Guest Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Hi Everyone Sorry I'm being a really needy new Preschool manager at the moment but seems lots of issues are coming up all at once! So, can anyone advise me about the rules regarding how many children a Preschool can take. I thought that I would change the running of the setting, using my current staff until we reach maximum ratio (as it seems the setting always need temporary staff from February to July). So I would like to work to a maximum of 20 children if there are less than 5 two year olds. However, I have been told that you have to take as many children as are stipulated on the registration - 25 in our case and leave a space for any child moving into the area. I'm sure this rule must be the same nationwide so any advice appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Well I have never heard that one. The only stipulation is the maximum allowed certainly not the minimum. So if yours says 25, then that is the most you can take in any given day, sessions etc. As long as your staffing is within the statutory ratios for ages of the children in your care and with the relevant staff qualifications then that's fine. As for keeping a place open, this is only if its financially viable to do so. Don't think many settings can afford to keep places vacant nowadays. Hope this helps 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Best to think about the children in blocks! blocks of 4 for the two year olds and 8 for the 3's and up so you could do 2x8 =16 plus one lot of two year olds =4 so 20 altogether or 3x8 (3 year olds) =24 ...for both of these scenarios would require 3 staff. do you have a healthy waiting list? if so then why not fill to capacity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 New one on me too - not sure where that has come from - decision is for the owner or committee whichever applies.........as FB said maximum numbers need to be adhered to - but no not minimum........well not as far as I know :blink: :1b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildflowers Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Square metres per child of different ages and ratios for different ages is all to consider, to my knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I have a feeling they removed the measurements didnt they? We're a large church hall so they never applied to us anyway. Numbers of children is a bit like speed limits, its a limit not a target. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildflowers Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) I have a feeling they removed the measurements didn't they? The square metres remain, but the total number has been removed from the registration. It's now up to us to measure, count and set limits, within the requirements. Edited January 31, 2014 by Wildflowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 .....and count toilets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thank you all for the replies and this is all good news. I think this confusion came when a couple of years ago in the setting a child needed a place after headcount and they were told that if a space was available then they had to offer it. So I'm now being told "if we have any of the 25 spaces we have to offer them". However, I think they originally meant if a space was available within the staff ratios rather than the number on registration if that makes sense. Anyway, I feel cheered this morning which is always a good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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