Ratios as your own children get older

[Runoutofideas]

Hi,
Quick question please.... I am a newly registered childminder. I have been registered for 4 children plus my own 2 who are currently aged 7 and 4. When my 7 year old turns 8, and I don't have to count her anymore, do I need to apply for a new certificate registering me for 5, will one appear automatically, or do I have to wait for the next inspection? Sorry if it is obvious, but it is something i forgot to ask at my pre-reg visit.

You just call ofsted and ask them to update your certificate as your child has turned 8. They will ask you to verify dob etc and then send you out new ratios. You cannot start minding the extra numbers until you have the cert in your hand. Hops this helps.

Brilliant - thanks. That's just what I needed to know.

Yes, you do need to tell them. You'll need to apply for it in advance because your registration conditions are set out on your certificate and you can't take on another child without your conditions being changed.

I'd let them know well in advance, if I were you, and keep on at them if you haven't had your certificate within a couple of weeks.

I did once have a sensible inspector who modified my certificate so that I wouldn't need to do this: I think the wording was something along the lines of I could mind x number of children and that my own children were included in that ratio.
However, the next variation I requested removed this condition and reinstated the "only 5 under 8s" restriction.

Thank you!