CM Club:Tricky Question I just asked OFSTED.......[wink]

[KatyMac]

Ok some facts

Children on the Early Years Register can be cared for my assistants
Children on the Childcare Register can be cared for my assistants
Children in the Early Years are counted as over 5's (and so on the childcare register) if they attend school for 10 sessions

& my question
So can children who are in reception be left with assistants or not? (they are Early Years, they count as not Early Years)

No! A cm I know had her husband registered as an assistant, to do drop-offs pick-ups at school while she cared for the under 5's, and she raised this question before her recent inspection. The inspector didn't know, went away and checked and said that he could be left in charge of the younger children but not the school aged children- another loophole in EYFS?? Roll on 2010 when this is reviewed...........

Oh Poop I Made my statements wrong - I am a pratt

Children on the Early Years Register can be cared for my assistants
Children on the Childcare Register cannot be cared for my assistants
Children in the Early Years are counted as over 5's (and so on the childcare register) if they attend school for 10 sessions

Duh!

but i thought they could only be cared for if it states that on cert

Well yes I know that now - but I was given incorrect info by the helpline (there's a surprise)....3 times

But how about my question - are these children able to be looked after by an assistant?

I would say that Yes your assistants can be left with your reception aged children but not after 1st september when they then become yr 1 children and properly go into the childcare register.

Ah yes but OFSTED wouldn't confirm that.....I have to wait til they check

Well if they come back and say no then I am not going to do the EYFS with reception aged children as they are then on the childcare reg.