Oh dear, I got an email this morning from a mum whose daughters I used to look after. I have the 2.5 year old a day and a half a week and I used to look after her older sister who is 3.5 years old. The older one now goes to a private school so I have her occasionally as she wants to be with her sister.

I have now got a little boy who signed up before the sisters did and he started settling in today. With my daughter who is almost 2 this makes up 3 children under 3.

Mum is asking if the older sister can come with her younger sister on Wednesday because school doesn't start until Thursday. Do school children only count as older if they are 4?

It will be hard as I am looking after a 6 year old all day as well who I collect from school 3 times a week and the sisters can be a handful together. I just feel bad to not be able to but mum does know that taking on the little boy as well I am going over my numbers. She was told this months ago.

Is it worth phoning Ofsted and asking or do you think they will say no?

Many thanks, Xxx

If the 4 year old is in full time education and you have the rising 5 clause on your certificate then they can be classed as being in the 5-8 years age bracket.

You could call and email Ofsted and ask for a variation for one day to allow continuity of care for the younger of the 2 children (as you would have them anyway) but if you could not provide care to the sister you may therefore not be able to have the younger child as mum will need to make alternative arrangments.

Good Luck

BuggsieMoo x

You could apply to Ofsted for a variation but it won't be immediate.

Going over numbers means working illegally and being uninsured so no, it is not something you should ever do.

I hope you can sort it out :D

Thanks for the replies!

I decided in the end to turn down taking the two sisters which was hard to do but was in everyone's best interests. Mum did know that this day was coming as I did tell her that I had a full time boy booked in and that I wouldn't be able to take them both in the New Year as I would be over my numbers.

Have a good day! Xxx