAY telling them this was NOT the case.
This e-mail apparantly says we do not need to phone them and that there will be no further guidelines/rules from Ofsted regarding the numbers - it is down to us to interpret the EYFS.
I asked for a copy of this e-mail and she just put me off by saying we would all get a copy of the e-mail in the next e-bulletin and that it needs to go to her manager first. Personally I'm waiting on Sarah because we all know the training so far received for most of us have contradicted everything wildly - they have even contradicted themselves because they said themselves they'd been telling everyone they need to phone Ofsted each time whereas now this does not seem to be the case at all!
The interpretation of the new EYFS numbers is yes you can have 6 any age but if you are not keeping to the guidelines you will need to be demonstrate very well that you can cope, keep safe, and that children are having adaquate attention etc. I wouldn't fancy 6 under 1's or even 6 under 3's - I would just go potty!

[sarah707]

This e-mail apparantly says that there will be no further guidelines/rules from Ofsted regarding the numbers - it is down to us to interpret the EYFS.


My contact at Ofsted informed me yesterday that we would be getting further guidance about variations very soon.

I told her they couldn't come soon enough :D

[PixiePetal]

thanks Sarah :thumbsup:

[Bluebell]

Thanks Sarah - I have to say all the childminders at the meeting were as cynical as me as to the whole accuracy of what they were telling us! Fab news about the clarifications coming though!

[Hayley102]

I will look forward to clarification in writing as one of my parents has asked for extra time from September - and will take school days so I will have 4 in the EYFS age group for 5.5 hours. I have said that as far as I understand this will be acceptable(have already been granted a variation for another day for 4 children in EYFS group) but have made it clear that I need confirmation first. We have our LO briefing in August and hope they may answer this if nothing written is out by then!

[Bridey]

I think their further guidance will be just one sentence "Every childminder is expected to interpret the EYFS themselves with regards to variations". :laughing::laughing:

[Bluebell]

I think their further guidance will be just one sentence "Every childminder is expected to interpret the EYFS themselves with regards to variations". :laughing::laughing:

:panic: You are probably right! Thats so funny! :laughing:

That does tend to be how they answer most of my queries - they just sent me the relevant text and I always think yes I know THAT - but thats the bit I was asking about and wanted clarifying not just for you to send it back to me!!