I am losing one of my mindees to pre-school next month, but it only runs term time, the mother has now asked if I can still have the child in the holidays (usually only one day a week), but I think I have already filled this childs space - can you still use continuity of care clause for just holidays, as I still may have her older school age sister in the holidays but will be over my numbers for under 5's - can I do a variation?

I would say yes. It is continuity of care because the child is already with you. :D

It is unclear about the rules of the new variations but in this circumstance i would say yes to this as the child already attends and knows you

Thanks for reply - it does seem to be a grey area, as technically continuity of care but with a 6 week gap in between - does anyone else do holiday cover for pre-schoolers?

If you do a new contract for holiday cover when this one ends then there wont be any gap ...just change of hours so definitly continuity