Hi

Thought I would start a new thread for this as it keeps coming up. Many of us were told (me included) that we did not have to have certificates amended when we had 4 & 5 year olds in school and that they could be counted as older than the early years age group.

Ofsted have recently brought out a new factsheet 'The numbers and ages of children that childminders may care for'. This factsheet clearly states that we need to write to them and have a special condition on our certificates.

Here is the link where you can download the factsheet

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Forms-and-guidance/Browse-all-by/Other/General/Factsheet-childcare-The-numbers-and-ages-of-children-that-childminders-may-care-for

Go to page 4 'Caring for children aged four and five in full time education' paragraph 2 explains about the special condition. Paragraph 4 also explains what you need to do if the child is your own child.

Christine

thank you for that ...I'm sorry if I gave out wrong information on the other thread but I did it in good faith as seen by the e-mail......things have obviously changed now....better get on the phone tomorrow again:)

thank you for that ...I'm sorry if I gave out wrong information on the other thread but I did it in good faith as seen by the e-mail......things have obviously changed now....better get on the phone tomorrow again:)

I too have been telling people that there is no need to have certificate amended as that is what I was told but clearly Ofsted have done a U turn on this one so thought I would start a new thread to let everyone know about this.

Christine

I rang them the other day and had a new certificate within about 3 days.

They have just changed a bit of the wording so I can have another child if one is at school full time.

Thanks for pointing it out for everyone Christine! :D

On the link it says to write to them, is it ok just to phone to request the change?

Do they chage it for just the time while the particular child is under 5 or permentantly? I presume my DD (5yrs) has already been excluded from the early years group as I am allowed two children in the early years group (I have a DD under 2 yrs also).

On the link it says to write to them, is it ok just to phone to request the change?

Do they chage it for just the time while the particular child is under 5 or permentantly? I presume my DD (5yrs) has already been excluded from the early years group as I am allowed two children in the early years group (I have a DD under 2 yrs also).

In the reply above Sarah says she rang so it must be ok and yes it does sound like they have moved your 5 year old daughter up to the 5-8 year olds.

Cx

On the link it says to write to them, is it ok just to phone to request the change?

Do they chage it for just the time while the particular child is under 5 or permentantly? I presume my DD (5yrs) has already been excluded from the early years group as I am allowed two children in the early years group (I have a DD under 2 yrs also).

Just realised didn't comment on your question about if the amendment is permanent or not, you only have to apply for the condition once, have copied and pasted the bit about 4 & 5 year olds below

Caring for children aged four and five in full-time education
If you care for children aged four and five who are in full-time education, either before or after school or in the school holidays, you may count them as older than the early years age group. This allows you to have extra children in the early years age group but no more than six children in total.
You should write and ask us for a special condition on your certificate before the first time you do this. The condition allows you to increase the numbers of children in the early years age group by the number of children aged four and five in full-time education.
Once you have this condition of registration you do not have to tell us about each time this happens.
If it is your own child, a foster child or relative’s child who is in full-time education then you do not have to have this condition. Instead you need to ask us to increase the number of children you may have in the early years age group. This is because other children you are responsible for, such as your own children, are not included in the number of children on your certificate. However, we do reduce the number you can care for as a childminder by the number of your own children or any other children you are responsible for such as foster children or grandchildren.

Cx

just got off the phone to Ofsted to ask for the rising 5's clause to be added to my certificate...................

"yes that is fine Mrs W. but you do realise you do not have to have it on there......it is not a requirement"


I referred him to the current fact sheet from Ofsted.....

"I am not aware that it is a current requirement and you certainly would not be marked down in an inspection"

I am having it added just to be safe:) :rolleyes: not sure anyone knows what they are doing:rolleyes:

I phoned them first thing this morning as I could have two children in this age group. In one breathe he said I didn't need an amendment and in the next he was getting it amended and sent out to me. :laughing:

I phoned them first thing this morning as I could have two children in this age group. In one breathe he said I didn't need an amendment and in the next he was getting it amended and sent out to me. :laughing:

there you go then:laughing:

Well that has kind of left me speechless! Not something that happens very often:laughing:

Going to get my certificate amended anyway

Cx