Variation for 4 1/2 hours per week

[mogs0]

I might have two new mindees in September but there will be a maximum of 4 1/2 hours per week overlap (over two of the days, depending on nursery times) which means I would have four children under 5.

I currently have a variation to allow me to care for 4 under 5s for one day a month for existing mindees (won't be needed by September as one of the mindees will be going to school) but I'm not sure whether I'd get a variation as it'll be for new mindees.

Any experience of this? Would it be better to phone CSSIW (I'm in Wales) now to see if worth looking into or is it too early? Any suggestions as to how to make my request more appealing?

Would I be given a variation this far in advance even? I can't tell the mum that we can go ahead without a variation though.

Hi, if it's for existing children they will normally allow it, but not for new business I'm afraid.

Are any of them siblings, as that would then be for continuity of care and would be permitted?

I have a variation for f/t as I have 3 sets of siblings and 2 existing clients, so 4 children every day.

No, I currently have a 1yr old and a 2yr old on thurs and fri. New children are siblings, 1yr and 3yrs. So, the overlap will be either 2 or 3 hours on a Thursday (depending on 3yr old's nursery place) and two blocks of 30mins on the Friday. I might be able to solve the problem of one the 30min blocks but the Thursday would still be a minimum of 2 hours.

My friend has suggested that, as she has a space when I would be over my numbers, that we could work something out between us. I'm thinking that would get a bit complicated with contracts/money etc. Would also be tricky if she wanted to take on another mindee of her own.

I'm going to phone cssiw and ask if it's worth putting my case across - I think I have quite a good one!

Let us know how you get on, they may, current economic climate, need the work, parents can't find space for two, they want you etc. I had a chat with Ofsted first, they were very helpful.Good luck

I called Ofsted recently to enquire about a variation. This was just for a couple of hours once a week. I think to get a variation for a sibling one of them has to be an existing client. If you are taking on 2 siblings as new business and 1 of them would take you over your numbers then in all probability you will not be granted the variation as it's 'new business' even though it's continuity of care for siblings Good luck though

Interesting, thanks. It's very frustrating, isn't it. I'm waiting for someone to call me back. Maybe my friend and I will have to see if we can work something out between us.