Under 5s and full time school questions!!

[sunnyshine]

So I have a 4 year old who starts school ft in September. When can I count her on my over 5 ratio from? Is it the day she starts school in September? Also further to this. Do I have to have her in my over 5 ratio or can I keep her on under 5s until she actually turns 5!! All too confusing!

You can count her as over 5 from the day she starts school, you can have your full ratio as over 5's you just can't with early years, so if for example you're allowed a total of four under 8 you could have 4 after schoolers but you can never go over the 2 or 3 or however many under 5's if that makes sense?!

This is my experience too (as a Mum not a CM).
My dcs counted as 'over5' from when they went to Nursery, at 3, because the were at school a full school day, apparently

Backforgood, I checked as the rules seemed to change (or the wording did) and apparently it means compulsory education as I have a 4.5 year old who goes to school nursery all day every day and I can't class her as an over 5 until sept.

Where did you check please? Would like to look for myself too! Thanks for the answers!! Will have to think about how it's all going to work

childmindinghelp.co.uk/freeresources/Free%20downloads/Resources/Childminder%20variations%20from%2009.2012.pdf

Agree it definitely wouldn't count if they were in all day nursery.

Once they are in full time education i.e. Reception and above, they count as an over 5. This means the first day they attend for a FULL DAY. I have my ds2 and a mindee starting school in September but they have a week of half days first. They won't count as an over 5 until that first FULL day.

I rang and emailed ofsted to check and they said yes it did sound confusing but it was reception not nursery.

what happens during the school holidays? Are they still counted as an "over 5" or eould they count as a younger child since they are only 4?

Still as an over 5.

Yes they count from their first full day in reception as over 5's. I look after 2 reception aged 4 year olds (both August birthdays) as well as 3 x 2yr olds and a 7 yr old and they count as 3 under 5's and 3 5-8's.

OK, sorry to confuse - my dc are no longer little, and I know rules change

Thanks all! Further to this can I count them in over 5s some days and under 5s other days?

You don't need to count them as under 5's you can have your full number of ratio as older children if you want you just can't have them all as younger ones.

No...under 5s who are in full time education are calculated as 5 year olds...if in doubt ring Ofsted who will be confirming this to you...I did that a few weeks ago.
Look at current EYFS (page 51 in particular) and revised one...rule is still the same!