CM CLUB Do you teel your mindees parents? Long sorry

[OFSTEDoutstanding]

Hi I have a mindee starting in Sept (3 full days) and another one starting next week (just 1 morning). My current mindee has been with me since Feb and I was just wondering do you tell your parents when new ones are due to start?
I had an enquiry a couple of months ago for the hours mindee 1 doesn't do so I offered mindee 1 parents the extra hours before I filled the space but they said they wopuldn't need them. And they person never sent her child in the end so it wasn't an issue.
This time around I didn't mention to the parents that I was meeting with these 2 potential mindees as never expected them to sign but they both have. The problem is they take the hours that mindee 1 is not here although he does occasionnally do extra hours, so the parents will not be able to book any extra n 2 mornings any more as will take me over my numbers.
Do you tell parents that they can no longer have overtime due to being full or do you just write to OFSTED and ask for a variation for the 2 mornings that this may be an issue? Or do nothing, sorry for running on but really confused didn't hink I would ever fill my places so didn't think this would be an issue.

My parents know if I have a space, and I usually tell them if I've had an enquiry straight away - however "professional" I may (or may not) be, I have a lovely relationship with all my parents, and I tell them stuff like that as I would other friends.

I also tell them if someone is coming to visit, but they usually guess because the house looks well-dusted! If someone comes for a visit, it tends to be later afternoon, so the prospective parent often meets the existing ones, and I have to forewarn the existing ones to be on their best behaviour. They never are, of course!

In your situation, I think you should say that you've had enquiries about your "spare" hours, and think that you've filled them. You could always write to Ofsted to ask for a variation to cover for occasional extra hours once all the children have started.

I was in a similar position. Mindee 1 is contracted for 3 days but often used 4. The 4th day was only paid for as and when needed. When I filled the space with another mindee I think mum was a little put out but she wasn't paying me to keep the space exclusively for her.

I have recently had my numbers increased so that I can have all of them if needed and now mindee1 is finishing!! I tell you, I try to be as accommodating as I can but people will do what suits them so you should too!

I occasionaly have 2 x 2yr olds, 1 x 1yr old and my 4yr old ds (after school). I know lots of CMs do this everyday but I couldn't!! I can manage about once a week!

I'd say "stiff cheddar" to mindee1's mum (don't mean to sound too harsh). You previously offered her the space and she didn't want it so I don't see this as being any different.

If you think Ofsted would allow the variation then there's no harm in asking. What ages are your mindees?

My mindees are 10 months, 14 months, 15 months and ds is 21 months though the 10 month old is the one that shouldn't be there at the same time as the others if that makes sence. I know OFSTED would give me a variation as it was offered to me after my inspection and like a fool I said no.
Thing is I know it is hard work on the days I have ds, 10 month old and 14 month old without throwing in the 15 month old as well when satrts in Sept so really don't want to add any extras.

When I do have a vacancy I tell existing parents that I have the space available if they want extra hours or to change their days or if they know anyone looking for a space. So they've plenty of opportunity to extend their contract before i start interviewing people. If parents are booking the same day/hours as overtime on a frequent basis I would offer them the opportunity to add those hours to their contract before offering to someone new.

I usually mention to parents that we had a visitor and their child met a baby/toddler/etc but I don't tell them any more than that until the new one starts. Then I just say that tomorrow we've got someone new to play with.

Well as a parent I'd really like to know if you are taking on new mindees just so I know who ds is with during the day.

As for the hours no longer being avaliable well that is part of the deal. I actually used to pay my cm for 4 days a week and only used 3 and did this for a year. I wanted her to keep that space open for me if I occasionally needed the 4th day. It also meant that when I went up to 4 days a week at work there was no problem with my cm taking ds for that extra day. I would not have expected her to keep that day open for me if I was not paying for it.

Did Ofsted offer to increase your numbers to 4 under 5's?

if its th same parent who initially refused needing the extra hours, then id just let her know when you see her that you have anew child starting, go on about being full now and feel happy with this amount e tc, it may or may not come up but at least if she asks you again you can say "no, because"...i personally wouldnt take on more than youre happy with as i almost did it too, but stopped before i did it otheriwse i might have found it too hard and had to give one notice.