CM Club - is anyone registered for more than 6 under 8 years old?

[lunavix]

Apparently Ofsted have said they're happy providing variations but ONLY if it remains as a maximum of 6 children under 8. Does anyone have more?

Under the Children's Act we are not allowed to have more than 6 under 8. That's why when you have a variation for 4 under 5 you can only have 2 5-8 yr olds.

your not allowed
max 6 children under 8
with 3 of these under 5

exept when you have a variation as badger said

I am aware that some people have had certificates saying 7 under 8... but they have an assistant. Tribunals have been very clear in the past (see Whyatt v Ofsted, that Ofsted are not able to exceed the numbers as stated in the legislation (of which the National Standards are a part), thus the limit of 6 under 8 when there is just one childminder.

if you are a husband & wife team of minders, can you be registered for 6 under 8's each? Also would you have to have both minders on each contract or your own mindee's?

One contract

Plus signed permission for other minder to do everything

so i know a couple who childmind together - husband very recently joined his wife in the business - would he then be able to take kids to school, out on trip etc when mindee was contracted to wife?
do they just get to double their numbers of mindee's [minding from same premises] and would they be inspected together or as individuals?

Inspected individually
They don't "just" get double it depends upon their abilities and the space available (some sole c/mer don't get 3 under 5's due to their circumstances or space)

Yep - each C/Mer would be responsible for any child (with parental permission)

would he then be able to take kids to school, out on trip etc when mindee was contracted to wife?

Yes, could use a permission form for such trips, though more likely in my view to be covered by a blanket permission form so that care can be provided by either registered childminder.

do they just get to double their numbers of mindee's [minding from same premises]

Yes, No, Maybe. Depends on more factors than just there being a second person registered. Square footage of premises for example.

and would they be inspected together or as individuals?

As individuals.

Nick, Slight emergency are you available for consultation?

im registered for 7 under 8s.
4 0-5 year od and 3 5-8 year olds.

no im wrong!
i do have 4 under 5s but not at the same time as the 3 over 5s!
phew i was begining to get rather worried that ive been over minding for a year! pheeeew!

So you have a variation for the 4 under 5's?

yep i do challenger.

Thats great. I care for 6 under 5's but work with an assistant. I know of a husband and wife couple who worked together and employed assistants and it seemed to work fine. They had I think up to 17 children (not all at the same time though)