BIG PROBLEM Child Ratios p.51 - Ofsted now say

**susi513** · 21-05-2008, 02:50 PM

P.51 B:Childminders 2nd bullet point.

"where four- and five-year-old children only attend the childminding setting before and/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 now saying this is to be taken literally. Ie, 4 year olds will only count as an over five on the days they are with the childminder before and/or after a normal school day. Any day they don't attend a normal school day - school holidays, training days, snow days, staff strikes etc they will revert to an under five.

I've had an email from them today confirming this. I contacted them because I'd heard a representative from Ofsted said this at a recent NCMA conference.

Was it anyone one on this forum that got emails/letters last year saying that the EYFS would not be changing the way child ratios worked? Ofsted do say its STILL in the consulation stage and it appears there may be another revised version in July.

So please can everybody contact Ofsted and make your views known. Also if you are a member of NCMA please ask them too.

I've pointed out that childminders will not be able to hold open both an under fives place and an over fives place for one child's fees and parents will not be able to pay for two places either. So that leaves the option of having to obtain a variation (assuming we still can?) for each school holiday. Which won't help people with more than one mindee in reception class.

Thanks
sorry to be bearer of bad news, thought this issue was resolved long ago

Susi

**Blaze** · 21-05-2008, 02:52 PM

Your not the bearer I was...I posted earlier...but your post is more comprihensive!

Pipsqueak · 21-05-2008, 03:01 PM

HAve emailed Ofsted and NCMA

**Banana** · 21-05-2008, 03:02 PM

is this a joke?

do ofsted know their **** from thier elbow?

x

**SimplyLucy** · 21-05-2008, 03:10 PM

Oh my goodness, I have two 4 year old starting reception class in September that won't be 5 until Feb.

One of those is my own son. I guess this means I'll be unable to fill his space as an under 5 until next February..........I'm going to lose a fortune because of this as i'll have to hold the other under 5 space open for the other 4 year old to use in the holidays.

Pipsqueak · 21-05-2008, 03:19 PM

This is the reply I have had from NCMA (blimey I only emailed them about 1/2hr ago)

Hi ****

We are waiting for clarification of this as well, we have had a lot of members contacting us. I am awaiting for a response and as soon as I have it I will contact you.

Kind regards

Sue McWilliams
Customer Service Administrator

**Blaze** · 21-05-2008, 03:23 PM

Wasn't it also the case that they are classed as under 5 until the September following their 5th birthday? So a child say who is 5 end of Sept 2008 would still be classed in holidays etc as under 5 untill 1st September 2009. Think the whole thing is mad!

**cloud9** · 21-05-2008, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Pipsqueak

This is the reply I have had from NCMA (blimey I only emailed them about 1/2hr ago)

Hi ****

We are waiting for clarification of this as well, we have had a lot of members contacting us. I am awaiting for a response and as soon as I have it I will contact you.

Kind regards

Sue McWilliams
Customer Service Administrator

Nightmare! you'll have to let us know if they do contact you.