Pipsqueak
11-09-2009, 08:01 PM
Right I am joining the ranks of 'wth - why can't ofsted give consistent answers?'
i rung them today because I thought I was going to need a variation and I ended up being even more confused - just generally and I ended up confusing the guy I was talking to. (1 to me I think).
Now obviously I have:
James - who from Monday is a 'rising 5' (till he turns 5 in December.
C age 2 mornings
R age 7 (8 in November)
L age 6
I age 3 afternoons
My friend has asked me to take her 2 kids - J age rising 5 (till turns 5 in November) and H age 6 b4 school and possibly after school on occasion
OK - so after speaking to Ofsted 2 weeks ago and being told that I need a new certifcate to reflect that James is 'rising 5' in duly applied and still not heard anything back.
Today I ring up to discuss the variation to take on friends children to be told that (wait for it).....:
don't need a change for James (as he is not included in my numbers on certificate anyway)
I don't need a variation (this is cutting a 45 minute conversation very short) as I will still be in my numbers as:
rising 5 is optional and I can leave james in my under 5 bracket and put my friends son in the over 5 bracket as a rising 5.
My problem arises in December as:
November J will turn 5 but R will turn 8 and go out of my numbers so I will have J, J, H, L in my 5-8yr bracket (are you still following?) but what i didn't know is that no childminder (unless they work with an assistant or another minder) can go over their 6 under 8's. So I am going to not have to take on another under 5 so that I do not exceed my numbers come December and if I do exceed my 6 limit then I will have to let a child go.
I think I have explained it all as I have been told it - but he cannot give me email confirmation of this until i email and ask for them to send me confirmation.
confused yet - I am.
YET my friend who is applying for a variation and its been with Ofsted for 2 weeks and she stressed the urgency of it has been told
a) its not urgent (even though the start is for 21st) and they won't process it until they are ready
b) that a 'rising 5' does not exist (has email confirmation of this)
I did have a laugh with the guy on the phone as he even confessed to being confused and not understanding the principle of 'rising 5' and that the area is really gray. he laughed even more when I asked why Ofsted can't give consistent answers - he said 'try working here' and then when I said Ofsted need a rocket up their backsides and then said 'oops will you set the inspectors on me now' he reckoned he doesn't have that power!!!!!
So all in all blo*dy Ofsted
i rung them today because I thought I was going to need a variation and I ended up being even more confused - just generally and I ended up confusing the guy I was talking to. (1 to me I think).
Now obviously I have:
James - who from Monday is a 'rising 5' (till he turns 5 in December.
C age 2 mornings
R age 7 (8 in November)
L age 6
I age 3 afternoons
My friend has asked me to take her 2 kids - J age rising 5 (till turns 5 in November) and H age 6 b4 school and possibly after school on occasion
OK - so after speaking to Ofsted 2 weeks ago and being told that I need a new certifcate to reflect that James is 'rising 5' in duly applied and still not heard anything back.
Today I ring up to discuss the variation to take on friends children to be told that (wait for it).....:
don't need a change for James (as he is not included in my numbers on certificate anyway)
I don't need a variation (this is cutting a 45 minute conversation very short) as I will still be in my numbers as:
rising 5 is optional and I can leave james in my under 5 bracket and put my friends son in the over 5 bracket as a rising 5.
My problem arises in December as:
November J will turn 5 but R will turn 8 and go out of my numbers so I will have J, J, H, L in my 5-8yr bracket (are you still following?) but what i didn't know is that no childminder (unless they work with an assistant or another minder) can go over their 6 under 8's. So I am going to not have to take on another under 5 so that I do not exceed my numbers come December and if I do exceed my 6 limit then I will have to let a child go.
I think I have explained it all as I have been told it - but he cannot give me email confirmation of this until i email and ask for them to send me confirmation.
confused yet - I am.
YET my friend who is applying for a variation and its been with Ofsted for 2 weeks and she stressed the urgency of it has been told
a) its not urgent (even though the start is for 21st) and they won't process it until they are ready
b) that a 'rising 5' does not exist (has email confirmation of this)
I did have a laugh with the guy on the phone as he even confessed to being confused and not understanding the principle of 'rising 5' and that the area is really gray. he laughed even more when I asked why Ofsted can't give consistent answers - he said 'try working here' and then when I said Ofsted need a rocket up their backsides and then said 'oops will you set the inspectors on me now' he reckoned he doesn't have that power!!!!!
So all in all blo*dy Ofsted