Criteria for variation

[MaffAnna]

Hi!

Have googled to no avail. Does anyone know what the criteria for requesting a variation are?

Would be looking to care for two under one for one afternoon a week for approx four weeks.

Any advice gratefully received!

[Helcatt]

I believe its for siblings of a currently minded child or extending hours for a currently minded child

[Penny1959]

If for 2 under 1's and not exceeding under 5 criteria - they usually grant it - although of course there are lots of reasons why they may not - but as I said usually not an issue.


Penny :)

[onceinabluemoon]

Two under one year is different from the other variations, no need for it to be for a sibling or for continuity of care apparently (according to ofsted). I have a permanent 2 under one year certificate so it cant be...

If you call ofsted (the number is on the complaints poster) they will send you out the form which you can either fill in and email back or post back.

They are currently taking around 3 weeks for variations.

[miffy]

As the others have said a variation for two under ones doesn't have to be for continuity of care and once granted will remain on your certificate (it isn't child specific).

Ofsted's advice is variations are taking 4 weeks atm so if you need it before then you must mark your application urgent

Miffy xx

[Chimps Childminding]

I have just been granted a permanent variation for 2 under (one sibling, one new business). It took about 3 weeks to get call back after emailing forms, and certificate arrived a few days later. I think you can download the forms from the downloads at the top of the Forum page!!

Good luck!!

[Mollymop]

Good luck I hope they grant it for you! x

[Mouse]

This is what the Ofsted factsheet says:


Caring for two babies aged under the age of one

The Early Years Foundation Stage allows you to care for two babies under the age of one where you can demonstrate you can meet and reconcile the individual needs of all the children being cared for. The Early Years Foundation Stage does not allow you to care for more than two babies under one. If you wish to do this, you must work with an assistant or another childminder.

We will not allow you to care for two babies when first registered unless you already have extensive experience of caring for more than one baby at a time.
In all cases, before making plans to care for two babies under the age of one, you will need to write to us with full details of how you will plan your day, meet the needs of all the children you care for and make best use of your space and resources. When deciding whether to agree to your request we will consider:

 the length of time you are providing care
 whether your furniture and equipment is sufficient for two babies
 how you will deliver the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage to all the children you care for and help them make the best possible progress
 how you organise your day so that all children get enough of your time.

You may still normally only look after a total of three children in the early years age group. It is unlikely we will agree to you having more children in the early years age group. Once we have agreed your request we will give you a condition of registration agreeing to two babies under the age of one. You do not have to make a further request to us the next time this happens providing you still have this condition of registration.

Here are examples of childminders who have asked to care for two babies aged under one.

Example 1
This new childminder has considerable experience of looking after babies. She was previously a qualified nursery nurse, who worked in the baby room of a large day nursery. She has produced full but flexible plans showing how she will make best use of the childminding day and adapt her model to meet individual children’s needs. She would like the flexibility to care for two babies should she be asked and we agreed she could do so.

Example 2
This experienced childminder is bilingual and has been approached by two sets of parents who want their babies brought up in a bilingual environment. The childminder particularly enjoys looking after babies and does not want to care for any other children. She has set this out in her plan. We agreed to her request for two babies.

Example 3
This registered childminder was asked to take baby twins in addition to caring for a child of two. Her own children are aged six and seven and she has to take them to and from school. She has set out in her plan that she will use these school runs for the minded children to be out in the fresh air as part of their outdoor play. She has a double buggy but it is a long walk for the two-year-old and involves crossing two very busy roads. It is unlikely that there will be any real outdoor learning happening on these occasions because of the need for close supervision. She had no other plans for outdoor play. We refused the request because we did not believe that the needs of the two-year-old were properly met.

[Mouse]

Here's the link to the fact sheet:

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Forms-and-guidance/Browse-all-by/Other/General/Factsheet-childcare-The-numbers-and-ages-of-children-that-childminders-may-care-for/(language)/eng-GB

[MaffAnna]

Thank you all, that's lots of good information.

A particular thank you for finding the information sheet, I tried for ages!