Can any cm tell me how many children you can have?

[PanicPants]

Just curious really about the ratios of children you are allowed to mind?

I've just visited a lovely cm, who I think we will go with, who will have our ds (17months), her own 2 year old, and a 3 year old. She also will have a baby now and then.

Is this right for the numbers allowed?

is usually only 3 under 5, including minder's own children. However, if minder has a registered assistant, or has asked for a variation on her numbers from Ofsted, you can be allowed 4 under 5
hth

Hi PP. I am in Scotland, so not sure if it is the same. We are governed by the scottish care commission rather than ofsted in england. (sorry, just assuming that you're not in scotland) I am allowed 6 children, including my own. Of the six, no more than three can be pre school age and I'm only allowed one baby under a year at any one time. My certificate states this and I am obliged to have it on display whilst minding. Ask your potential childminder and she should be able to show you hers.
HTH

or if you have her postcode or registration number you can check it on the OFSTED website

Hmmmmm knew it was too good to be true. I wonder why she didn't bring this up herself. Or do you think she's not including the baby in her numbers?

I'll ring her about it tomorrow and ask her.

Message withdrawn

Are all the children full time?

It could be a careful jigsaw - I do that a lot

X comes Mon & Tues
Y comes Wed, Thurs & Fri
Z comes Mornings
A comes afternnons

etc

Did you ask what days/hrs the other children will be going to her?

I look after 5 different children under 5 during the week but still with in my numbers that I am allowed as they are all part time.

I am allowed 3 plus my own - 1 between 1 and 8; 1 between 1 and 8; 1 between 5 and 8.

Plus my own 13 month old.

Sorry should have said 1 between 0 and 8...

the baby could be a sibling ie continuity of care of maybe ofsted have adjusted her ration for diff reason or all come diff times like katymac said..but ofsted site will show you what she is allowed, but DO check her certificate too as ofsted are very slow at updating so dont assume shes wrong if ofsted dont show it?

its 3 under 5 which includes only one baby under 12 months. then they can have 3 over over 5 aswell, which means about 6 children. i personally wouldn't go with a cm who had more than 3 children though.

sorry up to about ...

I wouldnt wade in an assume shes broken her registration. It would take a very foolish CM to do that bearing in mind how much effort it takes to get. we have children coming and going all the time and have to juggle carefully but stay within our conditions. Im sure she is the same. Just say it was bothering you and be honest and let her explain.

I rang her today and we had a good chat. I asked how many children she was allowed and she herself told me it was 3 under 5, and that yesterday she was only having the baby as her mum was in a meeting, and that the baby doesn't have a contract so he wouldn't be there when ds was.

So relieved as my first impression was such a good one (I've seen plenty of cm where I didn't have such a good impression at all).

Thakyou all for your concern and info.

thats good
but what if the babies mum has a meeting when your LO is there?