I have various part time mindees. One of these I look after for two full days a week. Her mother has now been asked to work for an hour on another day of the week. Usually her husband will be able to care for her daughter, but as his work varies, he may not always be able to cover this time.
Do you think Ofsted would consider giving me a variation to do occasional care for this extra couple of hours just for this child, as I am already full on the extra day? It seems it would be in this child's interest to be with someone she is already used to, and a couple of hours in the morning would not be hard to manage.

As it is continuity of care for a child you already mind then I don't see why Ofsted will not. Ive had a couple for the same sort of reasons. I just emailed them stating who I had and what hours I needed the variation and why for i.e Wednesday between 1000 and 1400 and this was added to my certificate and a new one sent out.
Good luck x

I have been given a variation in the past for very similar circumstances so I would definitely apply to Ofsted.

Good luck

Miffy xx

Oh no, just found out you can't apply for a variation until you've had your first inspection grading, and I'm still waiting for mine.

Oh no, just found out you can't apply for a variation until you've had your first inspection grading, and I'm still waiting for mine.

ive applied for two variations and havent had an inspection and got them

Thanks for that, I guess it's definitely worth a try then

Oh no, just found out you can't apply for a variation until you've had your first inspection grading, and I'm still waiting for mine.

Just out of interest, where did you get that information from?

Miffy xx

In the Ofsted document "The Number and Ages of Children Childminders Can Care For" - it has a section about requesting variations to have more than three children under 3 at a time (including for continuity of care for an existing minded child) and it says "We will not allow this type of request:
at the point of registration or before a first inspection"

In the Ofsted document "The Number and Ages of Children Childminders Can Care For" - it has a section about requesting variations to have more than three children under 3 at a time (including for continuity of care for an existing minded child) and it says "We will not allow this type of request:
at the point of registration or before a first inspection"

I'd pretend I hadn't read that. I'd apply anyway - your first inspection must be soon so they might inspect and consider your request at the same time or they might just grant it - you're not asking for much.

Good luck
Miffy xx

Thanks Miffy. It's only for a couple of hours on a Wednesday morning, and I'd have two 2 1/2 year olds and two just over ones, so it's manageable!
They called me about my inspection on the last day of summer term, and all my mindees at that time were term time only, so would have been empty when they came. So I'm now waiting for who knows how long for the inspection - just wish it could have been all over by now.