CM Club: Advice on OFSTED Letter please

[looneytune]

Morning

I need to apply to Ofsted for variation on my numbers due to mindees mum having another baby. I've just been putting the letter together this morning but am thinking I may be better to wait until we've moved so I can say 'we have xxx' rather than 'we will have xxx'. Do you think I'm better waiting or just send it now?

Baby due mid Jan but mum preparing for birth from mid Nov because her dd was 2 months early. Mum wants me to have new baby from 2/3 months old. We're moving on 1st Nov (we hope!) so do you think I should maybe prepare it now as if we're in the new house but send it once we've actually moved?

As baby has not yet arrived, I'd wait until the child is born. As then if mum wants baby home with her for first few months, you can give Ofsted a better indication of the date from which the variation needs to start.

When you get notification of when Ofsted will check new premises, then mention to them that you want to take on a baby from around say March and ask if they will increase your numbers as space available in new home is bigger (I hope it is bigger) than in old home. Lost track a bit as to where you are up to with moving house - have Ofsted decided to visit new home, or just send out new certificate? If new certificate then they will re-inspect within 6 months, so when you apply for variation, they may decide to do a full inspection.

cheers nannynick. when i asked previously on here, some people advised i did letter as soon as possible as sometimes Ofsted can take a while. i also think the mum wants to know asap as i think she'd want to organise another childminder sooner rather than later if i don't get permission, as otherwise it's too much change at the same time as new baby arriving iyswim.

as for ofsted and the house move - they said they are sending new certificate as i met their requirements (from risk assessment i did). still don't have a clue what the rest of their reply was talking about - the publication you gave me which I forward to them just said about letting them know within 14 days??!!

Trouble is, without knowing the date of birth of the baby, its going to be hard to write the variation request.

Out of interest everyone... would having standard templates for this type of letter be helpful? If so, would you pay a small amount, 50p £1 £1.50 or whatever for such information - just thinking of a new business idea.

When I wanted a variation I phoned ofsted and the chappy answering the phone, told me how to phrase my request and also emailed me a standard form which I completed and emailed back to them. I had a postal reply within a week.

He was very helpful

Don't suppose you still have a copy of that Form do you?

I have a variation on numbers at the moment, allowing me 4 under 5. I got this as at the time, I was the only childminder that was registered for overnight care where e live, and also it is for a time (until January) that it will run.

I have heard since however that some people have asked for an extention when a new mindee has started, but have been refused even though it was for 30 minutes every couple of weeks that the overlap would occur.

The cm was told that as it not a sibling, they would not do it, but she would have to work with another cm during that half hour. I think that you should start and apply now as it can take up to 6 weeks or so for the alteration, so you would then be ready. Just give them a ring, and see what they suggest.

Good luck!

No sorry it was quite a while ago and I have since changed computers. Sorry