Variations and the revised EYFS

[sarah707]

A reminder guys!

Variations from Sept can only be set up -

- For continuity of care - for existing children, not to earn a bit extra money by taking on a new child

- In exceptional circumstances - when there is no other alternative, not as a matter of course

- With full knowledge of existing parents - not hidden from them in case they say 'no'

- If it is in the best interests of the children involved - not just to get a few extra children in the house because your husband has been laid off and you are struggling to pay the bills

- If you are absolutely sure you can meet every child's care and education needs - not if you intend to stay inside all day because you can't get the children on outings or supervise them all properly in the garden

- If you can prove to an inspector that you have considered all the risks before doing it - and reflected on what might happen to your business if you are caught breaking the rules!!

If you pm me, email me, phone me or send me a FB message asking me about variations I will repeat the points above.

I will not say 'yes' to you having 6 under 5s... I will not say 'yes' to you taking on 2 new children and pretending they are existing business... I will only quote the rules to you.

Here are some documents which might help you to make up your mind

Ofsted | Factsheet: childcare - The numbers and ages of children that providers on the Early Years and Childcare Registers may care for

Variations

Changes to Conditions of Registration

[Twinkles]

What ?

So are you saying I can't have 24 children and keep them all on a piece of string ?

[Trouble]

I dont think i agree with this as some will take complete advantage of this and there will be consiquences

[JulieA]

To be perfectly honest I have 4 under 5 at the moment (OFSTED variation in place) and that can be a struggle, especially in the school holidays with my own children home as well. My house just doesn't seem big enough - and it is quite large really.

I really don't understand why you would want to have so many.

[emhudson]

Please can someone put my mind at rest with the old variations that were in place what happens to them now, I had one in place for a tue and weds do i need to re do paper work for those as one day still take place.

[sarah707]

Please can someone put my mind at rest with the old variations that were in place what happens to them now, I had one in place for a tue and weds do i need to re do paper work for those as one day still take place.

Current variations continue until you no longer need them.

Any new variations will then need to be considered on their own merits

[lisa1968]

Am slowly working my way through Sarahs fab EYFS 2012 checklist. I can't think how to word my equal opps policy-Sarah has suggested that it needs to include info about how children with learning disabilities and difficulties are supported but to be honest I've never had a child with these so i'm not sure what to write- and also about reference to the Equality Act 2010 but I can't seem to find anything in there-unless I'm looking in the wrong place.!
Help!
Thanks Lisax

[sarah707]

Am slowly working my way through Sarahs fab EYFS 2012 checklist. I can't think how to word my equal opps policy-Sarah has suggested that it needs to include info about how children with learning disabilities and difficulties are supported but to be honest I've never had a child with these so i'm not sure what to write- and also about reference to the Equality Act 2010 but I can't seem to find anything in there-unless I'm looking in the wrong place.!
Help!
Thanks Lisax

I've answered your thread Lisa

[twheeler29]

I have 3 under 3 and wouldn't want to take on any more. This can be a struggled at times, especially if they all want my attention at the same time.

[frankk]

What do you all think to the proposed changes by the DFE which will allow childminders to have more children and higher ratios as outlined here- ATL comment on over-haul of early years provision | Adults & Children

[sarah707]

What do you all think to the proposed changes by the DFE which will allow childminders to have more children and higher ratios as outlined here- ATL comment on over-haul of early years provision | Adults & Children

We are talking about the new proposals in the 'campaigns and petitions' area of the forum -

Campaigns and Petitions

Why not come along and join in. There is lots of lively debate going on

[lizann]

Hi Sarah hope you can advise me at the moment I have 1 9 year old 2 8 year olds 1 6yearold 1 5year old on mondays from the middle of June a mum wants to move her ddshe will be 6 in july to mondays and wants her son who will be 9 mths old to do just mondays so in total I would have 7 children on a monday can i do this ?all these children are term time only

[sarah707]

Hi Sarah hope you can advise me at the moment I have 1 9 year old 2 8 year olds 1 6yearold 1 5year old on mondays from the middle of June a mum wants to move her ddshe will be 6 in july to mondays and wants her son who will be 9 mths old to do just mondays so in total I would have 7 children on a monday can i do this ?all these children are term time only

Hi Lizann

The over 8s are not part of your Ofsted ratios - your Ofsted ratios cover the amount of children you look after who are under the age of 8.

