Can a childminder look after 4 young children

[hellokittykatbiscuit]

I met my friend who's a childminder for a walk as I have a baby and she had two in the pushchair, one on a scoter and one walking. They all looked very little toddler age. Certainly the two in pushchair looked under 2, and the others maybe 3 if not younger. Is she allowed to have 4 young children? I'm not going to report her if not, I'm just worried she's taking on too much as is short of money from previous lockdowns, not having key worker kids on her books. BTW she is great with them, so no issue there.

Yes she is allowed

I googled it for you
www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/childminders/working-with-other-childminders/childminding-ratios/

@skeggycaggy it says a max of 3 young children. There were 4 of them, none looked school age, it's hard to tell, but it's the speech seemed very young too.

There are circumstances in which childminders are allowed more than 3 children under 5.

The EYFS allows childminders to change the ratios and states some instances of some of the times when we can have more than 3 children under 5 (never more than 6 under 8). For example, the EYFS says we can have an extra child when: ‘caring for sibling babies, or when caring for their own baby, or to maintain continuity of care’ (EYFS requirement 3.42).

Why are you so bothered if she is great with them

3 is the normal ratio but we can self vary...actually up to 6(not that you would want to unless an emergency) the circumstances are hazy...but it must not be permanent as I replaced when a child leaves. Examples are changes to days, taking on a sibling having a baby, emergency care for existing families....but it is not an exclusive list.
The childminder must risk assess be certain she can meet all needs and inform the parents...not ask permission but they must be aware.

Yes OP but it also says there are exemptions.

Why didn't you ask her?

I didn't ask as I didn't want to be grilling her about her job. She managed brilliantly but it seemed a lot to cope with. I know she has been short of money, and I don't want her to get in trouble because people around here will report you for anything, as long as it's ok then it's fine. We've had a lot of police visiting in the area due to people reporting Covid breaches.

A simple question wouldn't be grilling her and if she's your friend I'm sure she would have minded you asking her

It’s usually 3 under 5 but there are permitted exceptions- I wouldn’t worry about it, and I assume if she’s a registered CM she’s more up on the regulations than you are so wouldn’t risk her business.

Four under 5s is not a lot to cope with. Many parents manage it with ease.

In the years before Ofsted (pre-2000, I think), it wasn't uncommon to see several children with a childminder: the head of Early Years at our council once told me she had 12 children when she was childminding in the late 80s.

Ratios in some nurseries can be 1:13.

Many people I know are surprised how well I manage with 4 little ones! If you are only used to having one or two, then yes, having 4 does seem unmanageable, but when you are used to having three, it honestly not that much more to have 4. Obviously there are exceptions to that, some dc do need far more attention than others and there are some children that I would not want to have as part of a 4, but sometimes I could manage 5, it really depends on the personalities and the ages of the children.