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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

do i report her??

34 replies

keelybooboo · 02/04/2009 13:21

I'll keep it brief...

A childminder that i know is looking after 5 children under 4yrs.

I'm pretty sure its a temp thing but still....

trouble is she's a friend

would ofsted ever ok that?

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looneytune · 02/04/2009 14:29

Yeah but 4 is quite normal to be accepted but as HSMM said, Ofsted have said they won't allow 5 and actually, it looks like it's 6 she has! Maybe an overlap of less than an hour might be ok??? but not sure what hours the OP knows they do?

NB27 · 02/04/2009 14:24

Are the children full time or part time, I enquired with ofsted about an overlap I could possibly have if I took on a new child, I gave them the hours I would be doing and showed them that it would only be for 3 months and it was an overlap of 1 hour a day and they agreed to let me mind 4 children. 3 were aged 2 and 1 was 9 months and this was also because 2 were siblings. Luckily mum has deferred going back to work for a couple more months so i didn`t need to go through with it in the end, but there are certain circumstances. What are the hours she has them and what days are they full or part time ?

looneytune · 02/04/2009 14:17

Agree - she is completely UNINSURED if the mindees aren't within her numbers!

HSMM · 02/04/2009 14:11

Ofsted has told me they NEVER do a variation for 5 under 5 (except the full time school children that Looney mentioned). She would also need a variation for 2 under 1. Think about the safety of the children and the lack of insurance rather than your friend ...

Original poster
keelybooboo · 02/04/2009 13:40

if i report her then what do you do when she later tells me about it? just seems really bitchy.

OP posts:
looneytune · 02/04/2009 13:35

So she has 6 in total who are not at school? I doubt they'd agree to that as a sole childminder - does she work with an assistant? If you know her postcode you could check online but you could phone 08456 404040 and speak to Ofsted about it saying that you want to check her conditions of registration - I would as that's a lot of young ones (I was surprised when they agreed to my 4 under 2's but to have 6 that young is a LOT on her own so I'd be suspicious!)

Original poster
keelybooboo · 02/04/2009 13:30

No they're not at school, 4 are 2/3 and 2 are under a year!

feel awful but can you do it without giving a name?

OP posts:
Original poster
keelybooboo · 02/04/2009 13:30

No they're not at school, 4 are 2/3 and 2 are under a year!

feel awful but can you do it without giving a name?

OP posts:
looneytune · 02/04/2009 13:26

I've had 5 quite often who were 5 and under but when you say UNDER 4 do you mean they are aged 3 or under? If they are aged 4 and at school all day then it's fine as they are classed as over 5 but if they aren't at school all day then she'd need a variation and I've never seen one for 5 in the Early Years age group (but doesn't mean they won't allow - this one I'm not sure about). One thing I do know is that they would never ok any more than 6 aged under 8!

You can see her conditions online if you either know her reg number or can her postcode.

If she's over her numbers then I'm afraid I WOULD report her, friend or not.

Gosh, I do hope no-one thinks I'm over my numbers when I have 6 kiddies aged 5 and under!!! 3 are school age and 3 under OR 2 are school age and 4 are under but have variation from Ofsted!