quick help needed with numbers CM can look after

[2jamsandwiches]

Have found someone who seems like a great CM. Need DD to start with her next week (has been a nightmare finding anyone).

Just looked at her Ofsted report (all fine), which says she is registered to look after 3 children under 8 at a time.

Stupid question, but who counts as a 'child'?

She currently looks after

Daytime 1 mindee 16m

After school
Her own daughter (rising 4)
1 mindee aged 6
I mindee aged 7 or 8

Does the addition of DD (under 1) push her over her numbers limit, or does her own daughter not count?

I'm muddled!

Thank you!

Our own children are not listed on certificates so that number is just 'mindees'. Stupid isn't it, makes this very unclear and confusing for parents!

I thought a CM could look after 6 children under 8 which includes their own - and that it was only 3 under 5.

i thought something like that too, pippy - hence my confusion!

OK, so if the oldest mindee is already 8 then there's no problem, if he isn't then (if her registration details are right) then she can't have DD.

Is there any reason why she would only be registered for 3 under 8? Is this a mistake/ not updated?

6 children under 8 is the maximum you can have if you don't have any of your own children under 8 years old. Other factors taken into consideration at the time of registration are the space you have, experience etc. It is quite usual for childminders not to be registered for the maximum number permissable when they first start out but can ask for their numbers to be increased at a later date if necessary. If the oldest mindee is not yet 8 then, as the childminder only has one child, I can't see why she should not be able to request an increase in her numbers to accomodate your child. Speak to her about it - if the oldest child is already 8 then there will not be any problem.

Sorry, when I look at 16m old I thought that was your DD. You've put 'daytime' does this mean during 'school hours'? If so, that looks ok but if not, that would be a total of 4 mindees and therefore your DD WOULD be putting her over. Do you know if the younger mindee does the same days as your DD and what hours they do?

Agree with Coral. If the older mindee is 8 then they don't count but if they are younger, a variation may be granted by Ofsted. Best to speak to her and get it all clear

Sorry, let me be clearer.

For the whole day she currently has 1 mindee, 16m.

After school/nursery she has her own DD (3.10), plus the 2 brothers of the whole-day mindee.

My DD (under 1) would overlap with the after-schoolers for about 30 mins on one day, and 1.5 hrs on another day.

Ie if the eldest brother mindee isn't yet 8 then it sounds like she'd be over her numbers for 2 hours/week.

Is it simple/quick to get an extension to her numbers? DD is due to start on Tuesday!!

Yes, if the eldest mindee isn't 8 yet then she will be over her numbers.

Is it easy to get a variation? That's a question! It should be as she is well within the maximum numbers permissable but you never can tell with Ofsted! She will need to phone them asap if a variation is needed and see what they have to say. Speak to the cm - she should not mind you asking at all!