I am having a strange moment here - I thought that when your own child went into full time education then they freed up a space in the under 5s category (as it was under the foundation stage). Ofsted have just told my colleague that it doesn't apply to your own - only minded children! How can it be different? Has anybody else heard this - am I catching up?? :p Have I missed something?

Ally

That's my understanding too! any child in 10 sessions of school is classed as 5-8.
As in other threads, try a different person at Ofsted and get a different answer!!:angry:

i thought the same as you x

That was my understanding too.

Best email them then you have it in writing...

Dear Ofsted, please can you confirm.

When my son starts full time, 10 sessions a week school, is he counted as -

1. Age 5 for the purposes of my registration certificate;

2. Age 4 until he actually has his 5th birthday?

Please can you let me know when I need to apply for a new certificate or if one will come through automatically.

Thank you for your kind attention.

enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

Please share your reply :D

When i had my pre-reg inspection my inspector put my son down as over 5 as he was doing 10 sessions at school even though he wasn't 5 for a few weeks. Why are Ofsted so inconsistent?

I hope my daughter will count as over 5 come september because baby due october and that i'll have 3 of my own children under 5 so wouldnt be able to have anyone else in that catergory :(

I unfortunately have the same problem. I have recently had an Inspector round to my house and she has told me that i am overminding, even though my Certificate states three. She told me that my son in reception should be included into the unders 5's ratio. I have E Mailed ofted and NCMA and am awaiting a reply.

Same thing, different Inspectors tell you different things.....

Will keep you updated.

Debbie

When my daughter started reception I emailed OFSTED and they sent my new registration certificate to put me up to 3 under 5. She wasn't 5 until Feb.

I have an update for you all!!!! Sorry been away on hols. I now have my friends certificate in front of me and although they have put her son in the under 5s category 1 week before his 5th and 4 weeks (summer hols!!) before he goes into yr1, we have a separate clause stating the following:

"when caring for 4 and 5 year old children who are in full time education, may increase the number in the early years age group by the number of full time education, providing the maximum is not exceeded (Early Years Register)"

That is verbatim! If you can understand the wonderful English then congratulations! We had a brief translation of it and it goes something like this - are you ready.....

If you have a child in full time education then you can put them into the over 5s category - I am losing the will to live with Ofsted!!!

Thought you would like that!!! So Debbie you were actually ok!!! Contest it. I am getting fed up with all these inconsistencies. Life didn't change with EYFS it got a damn sight more complicated!!!

Take care all

Ally

it eas my understanding two, best check it out

ziller

I wish they would get their inconsistencies sorted out! I think the confusion has come in with the EYFS as; before then once a child was in school full time they counted as over 5's. Now the EYFS is continued to the end of reception, it means that those who are at school full time but not 5 count as under 5's. I think some of the Ofsted inspectors, see it like this but don't engage their thoughts that these children are not in our homes as they are in school- I hope this makes sense, think I've gone into waffle mode!!!
Anyway, I thought that once they started full time at school they were classed as over 5's, freeing up a space!!

I hope my daughter will count as over 5 come september because baby due october and that i'll have 3 of my own children under 5 so wouldnt be able to have anyone else in that catergory :(

ill have the same problem, jack starts full time in jan but isnt 5 till may:panic:

charlotte x

A RESPONSE FROM OFSTED!!!!

"Thank you for your e-mail.

The maximum numbers of children that appear on your certificate relate to minded children. If you have children of your own under the age of eight, they will have been taken into account before your certificate was issued and this maximum reduced accordingly. The maximum number of minded children that a childminder can be registered to look after is 6.

When a four year old begins full time education they can be classed as a 'rising five' for the purposes of ratios alone. This means they can be classed as a child older than the Early Years age group. Once a four year old begins full time education they can be classed as a rising five at all times including weekends and out of term time."

Well well well - who needs anything more than this!

Ally