Childminder's Club:Advice on a variation?

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One of my children's mums has taken parental responsibility for another child. I don't have room for him due to a child attending reception part-time

As the new child and my existing child are now almost siblings - do you think Ofsted will look favourably on a request for a variation for 9 hrs a week? until December?

Or not?

Hi
I think that OFSTED may well vary your registration as long as the children are not all very small.They will also want to ensure that you can cope with the extra and that you have enough car seats, equipment etc, so sort that all out beforehand. If you give OFSTED a ring on Monday they should be able to help you. They can be very slow through so you might find that it takes weeks to arrange the variation - I believe that there is a set process which they have to follow. When you ring, dont just speak to a telephone operator, but ask for an inspector covering your area to ring you back as this hastens things! If you can explain as fully as possible what the situation is, then you should find them more sympathetic.
Good luck

Although I am always first in the queue to slate Ofsted, I would like to say that when I asked for a variation (to have 4 children for one very long day per week), they dealt with it quickly and it certainly didn't take weeks and weeks. I wrote to them to make my request, and I gave them a date when I needed the new child to start (less than 3 weeks later). They phoned me to say that I could do it, said a letter would be in the post, but that at least I could tell the mum it would be OK!!

I didn't expect them to say yes, particularly as the eldest of the four had only just turned 2, so I don't think that they would necessarily say no if the children were very young.

As mummybunny says, just make sure that you can demonstrate how you would manage all the children. Good luck.

I have been told by Ofsted to allow 12 weeks for them to make a decision, but none of the variations I've had have taken so long. I don't bother ringing up first - they always tell you to put it in writing anyway, and what they've told me over the phone has not always been correct or consistent.

I think its well worth asking in your case - if the mum now has parental responsibility it is continuity of care for HER dependants. good luck.

Spoke to OFSTED today and they said maybe - they will get back to me by Wednesday

Fingers crossed

Ofsted will not generally discuss a variation for 4 under 5's over the phone, you need to write to them giving them the reason for the request and names/ages of the children who will be cared for on the days the variation applies to. They will look at your most recent Ofsted inspection report and usually talk to the inspector who last visited you. It also helps to add the number of yrs you have been c/minding, yr training, that you use the Birth to Three Matters Framework, the date you need to start the arrangement and words like 'parental/guardian choice. As mentioned before also let them know that you have all the equipment needed or that you use resources from a toy library when needed. I applied for a variation and had a reply giving me the go-ahead for the variation within a week. As long as yr request fits the criteria you should have no problem at all. Good Luck x

When I organised my variation (For under 5s) it was all done over the phone and I only had to put it in writing once it was agreed. It did take ages through!

Sorry to hijack. I posted a question about variation the other day. It was about one of my 1 year olds mum being 4 months pregnant. She wants me to see if I can get a variation for continuity of care asap but some people have told me to wait until the baby is born. The mum wants me to have her lo about 2 months after birth so I worry about leaving it that late.

After ayla99's post, I'm wondering if maybe I should write to them now after all.

What do you think?

BTW, this is VERY unlikely but the mum is preparing herself for possible birth in November due to her dd being 2 months early.

just caught this?..any news?

i would write to them as its never too early is it? or maybe you could wait a couple more months? i dont know how it works really but if it does take 12 weeks and then they say no what will she do? do you think you will cope with a new baby as well as your current mindees? (not that im saying you cant i think you're very competant but for your own sanity)

cheers. would have said no in this house but we will have moved by then. i'd have also said no if the other under 5's were different ages but they are currently 3½ (my ds and mindee) and attend nursery every morning so I told her mum I'd give it a go as I feel I can do it (am I mad??? lol)

yeah that sounds do able yes you are slightly mad but i think we all are in our own way

did they ring you back then?