c/m: How hard is it to ask Ofsted for 1 more child 1 day a week?

[crace]

I've just had a call for twin boys, 19 months for 1 day possibly 2 days a week.

At the moment I have 3 spots, one is 0-8; one is 1-8; and one 5-8.

I have the 0-8 taken from 7am to 1pm 5 days a week and 1-8 is taken one morning a week. So I could easily fit 1 of the boys with my numbers, but not the second!

Is it possible to ask Ofsted? I told the mum all this and she wants to meet anyway - to be honest I think she will be hard pressed to find a c/m that can accommodate her boys anyway without that c/m asking for an addition.

If the mum is happy to go ahead, how do I ask Ofsted, and are they usually willing for this to go ahead?

Message withdrawn

Thanks Shosha, my feeling is that it would be pretty easy. Most c/ms in my area are full up so some concession would have to be made to someone. There are no nurseries (I am rural) either, with just two having closed down recently.

It's only for a max of 5 hrs as well

I'd give it a go (maybe enclose a letter form the existing mum to say she doesn't mind & from the new mum saying how hard it is to find childcare)

I'm confused... not sure why, could just be the way you wrote your current ratio limits.

Could you write it in Ofsted speak?
For example, may care for 3 under 5's of which 1 can be under 1.

What age is the child you already care for every morning? (Child1) How old is the child you have 1 morning per week? (Child2) Would the days the twins do, be the same, or different day to Child2?

Looks to me as if you possibly want to care for 3 under 5's. Sounds reasonable. How old is your own child/children?

You need to create a case, which states clearly where the overlaps in current registration would be, how you propose to provide care required, add in any training you have beyond the ICP, try to present a finish date for the overlap - such that the arrangement would only be needed say for a period of 6 months or whatever.

CSIW use a variation form which is easy to fill out.Ring OFSTED on Monday and ask what you need to do. I always ask to speak to my inspector first before applying and she gives me what the likely hood is

Thanks for all the advice - will see what happens when I meet the mum next week.