Hi, I'm new here and wish I'd found it two years ago!

I have been minding for two years now and one of my mindees will be turning 8 in April. All of the children I care for are school children over the age of 4. I have been looking through the Ofsted register requirements and I'm just getting more and more confused! What exactly am I required to be doing for these age groups? I only found out the other day that I am supposed to be doing the observations on the two four year olds even though they are at school! I didn't know that! But when they have both got to the cut off date of Aug 31st and I'm not required to do the observations anymore, I've still been wondering if I'm supposed to be moving onto something else for this older age group?

Also, confused about which registers I'm supposed to be on too!

And finally (for now!), the girl thats going to be 8 in April, is there anything I'm supposed to do about that when it happens? Do I need to inform Ofsted, even though I already know she will no longer count in my numbers? I have been told I have to inform Ofsted when my own son reaches 8 which will be next year, because of numbers.

I will probably be back with a load more questions if anyone has the time and inclination to help me out!!!

Thanks in advance and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone!:)

Hi, I'm new here and wish I'd found it two years ago!

I have been minding for two years now and one of my mindees will be turning 8 in April. All of the children I care for are school children over the age of 4. I have been looking through the Ofsted register requirements and I'm just getting more and more confused! What exactly am I required to be doing for these age groups? I only found out the other day that I am supposed to be doing the observations on the two four year olds even though they are at school! I didn't know that! But when they have both got to the cut off date of Aug 31st and I'm not required to do the observations anymore,

The Eyfs applies to children until (for ease of thinking about it) they are finished in their reception year at school... so they will be moving into year 1.

You do not have to make up the same kind of information files / evidence for this agegroup as you would for a full time baby... but you do need to show you are working within the Eyfs and giving them experiences that stretch and interest them.

I've still been wondering if I'm supposed to be moving onto something else for this older age group?


Once children are in the over reception age group you need to think about how you can still show evidence of appropriately caring for them and meeting their needs. This might be through your group planning and by helping them to put together scrap books of their activities with you. It should not be complicated.

Also, confused about which registers I'm supposed to be on too!

You can find out what registers you are on easily ... go to the Ofsted website, put your regd number into the search box and your details should come up. Go into them and it's there in purple on your welcome screen.

Unless you have asked to be taken off a register, you will automatically have been transferred onto all 3.

the Childcare registers work to different set of legal requirements from the EYFS and you need to know about this and make sure you show your understanding in your policies and procedures. So give Ofsted a ring and get hold of a copy so you can compare it with the EYFS.

And finally (for now!), the girl thats going to be 8 in April, is there anything I'm supposed to do about that when it happens? Do I need to inform Ofsted, even though I already know she will no longer count in my numbers? I have been told I have to inform Ofsted when my own son reaches 8 which will be next year, because of numbers.

No, it's just when your own child reaches 8 that they free up a space so Ofsted will need to re-do your certificate.

I will probably be back with a load more questions if anyone has the time and inclination to help me out!!!

Thanks in advance and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone!:)

Looking forward to getting to know you too! :D

Hi,thanks for that really informative reply!!! I will go to the Ofsted site and look that up!

Still confused about the mindee who is going to be 8 though.....She is also going to free up a place and another one is going to be 8 next year as well as my son, so they will be freeing up three spaces between them. Surely, even if I was mad enough to even consider it, I couldn't have six children under the age of 8 and then these three as well????? There must be some limit of you could, in theory, have twenty kids over the age of 8 as well as your younger six!!!!! I am really asking because I have been asked by a parent of a boy I look after if I can take his sister on in September and I have said yes as this other child will be over 8 by then. But it does mean that sometimes I will have seven children in my care!:eek:

Is this allowed?????

Thanks again!

You should look on your insurance it will give you a maximum number of children it will cover.
I myself have four children, two under eight and two over eight, I have two minded children between 5 and 8 and three over eights, (all within my numbers) and my insurance covers them all. Its just on some days my children can't have friends round! :laughing: You're allowed the over eights as long as it doesn't affect the care of the smaller children.

Hope this is right - its my first bit of advice to anyone:laughing:

Carol

You should look on your insurance it will give you a maximum number of children it will cover.
I myself have four children, two under eight and two over eight, I have two minded children between 5 and 8 and three over eights, (all within my numbers) and my insurance covers them all. Its just on some days my children can't have friends round! :laughing: You're allowed the over eights as long as it doesn't affect the care of the smaller children.

Hope this is right - its my first bit of advice to anyone:laughing:

Carol

Perfect advice Carol! :goodjob:

You should look on your insurance it will give you a maximum number of children it will cover.
I myself have four children, two under eight and two over eight, I have two minded children between 5 and 8 and three over eights, (all within my numbers) and my insurance covers them all. Its just on some days my children can't have friends round! :laughing: You're allowed the over eights as long as it doesn't affect the care of the smaller children.

Hope this is right - its my first bit of advice to anyone:laughing:

Carol


And what good advice it was! I looked at my ncma book and it says that I am covered for up to 12 children:eek: So six under the age of 8 and six over the age of 8........doubt if I will persue that though:laughing: