The new eyfs variation rule how does it work?

[mumo3g]

We had a call last night from a lady we had heard from in the past. She wasn't able to honour the interview due to her child being ill for 6 months.

Now she has 3 children and she is starting uni in Sept. The oldest of 6 needs pick up/drop off, the other 2 would be 9 months and 2.5 years. She won't know her timetable until she starts at uni.

She has said that she can put the school child in before and after school clubs but would prefer for them to be together. Understandably. But while our mornings are not a problem the evenings possibly could be.

We have another child starting with us September who's mum is a uni student. She won't know her timetable either until the start of term.

Now the issue is Tuesdays and Thursdays (we do the flexible care option btw) The 3 children could possibly take us to 8 under 6's so the only way I can see that we could take them on is for us to be able to have 7 under 8's so we can look after the youngest two. The oldest one coming in monday, wednesday and friday but going to after school club on the day's she can't do tues, thurs with us.

I'm confused about this self variation rule but by the sounds of it because it's for continuity of care in siblings it should be ok right? But do we doctor our own registration forms for it or what?

I'm afraid we've NEVER been able to go beyond 6 under 8s, the variations are for the ratios within those numbers i.e. have 4 under school age instead of 4.

Point 3.40 of the revised EYFS explains what's allowed and the last bit of wording says 'But in all circumstances, the total number of children under the age of eight being cared for must not exceed six'

As far as I understand it, regardless of the variation now or in September, you cannot have more than 6 under 8.

Cross post with looney

If you have space in your house and there are 2 of you you can have more but any more than 6 needs planning permission as I understood it, when I registered my assistant they said I could have more but that would need planning and I didn't want the hassle.

I also have 2 Uni parents and their timetables change each term which could be a bit of a nightmare, they both pay for every day before and after school as I don't want to change days each term.

Yes, that is true. Each planning office has it's own rules so you'd have to check with yours if you want to do that (and have the space)

Thanks for this. I had a thought this morning. The oldest child on Tuesdays and Thursdays goes to after school club. The middle child goes to nursery those afternoons. This would solve the problem.

We had the interview this morning and she was happy with this suggestion. She got back to us tonight and wants us to look after her children :)