Apply for a variation or assistant? Which is easier?

**Vic3003** · 19-04-2011, 07:46 AM

I am a newly registered CM and already have children waiting to start.

I am hoping to have two sisters aged 9 months and 3 years to start from August. In term time I will actually only have the elder sister one afternoon a week. But for the school holidays I will have them both 3 full days. However, I am only registered for 1 under 5 until sept when DS2 starts full time education. At my pre reg visit the ofsted inspector said I could try to apply for a variation if I can prove continuity of care. I could therefore take the baby earlier and then apply on the grounds of keeping siblings together.

Does anyone know how easily Ofsted issue variations? Is it a long process?

My other idea is to register my mother as my assistant. She works in school so is available in school holidays. She is happy to do this and already has enhanced CRB as she is a foster carer too. This would mean I could increase my numbers and so care for both sisters alongside my own children with my mother's help.

Looking at the Ofsted site and forms etc, this actually looks more straightforward. Have any of you registered an assistant? Is it more complicated than this?

I'd really appreciate anyone's experience or opinion on this. Sorry this is long and so many questions within one post!

**rickysmiths** · 19-04-2011, 12:40 PM

It isn't difficult registering an Assistant, though it can take several months and your mum would have to have a CRB done by OFSTED. However they do not automatically increase your numbers just because you have an assistant.

**kindredspirits** · 19-04-2011, 01:12 PM

i found registering an assistant far easier than the variation process -and i've done both.
my husband is my assistant so it was literally all done over the phone -he'd already had an ofsted CRB due to living with me, they increased my numbers from 2 under 5's to 4 under 5's (and told me I could have 5 under 5's if I wanted).

If you do start the baby first then its highly likely that they will be happy to allow the variation for the older sibling, especially if you express your intention to register your mum as an assistant, even if her CRB check with ofsted takes longer they'll see that you've thought it through in the long term.

I am presuming that your numbers are so limited because you have 2 of your own children under 5? (rather than lack of space, obviously if they only registered you for 1 child because you live in a tiny cottage for example, they are not going to increase it no matter how many adults you had as an assistant.)

**karen48** · 19-04-2011, 03:26 PM

I registered my son and daughter over the phone as assistants and ofsted said do you want to increase numbers and i said no and they said you may as well and i said no not at present.

Karen

**jane5** · 19-04-2011, 04:36 PM

I am going to apply for a variation in the next few weeks and ofsted said that as I am newly registered and have not had my 1st inspection they will bring the inspection forward as they wont let me have a variation without the inspection.

this could mean the variation could take 4-6 weeks instead of 2 weeks.
good luck

**Vic3003** · 19-04-2011, 05:37 PM

Thanks everyone, this is all really helpful.

One thing that worries me about having Mum as an assistant is that it complicates things from a financial paperwork point of view. She's happy to help out as it's actually only 9 days that I need to cover. She doesn't want any payment so do i need to let anyopne else know?

She works full time so it would just be handy to have her registered as an extra pair of hands for school holidays.

I also haven't had a graded inspection so will this definitely rule me out for a variation?

**The Juggler** · 20-04-2011, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Vic3003

I am a newly registered CM and already have children waiting to start.

I am hoping to have two sisters aged 9 months and 3 years to start from August. In term time I will actually only have the elder sister one afternoon a week. But for the school holidays I will have them both 3 full days. However, I am only registered for 1 under 5 until sept when DS2 starts full time education. At my pre reg visit the ofsted inspector said I could try to apply for a variation if I can prove continuity of care. I could therefore take the baby earlier and then apply on the grounds of keeping siblings together.

Does anyone know how easily Ofsted issue variations? Is it a long process?

My other idea is to register my mother as my assistant. She works in school so is available in school holidays. She is happy to do this and already has enhanced CRB as she is a foster carer too. This would mean I could increase my numbers and so care for both sisters alongside my own children with my mother's help.

Looking at the Ofsted site and forms etc, this actually looks more straightforward. Have any of you registered an assistant? Is it more complicated than this?

I'd really appreciate anyone's experience or opinion on this. Sorry this is long and so many questions within one post!

Because your dd becomes a rising 5 in September, they might just grant you a variation. It's worth asking.

and you should ask them at the same time to change your certificate from September.

**Vic3003** · 20-04-2011, 05:01 PM

Thanks again.

I think I will probably apply for a variation and maybe try to register Mum as an assistant too. If they won't give me a variation then at least I've got some back up plan but if they do then Mum's off the hook!

How far in advance can you apply for a variation before you need it?