Childminders- 2 under 1's for one month - what are my chances?

[alison222]

I have been looking after a 6 mth old on a temporaty basis- due to finish at the end of next week.
I have filled the vacancy from the beginning of Sept with an 11 month old.
The parents of the first child are now asking me if I could do 2.5 days from then too.
Both are teachers so I won't have looked after the one with whom I've signed the contract until the end of August.
Do you think OFSTED may allow it on continuity of care? My concern is that I won't actually have looked after the second child but have already signed the contract.
To complicate matters further my certificate needs amending to allow this as my son will go into reception from September but they phase them in slowly and he will only be doing half days until 19th Sept, so technically before that does he still count as an under 5?

I'd put in writing (my OFSTED do email) and ask for a quick responce as you need to let the parents know asap

Not sue about your little one - would him being an under 5 mess up your numbers?

Yeah thats what I'm worried abut. He will be fine one he is at school. I'm not sure how they see it - I know they are supposed to be in school 10 sessions a week, and he will be from the 19th. Its just whether or not they look at that date or whether I can say he starts in reception form September and not specify the date so they change the certificate. Am a bit wary of asking for it all at once though.

I know the inspector I had last time is a real stickler for the letter of the rules so I'm not sure how to approach it best.

Message withdrawn

Yorkie thats what I thought although the rules specify 10 sessions a week at school, and hw won't actually be doing 10 until 19th Sept. Its that when he counts as 5 or on the 7th when he first goes into reception?

They probably wouldn't allow you to have both these babies as it isn't continuity of care, as you realise.

Depending on how you word a letter to them might help - but you would then have to state that you are already looking after them on separate days, and that one of the parents is increasing hours. They might allow it, but are not renowned for their care and kindness. As the 11 month old will nearly be 12 months old, just how much would they overlap anyway?

Your own son will definitely definitely (and even definitely) NOT be considered as an "over 5" until he is full-time at school, and that means mornings and afternoons.

I was told by ofsted that as long as you can prove you have experiance in caring for babies then you can get temporary permission for this! I am hoping to get permission to have 4 under 5 from feb to sept next year, currently care for 3 yr old who is at nursery 2 1/2 hrs every day, a 15 mth old and an 18 mth old and am due in dec to have my baby so will need permission for a 3,2,22mth old and a newborn!!

Bonkerz - I think you'll be OK with continuity of care as it is your own baby!!

I have had a year-long revision to my registration to allow me to care for 4 under-5s (who I've minded since they were babies), when one of the parents changed her working days. More recently, OFSTED have clamped down on similar requests from other minders I know, who are just as experienced etc., because they think we are just taking on new business!

I am the mother of twins, and had two under-12months mindees (in the old Social Services days), but OFSTED are extremely unlikely to give me carte blanche to look 2 under-ones UNLESS it is continuity of care - no matter how much experience/qualifications I have.

My problem is because they are both teachers I won't have looked after the one I've signed the contract with until the end of August and he is full time so that's the one I'd definately stick with.
The overlap would be for 1 month until he turned 1. It would however be continuity of care for the current temporary one which I really thought was temoporary. Again its term time only which means no work form next week until September which is where the problem lies.
From October its no problem as DS is at school and the older one is 1 so no need for 2 under 1's.
Hmmm.
I guess I need to talk to OFSTED but still wondering the best way to approach it.

Is it only for 2.5 days/week or full-time?

What you should do and what I know a lot of childminders would probably do are two completely different answers.

OFSTED may be OK, but if one of the new babies is new business (which it is), I wouldn't hold your breath.

Their idea of continuity of care usually means new siblings of current children you mind; babies you mind already changing hours/days; or a situation like Bonkerz having her own baby.

Do you have a childminder friend that could be present at your house to help cover?

The one I haven't looked after is full time. The one that was only supposed to have been temporary is only for 2.5 days.
Thing was I hadn't really planned on loking for another child just yet. I thought I'd let the new one settle in first. But then this was offered.....
Anyway I have now called OFSTED , partly to get the variation for DS starting school so it was done, and then also to ask about this, BUT they have changed the system, and I couldn't talk to an inspector just to see what the possibilities are, so they have had to pass it on as a formal request.
It now goes from the person I spoke to , to a variations team who then ring me to confirm details and finally to my inspector. So like chinees whispers the story may be completely different when it gets to her. Nothing in writing from me yet eithr. HMM not sure how this will pan out. Watch this space.

