Childminder ratios

[JessAM]

Hello, I have a daughter that will be 10 months when starting with a local childminder. In terms of ratios, she is saying she can have 2 children under 2 and 2 children over 2 at one time. And she says only one child will be under 2 (my daughter) when she starts. Are her ratios correct? Can she have 1:4 (2 over 2 and 2 under 2) at the same time?

This is my first baby and I am nervous about going back to work x

Yes that sounds right. They can also go over the ratio also if they agree with OFSTED how it will be managed

I have twins - they were with a childminder from 20 weeks. She had another child under 1 I recall and then a couple more under age 2. I was comfortable as she had assistants and it was all very very well managed

On her own she can have a max of 3 under 5s.

If she has an assistant it's a different situation and there are other caveats too.

https://www.pacey.org.uk/childminder-ratios/

It used to be 3 under 5s within that 3 1 could be under 1 year old. It may have changed though as my daughter is now 8.

If they have any assistants it does change.

She can have 6 children under 8 - that's the legal ratio.

The guidance in the EYFS is that of those 6, only 3 should be under 5 and of those only one should be under 1.

But, Ofsted give childminders a bit of leeway to make changes to that ratio so 4 under 5s are quite common.
It may be that a child increases their days, or a 3 year old does 30 hours at nursery school, or there are siblings or the childminder has her own child etc etc.

So long as she has risk assessed and can safely meet everyone's needs, she isn't breaking any rules.