Ratios in England
The number of
children a childminder may care in England is set out in the
welfare requirements of the EYFS. This number includes the
childminder’s own children or any other children for whom they are
responsible – for example, children being fostered by the
childminder. Any care provided for older children must not
adversely affect the care of children receiving early years
provision.
The numbers of children set out below represent the maximum
number of children who may be cared for by a childminder at any one
time. Not all childminders will be registered to care for the
maximum number of children. Ofsted will always make a judgement at
the tiem if registration. This judgment will be based on factors
such as the amount of space available.
Each childminder may care for:
- a maximum of six children under the age of 8;
- of these six children, a maximum of three may be young
children, however where 4- and 5-year-old children only attend the
childminding setting before and/or after a normal school day, they
may be classed as children over the age of 5 for the purposes of
the adult:child ratio;
- normally, no more than one child may be under the age of 1,
however a childminder may be registered to care for two children
under the age of 1 where they are able to demonstrate that they can
meet and reconcile the individual needs of all the children being
cared for.
Exceptions to these ratios can be made for siblings and to
provide continuity of care in certain circumstances, provided that
the total number of children under the age of 8 being cared for
does not exceed six. If you want to care for more children
than you are registered to care for - to care for more than one
baby, for example, you will need to apply to Ofsted for what's
called a "variance". You should tell Ofsted how you plan to
care for the extra child, what impact taking on another child
will have on the care of the others, and the practical arrangements
you have in place - how many car seats or high-chairs you have, for
example.
If a childminder either employs an assistant or works with
another childminder, the above numbers apply to each of these
individuals in addition to the childminder.