OOPs Chinese whispers!

It seems ridiculous not to request for you to put something in writing. Who knows, you may get a new, written variation allowing you to look after as many under-fives as you can fit into your house!

I would imagine that an inspector (or tea lady) will phone you to clarify what you want. Be prepared! Make some notes so that if you have to say what you want, it makes sense! If I am put "on the spot", I tend to ramble on ... and on ... and on ...

Update.
After hassling OFSTED last Friday who still hadn't got back to me I had a call this morning from an office bod.
Apparently I can only apply to have my numbers changed 14 days before I DS goes back to school full time, and then I can apply for the 2 under ones.
However, it takes 3-4 weeks to process the request so by the time its sorted out the child will probably be one anyway and the mother will have had to have been back at work for a month.
What a farce!!!!
I have managed though, to find a childminding friend who takes on 2 new children in October who therefore has a gap in September who can fill 2 of th 2.5 days this parent wants on a temporary basis, so we may well be able to run with that instead, but it will be unsettling for the baby.
AGGHHH........[frustruated face]

I know of so many cases where OFSTED just seem to be making life as difficult as possible for childminders who are genuinely trying to accommodate requests for parents they already mind for.

Unfortunately, when we get turned down or given the "it will take 4 weeks to process" answer, it means that more and more childminders will just do whatever it is they have been asked and end up temporarily "breaking the rules".

I have had conversations with several OFSTED inspectors about different subjects, and would liken most of my discussions to being like talking to a politician! You don't get a straight answer to a straight question!! Oh dear, am getting very worked up about my pet subject ... perhaps I should start a new thread about OFSTED inspectors ...

They don't make it easy for us do they?

I know that there are reasons for the rules and regulations, but they are not consistent in their requests for registration variations. It really bugs me!

Also - they need to be realistic ie what harm would an extra baby for one month do? How is it miraculus different from 11m to 12m?

They grow up!! They stop doing things that a 11 month old does and become responsible little people

Social Services registered me as OK to mind two under 12month olds as I have twins myself, and have lots of experience of minding small babies (and I know other "old-timers" like me who had similar registrations).

Unfortunately, OFSTED don't seem to have the same confidence in our abilities so we can't have a permanent "this particular childminder would be OK with two under 12 months" on our registration certificates. I feel that it should perhaps be the prospective parents that should decide if they would have confidence in our ability to cope with two under ones.

After all, it's the parents who choose what other abilities/traits/personality defects they want in their childminder!! If they want a house without pets, a minder who goes out a lot or a non-smoking household, then they choose.

All I got was "legally we can't process your application until 14 days before your circumstances change. Its a legal document " etc.
They refused to speculate on likelihood.
If you could only speak directly to a sensible inspector who could say - yes I know you. Yes I will approve it when the time comes make sure the application is on time, we could run with it or even ,NO way sorry. But instead this little baby is going to be unsettled by leaving her temporarily with another childminder whist OFSTED fart around.
ITS SO ANNOYING!!!!

Would the parents of the first child (the one you are already minding who has asked to stay longer?) have anyone (friends or family?) who could help out short-term until you're legal (at the child's home, not yours)??

No, not really.
I have another childminding firend who has said she could do 2 of the 3 days temporarily, and the parents think they can do the rest. They have yet to meet her though so we will see what happens as the parents are now on holiday.

Update:
I finally spoke to an inspector this evening after losts of messages and re-explaining myself to lots of OFSTED people today (just come home from hols). Ofsted are going to approve the changes but having re-contacted the parent in question, they have put the little girl into a nursery "for a certain period" whatever that may mean. Am waiting for her to call back after talking to her husband, so don't know if I have the child or not any more after all that.
Ah well, if not something else will no doubt come along. At least I will be able to accept it if it does.

I meant lots not losts but perhaps losts is nearer the truth.

Hard Luck Alison - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you