What is the child to teacher ratio?

Childminding Ratios

One of the most frequent requests we get is for clarification about ratios.

In England the number of children a childminder may care for and the indoor space requirements are set out in the EYFS statutory framework for childminders, Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.

You can find the full information within the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, but essentially:

A childminder may care legally care for a maximum of six children under the age of 8 (whether providing the childminding on domestic or non-domestic premises). Of these six children, it is advisory that a maximum of three may be young children and there should only be one child under the age of one (a child is a young child until 1st September following their 5th birthday). If a childminder can demonstrate to parents and/or carers and, depending on how they are registered, Ofsted inspector or their CMA, that the individual needs of all the children are being met, exceptions to the usual ratios can be made. Examples of permissible exceptions include, but are not limited to:

• When childminders are caring for siblings, or
• when caring for their own child, or
• to maintain continuity of care, or
• if children aged three to five only attend the childminding setting
  before and/or after a normal school day, and/or during school
  holidays, they may be cared for at the same time as three other
  young children.

How would Huggie Bears Family Childcare manage any variations to ratios?
Variations to these ratios can be made if the Childminder ‘can demonstrate to parents and/or carers and, depending on how they are registered, Ofsted inspector or their CMA (Childminding Agency), that the ndividual needs of all the children are being met’. Essentially ‘the total number of children under the age of eight being cared for must not exceed six per person.’
(Details taken directly from the EYFS)

At Huggie Bears Family Childcare we make informed decisions in line with the statutoryEYFS framework (see link above). A full risk assessment would be undertaken before any variation is made, on a case-by-case basis and parents/carers informed.

As a vastly qualified early childhood specialist with many years of experience, I am more than capable to undertake variations to ratios where it is deemed appropriate to do so in line with our statutory requirements to ensure we remain compliant. To illustrate, organisation is key together with knowing each child well to ensure each child’s needs are met to ensure learning and development is delivered as per the learning and development requirements of the EYFS. Whilst quality of care and safety is maintained. That is why at the beginning of each child’s journey at Huggie Bears Family Childcare we undertake comprehensive information gathering to ensure we get to know each child’s needs well and able to plan to ensure the needs of the whole setting works exceptionally well.

If a childminder employs an assistant or works with another childminder, each childminder (or assistant) may care for the number of children permitted by the ratios specified above.

For childminders providing overnight care, the ratios set out above continue to apply and the childminder must always be able to hear the children (this may be via a monitor).

If any parent/carer has any questions with regards to ratios then they are welcome to speak to us for more information.