On my new certificate it states that I can care for 6 under the age of 8 including 3 in the Early Years Register. Underneath it states that the Early Years Register is until 31st August after a child is 5.

What is doesn't say is that as soon as a child is 5 then they are classed as a rising 5 and no longer count in your ratio's.

Very confusing

Ah these things (OFSTED) are sent to try us!

There was a massive thread about this somewhere.

It was clarified by Offy that even though EYFS goes to end of reception, if you have a rising 5 (ie at full time school) then they are classed a 5yrs old for the purposes of ratios.

to me it mean the child is on the early years register til the 31st aug after their 5th birthday .. so after that date they will be a rising 5 and not before

does that make sense?

thats what i gather it to mean by what you put but im not sure hun x

No as soon as they are at school doing 10 sessions they are rising 5's and that is for all time including hols

The Early Years Register is for EYFS

Confusing I know

I know we've had all this before - but my advice would be get it in writing for yourself.

My friend had her inspection on Monday, and the inspector told her that her ds would not count as an over 5 until next Sept (he's just started school).

I told her what I had had written from them, and what's been said on here - but I would just advise anybody to get it in writing from 'the power that be!' so you're not caught out if you get an inspector that's not famililar with what the majority are saying!

Kelly x

I am just changing mine to 3 under 5

My dd was 4 on Aug 28th, I wrote to offy and phoned mid week to make sure they got it:D They said, it has arrived and they would phone if any problems! I am phoning tomorrow:D to see how it's going, will let you know!

I must add, I phoned first and they said, yep she WOULD go up into te rising 5's now, so they will allow me 3 unders lets hope they stick to it!

I know we've had all this before - but my advice would be get it in writing for yourself.

My friend had her inspection on Monday, and the inspector told her that her ds would not count as an over 5 until next Sept (he's just started school).

I told her what I had had written from them, and what's been said on here - but I would just advise anybody to get it in writing from 'the power that be!' so you're not caught out if you get an inspector that's not famililar with what the majority are saying!

Kelly x

Here is is from Ofsted.

Ms Southern

Thank you for your e-mail.

Children aged four attending ten early education sessions a week may be classed as children over five years for the purposes of the adult to child ratio. This also applies in school holidays and is referred to as rising 5s.
For example, if a childminder can care for six children under eight, of which three can be under five, a four-year-old that meets the above criteria can take the place of one of the children aged five and over. Therefore they could still have 3 further children under 5.

The child may be classed as a five-year-old throughout the time they are with the childminder. They do not revert to being a four-year-old during school holidays, for example.

These conditions also apply to the childminders own child/children.

It is important to note, however, that these children must still receive EYFS at all times until the 31 August following their fifth birthday.

Goodness! :eek:

An answer from Ofsted we can all understand! :D

Goodness! :eek:

An answer from Ofsted we can all understand! :D

I know!! haha thats what I thought:clapping:

I have just phoned Offy to chase up, and the bloke said he had no record!! well I blew my top:blush: , how come the lady I spoke to on Weds knew it was there grrr, so he finally found it, after I said I am NOT writing in again when I knew it had been recived. So he is chasing it up to be signed as HAS gone through:rolleyes:

Now this is the Ofsted we know:angry:

the answer is in the eyfs statutory framework book, p51 second bullet point, under "each childminder may care for " and i am assuming if it is written there in b&w then ofsted have to support that, i had my inspection yesterday and asked the inspector and she showed me it herself.
hope that helps

the answer is in the eyfs statutory framework book, p51 second bullet point, under "each childminder may care for " and i am assuming if it is written there in b&w then ofsted have to support that, i had my inspection yesterday and asked the inspector and she showed me it herself.
hope that helps


I thought I had read everything - obviously not!!

Thanks for the information