Childminders are only ever allowed a maximum of 6 children under 8 so with the ratios you have suggested above you are fine from an Ofsted point of view.

HOWEVER - if you care for more than 6 children total at the same time you might need to get planning permission.

Planning permission is a bit of a minefield - and it does depend on local requirements - so in the first instance you should contact your LA and find out about it in more detail.

Hth

[FussyElmo]

Hi Sarah hope you can advise me at the moment I have 1 9 year old 2 8 year olds 1 6yearold 1 5year old on mondays from the middle of June a mum wants to move her ddshe will be 6 in july to mondays and wants her son who will be 9 mths old to do just mondays so in total I would have 7 children on a monday can i do this ?all these children are term time only

Yes because three of the children mentioned are over 8.

so you will have

I under 5
3 in the 5-8 age bracket
and 3 over 8

which actually leaves 2 under 5 spaces

[smart09]

Why have ofsted removed the age group and numbers from our registrations in the first place, everyone i speak have been conufsed by this and what how many they are allowed to care for, when i have spoken to ofsted i didnt get a clear answer and think this will only lead to people taking on more children they should have.

[sarah707]

Why have ofsted removed the age group and numbers from our registrations in the first place, everyone i speak have been conufsed by this and what how many they are allowed to care for, when i have spoken to ofsted i didnt get a clear answer and think this will only lead to people taking on more children they should have.

Unfortunately it has caused a lot of confusion - and is leading to a lot of complaints made against childminders for overminding.

However, a decision was made and ours is not to reason why!

Welcome to the forum

[lizann]

Thankyou Sarah will look into planning permission would only have 7 for 1 hour togeather on the monday thankyou FussyElmo for help as well xx

[Tweetybird]

Why have ofsted removed the age group and numbers from our registrations in the first place, everyone i speak have been conufsed by this and what how many they are allowed to care for, when i have spoken to ofsted i didnt get a clear answer and think this will only lead to people taking on more children they should have.

Hello I was confused too thinking that our numbers have been removed so we as Childminders can decide how we take on children as long as we stayed within our ratio of no more than six. I just confirmed with a mum that i could have her son on a Tuesday where I would have 4 under fives with one leaving by 1pm. (They are aged 2.5/1/18months and this by is three and will be four next month). Was thinking of getting a tripple buggy and the little boy is a very able walking/running child.

I'm going to have to call her tomorrow to let her know i can't do Tuesday unless he started at or after 1pm on Tuesdays.

After reading the statutory Framework again and some of the other support paperwork on the forum, I see that I have been misled too.

Hope she is ok to change her time or day.

Lucky thing I came on her to check again to be sure.

Thanks all.

[critch]

Hi all I'm new to childminding and really need help, I have twins aged 4, they start full time school in September and by the end of September they will be 5, I have just had baby 6mths sign up for nearly full time and a child the same age as the twins for a couple of nights after school, can I get a variation as the twins and the other boy will be in full time school to enable me to take another couple of pre schoolers on?

[sarah707]

Hi all I'm new to childminding and really need help, I have twins aged 4, they start full time school in September and by the end of September they will be 5, I have just had baby 6mths sign up for nearly full time and a child the same age as the twins for a couple of nights after school, can I get a variation as the twins and the other boy will be in full time school to enable me to take another couple of pre schoolers on?

You don't get a variation any more - you look at the wording in the Eyfs and factsheet and you decide whether you can care for more children.

Once a child is in full time, 10 sessions a week school you can take on more children in the early years. You cannot have more than 6 under 8 at any time.

Hope this helps