What qualifies as full time space?

[yogamama]

Hello there,

Can somebody explain to me what qualifies as a full time space?

I'm trying to find a c minder for DCs one of which will be starting reception in Sept. Some people I have contacted have said this comes under a full time space so need to charge accordingly, even though the hours are 3-6pm and the holidays, (which I totally understand why that's a full time space).

Is it because she will take up a holiday space as a full time place?

I'm confused!

Thanks,

:-)

i think it is because your dc will be there 3-6pm it means her numbers will be up for that time slot, so s/he is preventing her from taking up a full-time place.

why not look for a CM who only does after/before school?

Oh I see.

Thing is I've got an 18mth old too, so really tricky to find someone who can take both DC's (some people don't like babies, do school pick ups etc), and I don't want to separate them.

Ho hum - there must be someone out there!

Will your child be going to school in september Full time, or lik ein this area part time. i.e just mornings.

If Dc is going fulltime, it dosnt matter if your dc is 4 or 5 dc will count as 5 so WILL NOT count in the under 5 ratio so will not take a full time space.

If going part time from september to say January in that time will count as 4, so WILL take a full time space. i.e will need the space full time during the holidays.

Spaces available to a CM are usually including thier own children

3 under 5 (including 1 under 1)
3 five to eight year old.

My policy for under 5's is as follows.
UNDER 5?S IN OTHER SETTINGS

A child is counted as an under 5 by Ofsted until they are in full time education i.e. at school for 10 sessions a week.

A child who is at pre school is a under 5 and if they are with a childminder before and after pre school, and require a fulltime space during the holidays they therefore are taking a childminders full time space. As such you are required to pay retainer fee for the time that they are at preschool, as the childminder cannot then fill the part time that they are at pre school.

Thank you so much for clearing this up for me Shoshe. She goes full time from October (only the month of Sept for mornings). I was thinking it wasn't worth working if childcare still costs me the same as it does now.

Thanks again.

:-)

That s Ok, we get confused with it as Ofsted themselves get confused with it!

Most CM's get a variation on numbers for the few months that reception children are part time at school. I have one most years from sept to Jan.

But Ofsted will not very often give avariation for new business.

i wouldnt dream of charging someone full day for 3-6!..and im doing that (hopefully) in a weeks time..i will have the LO 6.45am-9am and 3-5...no way would i expect her to pay the full school day!..OTOH her nursery currently DO charge for the full day!! even though shes at school, which is why she's coming to me.

I suppose it works for me as my other after /before schooly's dont come during hols, so having this LO on through the hols wont cause me a problem then the extra money will be a nice bonus!

I dont charge when they are at school and over 5, but would if they weere under 5 as I could let that space fulltime. If I didnt charge I would be losing a great deal of money.

if like you I had only term time children then I could be more flexible, but all my mindees are 8-5, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year.

no shosh i wasnt saying you were wrong, just this OP's cm shouldnt cahrge full day for a before and after schooly!, but hey, its her business not mine!
i charge full day if they drop off i take to nursery and then pick up..you cant fill the 2 hour gap,plus their space is still there during hols, but most of my b4 and after schoolys dont come through hols but they still pay thier full rate.

I wouldnt charge for a schooly, I dont know anyone who would, only for for a reception child who was doing mornings only (here they do it for a whole term!!)