Had a letter from our network

[Stoney666]

Saying from September ofsted will remove anything we have in place re extra numbers and overnight care and that it is now up to us how many children we care for (within reason obviously) and whether or not we chose to do overnight. Is this right or am I missing something?

Yes it's right you will still have to prove you were caring for then or they were a sibling etc you can't just give yourself a variation for any new business or anything.

You will still have to only have 6 under 8 though.

Have you not had a training or read the revised EYFS framework at all? It becomes the new statutory framework as of 3rd September so you really ought to know this by now.

Training is starting in october hence my question. Thank for clearing that up several of us were a little confused

Stoney don't worry about being confused. I recently attended a local authority childminder new eyfs briefing session, and asked the coordinators their take on the revised framework and variations and they didn't have a clue. I gave them more information than they supplied!

thanks sillymillysmummy, there is very little training on offer in my borough, and like yours, our coordinators dont really seem to know that much either lol.

The requirements for numbers of children you can care for remain as stated by law within the current EYFS of 6 under 8, of which 3 can be under 5 and 1 under 1 (including minders own chn/foster chn). However there is provision within the revised EYFS from September (just as now) for variations to these numbers 'in exceptional circumstances'. From September, most individual 'conditions' imposed will be removed from settings' certificates and instead of having to apply to Ofsted for permission for variations each minder will be able to assess their own situation and grant their own variations providing they meet the LEGAL REQUIREMENTS as stated in the EYFS 2012. It is not supposed to be a free for all. Minders cannot just allow themselves 6 under 5s if they fancy it (or the income), they MUST meet the exceptional circumstances criteria, risk assess,be within the space requirements for each child, be able to demonstrate they can still meet all the needs of all the children and consult parents. The key thing (& Ofsted have now clarified this in a Factsheet published the day before yesterday) is that the same criteria for 'exceptional circumstances' apply as they do now when Ofsted make the decision ie it CANNOT be for new business, only for continuity of care eg where an existing parent wants to change/increase hours, minder or parent has a baby or wants another sibling to join the setting. The other difference is that at present Ofsted will not normally grant variations for more than 4 under 5 whereas the new arrangements allow for up to 6 under 5 as long as the 6 under 8 rule is never exceeded and all criteria have been met. Ofsted will check that the cm is complying with the requirements at inspection time
HTH
Re training, many people have found they can get as much from a careful read through of the new EYFS as they have from local training courses...

ChildrenAtHeart, do you have a link to the said Factsheet published the day before yesterday by Ofsted?

Thanks

Yes, I'd like that too. I'm currently pg with DC3 and have a mindee who I'm hoping to retain after my mat leave. I would assume that would come under the continuity thing.

Here

Thanks MrA

Thanks Mr A - beat me to it

Thanks so much. Just what we need.