CM Club - DS starting school & becoming an Over 5 - OFSTED calling it a Variation Request????

[looneytune]

Evening

I emailed OFSTED earlier to let them know that ds will be classed as over 5 from Jan due to starting Full Time school (i.e. he's 4 and will be doing 10 sessions).

They asked me to send with signature which is fine but they said '.....variation request to Ofsted so we can consider varying the terms of your current certificate' - I thought it was STANDARD that once they go full time, they are classed as an over 5?

Anyone know?

TIA

Because you are changing the wording on your certificate it is a variation request - just terminology

Ok but will they say yes or is it not as simple as that? Just the word 'consider' and of course I'm paranoid they have it in for me atm!

Of course they use consider

They could decide to reduce any childminders numbers whenever they like - but they tend not to

It shouldn't be a problem (when is DS 5?)

Shows what I know then! So even when my son DOES turn 5 on 28th March, they don't necessarily HAVE to change the cert to allow the change? I didn't realise that (well, of course if they had a proper issue with someone and had a reason then I could understand).

Thanks for clarifying - just hope they agree then!

Umm didn't we have a thread about this recently

Thay are OFSTED they don't need a reason....do they?

I also had to send in a photocopy of my DD birth certificate.

Well after the complaint I got....it's obvious why THAT happened.....nothing would surprise me!!! If they say no, they'll have to give me a very good reason!! I've already got the BBC possibly interested in doing another story about 'victimisation'

mumlove - thanks for that - they didn't ask in the email but i'll get it ready

I thought it was standard too. But then I was stupid enough to think that as they already had my children's date of birth they would automatically send a revised certificate. Of course they do s*d all unless you ask. Bit obvious really!

I guess we're all used to hearing "variation" in respect of a temporary arrangement which is both a variation from your existing certificate and a variation from normal ratios. I personally would avoid using the term variation in your case, perhaps "revised certificate" would better avoid confusion. I think I said something like ... as my son is no longer under 8 I would appreciate a revised certificate to reflect the correct child ratios ...

All got sent off and don't worry, I didn't use variation, just asked for an amended certificate Yes, they do s*d all unless you ask!!

your son is starting 10 sessions at school!
is this pre-school?
will you be using nursery vouchers?

just thought you can only class a child as an over 5 once they started reception class

It's rising 5's in a proper school, no nursery vouchers, not pre-school. He's in nursery atm and moves up in January.