Mixed age ratios

[pitterpatterrain]

Just picked DD up from nursery. She is 2.5 and there were 9 DC and 2 staff. 5 under 2's. One that I know over 3, one 3 next month.

The manager insists they are in ratio due to being mixed age groups and it being 1:5 for that.

I just can't see it. Can someone help me please?

Inappropriate questions?!!!?!
Report them to ofsted

Report to Ofsted.

The ratios are for safety. If they're ignoring them they are being unsafe. If you didn't report and then a child got hurt you'd blame yourself.

Or you could name them on here...

If you have mixed ages you have to keep your youngest children in their ratio level. So two under two and two three year olds would still need two staff members, for example. I think mixed ratio tended to be used in the past as I have heard older staff who have been in the industry a long time mention it.

There's a query i would like to be answered.Does anyone elses nursery use the building ratio rather than a room ratio? Asking this as i noticed if not enough staff in a room is making that room vulnerable or is that ok!

At a nursery I do some work at there was a similar scenario. Around 4 babies all under 2 years and then about 8 two year olds all together. Because there was a 5 month old in there as well it didn't seem right to me. I don't agree with mixing baby room with other rooms. It isn't safe at all. There's a big difference between a non walking 7 month old and a almost 3 year old and so there are clear safety issues there.