have spoken to ofsted today as I wanted to be sure that I wasn't going over ratios by accepting a 4yr old after schooler (as I already have a variation to allow 4 under 5's at the minute). They said its fine as he is a rising 5.

Told ofsted that a friend had been told that depsite her daughter being 5 and in full time school she had been told by ofsted that she can only care for 1 child in early years age group (as she has a baby of her own too). the man on the phone said that our own kids can't be classed as rising 5's unless a variation is in place.

I had no idea that was the case. My own daughter starts school in Sept and I was looking forward to having her out of my early years ratios but according to ofsted she wont be until Sept 2011 unless I apply for a variation to allow me to take on a new child to fill her 'space'

Has anyone else heard this?

thats a load of twaddle (I actually want to say something else but i will get told of and possibly banned for life) - Ofsted AGAIN and the right hand not knowing what the left is doing - as usual

my son was classed as rising 5 -
my friends daughter was classed as rising 5
many minders I know have their own child count as rising 5
your own children count

ofsted inspector told me last week at my sister pre reg your own children are not classed as rising 5's as they are not included in allocated numbers you just need a a variation for over 5 if needed.

your own children arent on your certificate/numbers so they wouldnt be counted anyway but when your dd is in fulltime school ofsted will amend certificate to allow 1 extra lo in under 5 age group. i think this is the confusing thing.:)

ok I had it clarified last week.

What it will say on your certificate is that your child is still in the EY bracket but you then have a bit underneath it saying children over 4 in full time education are classed as 5.

I have a 9yr, 4yr,3yr old that are mine. My certificate says I can only have 1 in the EY range but underneath I have the disclaimer that I have one in school.

Yes I think it is also all down the wording! When my ds started full time school and dd only just turned 4, they went into my over 5's.

It was changed so I could have 2, then 3 under 5's.

IYKWIM:thumbsup:

I phoned last week as I wanted again to make sure Receiption ages were rising 5's, and they sent me a new certificate wording 4-5 in full time ed, counts as risings 5's:idea: Although he did say it was only to keep parents happy as I was already okay for it

Sorry I think I have just confused myself, so prob have done you:panic: :p

OMG that almost panicked me:panic:

My twins start school in September and I was assuming that they would automatically count as rsisng 5s and all I needed to do was let Ofsted know.

I have preliminary said yes to having my old mindee and her brother back after maternity leave (I know I'll need to apply for variation for their 1st eight days of school).

Better get on the phone I suppose.

OMG:huh:

I am sooooo glad my kids are teenagers!

I think the thing that is confusing everyone is that when your own child starts school aged 4 you need to have your certificate amended so that they can be classed as a 5 year old - the point to remember is that you would have had to have had your certificate amended when they were 5 anyway you are just having to do it earlier because they are starting school and being classes as 5. Hope I am making sense - I have it clear in my head but it is difficult putting into words!

Cx

OMG:huh:

I am sooooo glad my kids are teenagers!

me too :laughing:

I think the thing that is confusing everyone is that when your own child starts school aged 4 you need to have your certificate amended so that they can be classed as a 5 year old - the point to remember is that you would have had to have had your certificate amended when they were 5 anyway you are just having to do it earlier because they are starting school and being classes as 5. Hope I am making sense - I have it clear in my head but it is difficult putting into words!

Cx

It is confusing, I've just added an Ofsted booklet to the downloads which explains it quite well, plus other information about numbers of children.

http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/freeresources/Free%20downloads/numbersofchildren.html

I've just been searching for info on this as my daughter starts school in sep and I'm almost at signing stage for several new part timers - was starting to panic that I'll have to let them all down!

I hope she's not still inluded in early years numbers, it's going to cause me a nightmare!

I also need to ask Ofsted about granting a variation for 1 month before a potential new mindee reaches his 1st birthday (I have baby son also), and am panicking about asking for variation now, then another in september!

may i just add (sorry for butting in and changing subject a little)

my cm friend has 2 under 5 of her own and so can only have 1 mindee under 5

ok but when her own children are in nursery she can NOT fill thoes two places with other children... (i dont thisk this is fare!)

unlike if they were minded children then she could register then as part time mindees and have more children on books as long as at any one time she keeps within her numbers...

is ncma going to loby this for us?

what do you think while your children are not with you ...with nursery / dad or other family why should they be included in ya numbers?

sorry if this needs to be moved ....

andrea x

It is confusing, I've just added an Ofsted booklet to the downloads which explains it quite well, plus other information about numbers of children.

http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/freeresources/Free%20downloads/numbersofchildren.html

Thanks for this Pauline - really useful. I have been told in the past by Ofsted that I did not have to contact them or have certificate changed when I had a child in the rising 5 category - this factsheet clearly states that your certificate does need changing. Fortunately I am still within my numbers at the moment so not doing anything wrong but will need to ring Ofsted as i will have 2 children in that category come September.

Cx

what do you think while your children are not with you ...with nursery / dad or other family why should they be included in ya numbers?

sorry if this needs to be moved ....

andrea x

It's because we are the emergency contact for our children so therefore need to be available 24/7 where as when the mindees are at nursery and you fill in the space then you must not be an emergency contact if you are then you shouldn't fill the space.