Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

CM Club - Changes to Child Ratios

28 replies

ayla99 · 02/06/2006 14:12

Just had a quick look, but couldn't find an earlier post about this. Sorry if there is one & I missed it.

\link{http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1393\DfES Early Years Consultation} (Section 4, page 121)

This says "A child is a young child up until 1st September following his or her 5th birthday". This will cause problems for many childminders - I would have to start charging while the child is at school reception class & I can't see many parents agreeing to that for a whole school year! I think this will lead to an increased use in afterschool clubs & unregistered carers.

The NCMA are encouraging Registered Childminders to respond to the consultation - the more responses, the more likely they are to listen. If you haven't seen it yet please visit the site & be sure to send them your views!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ThePrisoner · 02/06/2006 18:50

This is something that we started looking at during our last county committee meeting. It is a hefty document to wade through, and it's easy to miss this sort of "announcement".

looneytune · 02/06/2006 19:27

OMG, that really buggers up my future plans. My ds and mindee are same age and I was really looking forward to them being rising 5's so I can replace them once they are at school all day. I hope this doesn't happen, they will be 5½ before I can take other under 5's - STUPID!!!

Will read this over weekend but WTF would they feel they need to change things?

I'm also annoyed as was planning future 'TTC' to fit in with the rising 5's thing so it didn't mean I'd have to get rid of anyone.

Sorry to rant - very and

Thanks for highlighting this ayla99! :)

alison222 · 07/06/2006 18:56

Just seen this and wanted to bump it up for those minders who missed it.

I had been vaguely meaning to look at the consultation, but hadn't got around to it.
I will look at it for definate now

And just to say we can all respond with our thoughts to it . It is a consultation after all , and you don't have to respond to the whole thing just the bits you want to so you can just have your say about this ratio question.

looneytune · 14/06/2006 10:55

I'm bumping this up as I feel very strong about this change and want as many people as possible to see it and give your views if you have one!

alison222 · 14/06/2006 14:31

Looney have you had a chance to look at it and respond to the consultation.
I did but only for that part of it.

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 15:20

I cant open this so can someone explain quite simply what it is all about and how it could affect us?

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:30

Jelly. Not sure if you got my email but I'll repeat it here:

At the moment, once a child is attending morning and afternoon school sessions, they are classed as an over 5 for our numbers (as long as they are 4).

So, even if they are only say 4½ yrs old, they will be classed as an over 5 therefore can replace them with another under 5 mindee.

This document doesn't say under 5's, it says 'young person' and they are a 'young person' until 1st September following their 5th birthday. Therefore my ds and mindee will actually be 5½ years old before they are no longer classed as a 'young person (previously under 5)

I hope this makes sense. Don't know how else to explain it.

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:32

This is a copy from the document:

The numbers of children for whom a childminder may care for are set out below. The numbers include the childminder’s own children.
The numbers of children set out below represent the maximum number of children who may be cared for by a childminder at any one time. However, the maximum number of children who may be appropriately cared for by a particular childminder may be fewer than the maximum numbers given here. In all cases, Ofsted will make a judgement about the maximum numbers of children that a particular childminder may be registered to care for which will be set out in the conditions of registration. This judgment will be based on factors such as the amount of space available.
A childminder may care for:
A maximum of six children in total;
Of these six children, a maximum of three may be young children*; and
Normally, no more than one child may be under the age of 1, but
A childminder may be registered to care for two children under the age of 1 where they are able to demonstrate that they can meet and reconcile the individual needs of all the children being cared for.

A child is a young child up until 1st September following his or her 5th birthday.

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:34

If this goes ahead I bet parents will also be annoyed as childminders will probably still charge full time care for this age even though the child is at school most of the day. Otherwise, childminders will loose LOTS of money if not paid and will have no option but to give notice to mindee (I'd HATE having to do this as very attached but how else do we make a living?!)

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 15:38

didnt get email so it mean they theyare classed as an under five till they are over five so we would have to charge full place or not have them once they start school?

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:41

How people charge is up to them but I'm afraid I couldn't afford to drop hundreds of pounds a week until I'm able to replace them iyswim.

Yes, if a child is born in say October, they will be nearly 6 before they can be replaced with another 'young child'!!

Alison222 - having problems knowing how to respond as I haven't read the whole document and they have lots of questions about the whole thing. Baby about to wake up so will look later :)

I really hope this doesn't happen as it's going to p* a lot of people off!!!

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:42

Was about to come out of it when I noticed question 16. Think this may be where we need to comment although they ask it as a 'question' which makes it a little harder. I'm going to pop something on that bit and have made sure that my comments are allowed to be shown to the public!!

looneytune · 14/06/2006 15:48

Right, done my response and I've really ranted

Don't know where we get to read other comments though?

Right, really must go now!

LoveMyGirls · 14/06/2006 15:55

that is shocking!!!

i hope they dont bring it in. it makes no sense whats wrong with the way it is now?

alison222 · 14/06/2006 18:12

I haven't read the whole thing, but commented on the questions about childrens' welfare and left the rest of the questionaire blank.
I'm hoping you can all have a look and do the same.
I'm with Looneytune, I don't think I can afford to loose an under 5 place to a child who is at school all day and who's parents will not want to pay for a full day's care.
I commented on the consultation thatI thought it would cause problems for both childminders and parents as reception age children will probably have their chioce of care restricted and many will end up in after school clubs they are too tired for at that age.

alison222 · 14/06/2006 18:14

Its due to come in in 2008 if nothing is changed.
I was told by atutor for my ECP that often not much changes from the consultation document to the actual finished one but we should all make our views known. Who knows if they get enough it may make a difference.

ThePrisoner · 14/06/2006 21:39

What it means is that we will all give notice to our mindees when they start school as they will be "using" a full-time "young child" place. So much for continuity of care.

I love being able to offer this to parents, and many of my children are very long-term (have got three of my "babies" starting secondary school in September!)

We really must make our feelings known about this.

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 21:48

How can we complain about it then?

Katymac · 14/06/2006 22:19

I have printed the s*dding thing out

I have read it (with highlighter in hand to mark problems)

The only bit I worry about is that one sentance "sept after 5th B'day"

Oh and another bit about posters reflecting the ethnic/culture/race of those attending the setting - that really worried me/pissed me off (not sure which)

The bit I worry about which limits 3 minders working together I couldn't find - does anyone know what page it is on (I must have missed it)

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 22:40

Can you explain the setting bit about racialness?

Katymac · 14/06/2006 22:42

So if you have an all white middle class setting you only have to have all white middle class posters?

That seems very wrong to me

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 22:44

Thatsounds racist and not right to what i believe in anyway but also what we are told to promote/not discriminate against. Does that make sense?

Katymac · 14/06/2006 22:46

Completely that's why I was worried/annoyed

I'm sure I am interrpreting it wrong

Katymac · 14/06/2006 22:50

p20 of section 4

"Displays and resources reflect the diversity of the local community and the families who use the nursery."

so if you aren't diverse you don't need to bother (by implication)

jellyjelly · 14/06/2006 22:52

Does sound very odd but wonder if we are reading to much in for interpretation. Am i right in thinking that you are half african? So if it is true and it bothers you could you have posters for you?? Trying to think that they arent rcist as it is horrid and it is just there wording.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread