BIG PROBLEM Child Ratios p.51 - Ofsted now say

**Hannahlg** · 30-05-2008, 05:56 PM

Well mother is ringing up on monday moring.

but she says that there cant give us 2months notice about this. There should at least give us 12months to sort ourselves out.

But me and my should be ok with it. as the children who have spce in the hoildays but never use it can just have term time contracts. and the children who do come in the hoildays can have the hoilday spaces.

you see 1 of the parets is a supply teacher
1 is a supply cook in a school
1 works in a speicl needs school
1 is a teaching assistant (but her child still comes in the hoildays jsut not every day as it would upset childs rountine not to come)

so will tell you what my mum finds out when she phones on monday

**SimplyLucy** · 30-05-2008, 06:03 PM

I'd love to stop taking children once they reach school starting age..........but mine is my own son! Not sure he'd appreciate me ditching him for a year!

I'll need 2 variations, one so I can continue to look after my own son and one so I can take on the mindes that I have offered spaces to in Spetember when I supposedly had under 5 spaces!

**Hannahlg** · 30-05-2008, 06:15 PM

i got an email back from ofsted. saying that working on the situation and are limeted to he infromation there can give and to contact them at a later date

justgoodfriends · 30-05-2008, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Hannahlg

Well mother is ringing up on monday moring.

but she says that there cant give us 2months notice about this. There should at least give us 12months to sort ourselves out.

I suppose if they wanted to be petty they could argue we've had the packs for over a year

**Hannahlg** · 30-05-2008, 06:54 PM

well yeah but its only come to light now . if it had come to light a year ago we would be sorted now.

**Lou** · 30-05-2008, 07:10 PM

I would just like to say thanks to all those who have sent email, made phone calls etc to try to find a solution to this.

I myself am just sitting tight and putting my trust in Ofsted (ha ha) etc that this will be resolved before september!!!!

And if not let them deal with all the extra work as each of us writes in and asks for variations.

I think we all need to chill out, i am not too concerned.

justgoodfriends · 30-05-2008, 07:10 PM

Possibly, but the NCMA had been told it would be changed in the revisions last week, that is what they have been telling people who have queried it with them before now. The DCSF appear to have been very sly with this

**Jinx** · 30-05-2008, 08:03 PM

I have to admit this whole situation has confused the

out of me!

I have turned down 2 enquiries in the past 2 weeks because of all this.
I don't want to say yes to a parent now and find myself in the deep doggy doodoo in September!

From a conversation I had with 1 lady this week, parents of children due to start reception in September are finding it very hard to find childminders who will take them on. I wonder why?

jinx x

**Rubybubbles** · 30-05-2008, 09:25 PM

yikes got a bigger headache reading this!

I thought it was all sorted

when I phoned earlier in the year and wrote about my dd turning 4 end aug going into full time, there said my ratio will change to 3 under 5's

****** if it don't! I'll stick to babies

**Cammie Doodle** · 31-05-2008, 04:04 PM

I'm with Lou on this one .

**MissTinkerbell** · 31-05-2008, 04:31 PM

I emailed Ofsted yesterday and this is their reply

Thank you for your e-mail.

Currently the situation with EYFS is as follows:

"Where four- and five-year-old children only attend the childminding setting before/or after a normal school day, they may be classed as children over the age of five for the purposes of the adult: child ratio"

Ofsted are aware that this may cause some concerns/problems and are currently investigating into the matter, I apologise for the lack of information but as of yet there is nothing I can inform you on.

Please contact Ofsted at a later date; I thank you for your patience.

Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards,

Naomi Mappin
Customer Service Advisor
Ofsted - National Business Unit
TEL: 08456 404040

Well that explains it all doesn't it

I guess I'm going to have to be very careful as to who I agree to take on when I eventually goet some enquiries.

**karenjoy** · 31-05-2008, 04:37 PM

Well I have read all this thread and I am not sure what I should do.

I have 2 children under 5, Eldest was 4 in March she starts full time school in Sept.

I have agreed to take on a 4 year old boy who also starts with my eldest in Sept at the same school.

I was told at my pre reg on Wednesday that both my 4 year olds will be classed has 5 from Sept so then I have 2 spare places for under 5???

Only 1 of theses can be under one though??

Is that not correct now?

**Cammie Doodle** · 31-05-2008, 04:56 PM

Who knows Karen ???????????? We may all need to ask for vaiations to allow for continuity of care , but as I said before Im not going to worry over it all

**MissTinkerbell** · 31-05-2008, 05:05 PM

Trouble is its that word 'only'.

Hopefully Ofsted will put the pressure on when they realise just how much extra paperwork is going to be generated by the many childminders applying for variations for the school holidays.

**Chimps Childminding** · 31-05-2008, 09:45 PM

I wish they would make their minds up - I have one child starting school in september and someone waiting for a place which I was hoping to be able to offer - now I don't know anymore!!!!!!!!! and then next year I will have two of my mindees starting school - so will that mean that I will only be able to have one under 5 as the two as school will still count?????????? god i'm confused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**JazzyL** · 01-06-2008, 07:54 PM

this is how I feel -

I hope we hear soon, it leaves me feeling un-organised as I can't plan properly and have a possible mindee wanting to start in September . . .I'll let everyone know if I hear anything, it'l all turn out in the wash

**miffy** · 01-06-2008, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by meggiemoo

Trouble is its that word 'only'.

Hopefully Ofsted will put the pressure on when they realise just how much extra paperwork is going to be generated by the many childminders applying for variations for the school holidays.

Let's hope so anyway

miffy xx