I may be being silly but i thought you were allowed 4 under five kids in your care.
My registration came through with 1 in early years and 2 under eights, 3 in total.
I have a 18mth old a 3 yr old and a full time 5 yr old.
I have a 9mth old now but was wondering if i could have another kid as my daughter going to pre-school 16hrs a week and could offer part time hours.
Propblem being school hols. So i called Ofsted and they sais that unless a sibling or continuity of care they would not change my inital registreation until 3 yr old at school full time.
I was always under the impression it was 4 under five maximum, and if not than how come the same 'sibling' argument does not apply to my own kids?

I may have missed the point (happens alot) but i am fully able to care for them, have space, car, time, patience etc.

Thoughts? Extra Info i have missed??

It's 6 children under the age of 8, 3 of whom are under the age of 5... unless the inspector has put a space restriction on you or thinks you won't cope with the full amount and has registered you for less.

So if you have 2 of your own then you are stuck until one of them goes up to full time school.

The NCMA clarify it here - http://www.*************/childminders/become_a_childminder/childminding_ratios/ratios_in_england.aspx

Hth :D

thanks, i think the minders i have seen with four have two siblings.
newly registered (wrong date in profile, meant to be 2011) so they must be starting me off easy by limiting the over 8s.
Just seems to easy to me, used to having loads of kids about but with oldest at school and middle one off two or three days a week feels like i'm cheating somehow!

Unfortunately our own children count in our numbers whether they are with us or not, even when they are at nursery. So with 2 under 5s, as Sarah says, you will have to wait until the oldest starts school full-time. Your numbers are the maximum that you can be registered for.

Children over the age of 8 do not count in our registrations, unless there are planning rules in your area. If their are no planning restrictions you can have over 8s (in addition to the under 8s and your own children) up to the total number of children on your PLI certificate. OFSTED do not specify numbers for over 8s

My area has a planning restriction and I can have only 6 mindees of any age.

thanks tulip, only going to do under 8s and as my oldest is five i have no toys or things on interest at that age.
Lets hope my mindee goes full time or i'm stuck finding a pt child to fill the time!