Hi everyone. I really need your help.


I have a mindee who comes to me for after school club. They have a sibling who is at nursery at the moment but would now like to share time between nursery and me. I have 3 under 5 everyday. My question is am I able to accommodate the sibling meaning I would have 4 under 5's for a general 9am-3pm approx 3 days a week?

Any advice is much appreciated. My brain seems to be fried!

HI :),
Yes you would, IMO :). Obviously make sure you have sufficient space requirements, risk assess and think through how you will meet all lo's needs at critical times first :thumbsup:

No unless the sibling is over 4 and is in school ( before and after school care only)

No unless the sibling is over 4 and is in school ( before and after school care only)

not sure what u mean by this..have i missed something.

as long as you are not over the 6 under 8, then i should think you are fine. you will be providing care for a sibling, just not a new baby type of sibling!

just write up a RA and ensure you have everything you need and can cope with 4 LO.

have fun xxx

The majority of my children are siblings and I have been very lucky on the numbers front. I hate saying no as I know how hard it is to find childcare in my area with me being the only childminder in my school catchment (one childminder has just relocated which I was gutted about as I was hoping we could have met up etc) but equally I am well aware of the rules/guidelines etc so like to know I'm doing everything as I should be.

Yes you can do this as long as no more than 6 under 8. The variation is for a sibling so that's fine. As others have said you need to do a risk assessment of your own situation & how you can care for / address the needs of each combination of children.

I don't think you can.

The EYFS states that the continuity of care relates to new babies. I would check with Ofsted to make sure as these posts are only our opinions.

Some people think you can go over 3 under 5's to 6 but only if it meets the criteria.

from Ofsted factsheet July 2012 Reference no: 080293

The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for
A childcare factsheet


7. Paragraph 3.29 in the EYFS also allows childminders to care for more children in the early years age group through an overarching ‘exceptional circumstances’ statement. We will normally interpret an exceptional circumstance as relating to the continuity of care for children and/or where sibling children are not babies. These are times where it may be in children’s best interests to be with their brothers and sisters who are already with a childminder, or to remain with the same childminder where circumstances may change the number of children the childminder can care for, such as a parent extending their working hours. This type of arrangement would end when either the parent adjusted their hours or a child left the childminder’s care. It does not give the permission to operate with more children in the early years age group at all times.



I would say yes as caring for sibling and in best interest to have siblings together

Ofsted | Factsheet: childcare - The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-numbers-and-ages-of-children-providers-early-years-and-childcare-registers-may-c)

here is the guidance

I would take on a variation of this type as it is sibling.

I would also take on a variation of this type as it is sibling.

Ofsted | Factsheet: childcare - The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-numbers-and-ages-of-children-providers-early-years-and-childcare-registers-may-c)

here is the guidance

I would take on a variation of this type as it is sibling.

Thanks, that's the version I was looking for - changed a bit in a few months as usual! comes down to the same thing though :)

Thanks, that's the version I was looking for - changed a bit in a few months as usual! comes down to the same thing though :)

I needed it to email my parents a few weeks ago as need a variation myself for 2.5 hours on a tuesday after easter lol!

I was told you can have 4 under 5,s as long as one is 4+ and only for a few hours a day eg before a d after school care. Or am I mistaken

I was told you can have 4 under 5,s as long as one is 4+ and only for a few hours a day eg before a d after school care. Or am I mistaken

No I think someone has confused you with rising 5's. if a child is 4 and in full time education you can count them in your 5-8 age range.

Variations cannot not be given for new business but if a current family has a sibling and they wish you to look after them you can grant variation to have 4 under 5's as long as you dont go over your 6 under 8's :thumbsup:

I would say Yes you can do this.
FYI I had my inspection last week. I have 4 EY's children and due to parents shifts I sometimes need to have all 4 together. Mrs O could see from my attendance register that this is the case but she didn't mention it. I have granted myself an exception and have all the documents and RA for this on my PC but I forgot to print it off for her to see. She didn't ask me about it at all.

xxx