lashes2508 Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Hi All, Just wanted to know if any of you count yourself in the ratio or just as an added extra ?
Carol Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I am supernumerate but cover if staff are ill, on a course, or on days when we require an additional member of staff. I also cover lunch time and ensure I am in the room when children arrive/depart. I also do cretain activities with the children such as letters and sounds daily, PE and work with 2 yr olds. 1
zigzag Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I wish just for one day a week that I could be out of ratio. As much as I love the children I always seem to be playing catch up with the paperwork in my own time!! 1
Fredbear Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Hi I am supernumerary for 5 out of the 6 sessions I work. I am always on the door at arrival and departure, and I cheekily escape from the cupboard, oops I mean the office at every available opportunity. But seriously, showing parents around almost daily, supporting parents, completing paperwork, telephone calls, and so on and on and on.
Foreveryoung Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I'm in ratio all the time (term time, pack away setting) I get 8 hrs a week to do at home which was ok but as we increased our hours it's getting very much on top of me now and I'am considering requesting to the board that I have one session a week in the cupboard lol! I only do what a practitioner would do at work no paperwork at all, no cashing up or invoicing, the work required is too much now and September has not been quiet. I think I need my life back and some rest ! it's lovely been in ratios working with the children as i then know everything that is going off and know children personally which adds that personal touch for staff and users but I'm now dead on my feet. I'm going to follow this feed to see what others do x
angela6 Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I know how you feel in playing catch up. I am an Owner/Manager and I am currently working with the children (the best bit) as a key person. I am working 52.5 hours per week in the nursery and then working on the paperwork in the evenings and at weekends. Really need to reassess, we all do. but we care so much that we just keep going. Unfortunately at the moment I feel that I am not doing either role as well as i could if I could just focus on one.
mrsbat Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I'm in ratio all the time (term time, pack away setting) I get 8 hrs a week to do at home which was ok but as we increased our hours it's getting very much on top of me now and I'am considering requesting to the board that I have one session a week in the cupboard lol! I only do what a practitioner would do at work no paperwork at all, no cashing up or invoicing, the work required is too much now and September has not been quiet. I think I need my life back and some rest ! it's lovely been in ratios working with the children as i then know everything that is going off and know children personally which adds that personal touch for staff and users but I'm now dead on my feet. I'm going to follow this feed to see what others do x I'm exactly the same as you except only get 3 paid hours a week at home - which is when I have to do EVERYTHING apart from the wages plus all the usual learning stories etc....... We are only open 4 hrs on Monday and Tuesday and 6hrs wed-thurs so I just try and squeeze in paperwork at every opportunity at home lol 1
thumperrabbit Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Not in ratio, but as total packaway I help to set up - then always do arrival - then assist on adult focus - then its paperwork time but always seemed to be called in to the hall because of some catastrophe or other, when we are free flowing it's very difficult to 'man all the areas' with out me - then at tidy up time I need to help as we only have a 30m window for getting everything packed away. So in all I might get 30 - 40 mins to do the admin - basically most of it is done at home and in those 30mins I'm filing away what I've done or putting updated documents onto the noticeboard etc Dead on my feet too, and it's totally taken over my home and life, I find it very difficult to switch off as I don't 'walk away' from work it's all sitting on the dining room table - I'm now feeling like I've had enough 2
Fredbear Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 For many years I did exactly as you describe, but the nature of the job role has changed so much in the past 20 years in our pack away setting, that it would impossible to do it that way now. We also do home visits for all our new children, 20 last term, 10 more this term. The pays rubbish but the children still amaze me everyday. 3
blondie Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 i would love to have some out of ratio time but just lost some staff so the time i had has now been lost covering the missing staff - i knew it was too good to be true when they said i could have some time out of ratio lol. the trouble is now that you do need time to do more and more jobs - committees, other staff don't realise what you do - they just expect it all to JUST BE THERE. 3
Foreveryoung Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 i would love to have some out of ratio time but just lost some staff so the time i had has now been lost covering the missing staff - i knew it was too good to be true when they said i could have some time out of ratio lol. the trouble is now that you do need time to do more and more jobs - committees, other staff don't realise what you do - they just expect it all to JUST BE THERE.
Foreveryoung Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Ops did that wrong wanted to quote and write ha ha ha (clearly the strain is getting to me lol) I agree completely staff keep saying can I have this can we have that, this communication in print sign is ripped we need another the list goes on and on!! and all you can say is yes I'll add it to my list ! My board also want me to tackle building a new build too !!! Are they having a laugh ? 1
lashes2508 Posted October 2, 2014 Author Posted October 2, 2014 Wow thanks for all the replies not sure if I am more confused or not . Will explain tomorrow
finleysmaid Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 legally of course you can be counted as part of the ratio as long as you are available to work with the children 1
barcombeplaygroup Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 In ratio all the time - most of the paperwork done in my own time.
louby loo Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 I'm out of ratio (and in the cupboard!!) 2 sessions out of 7. However, that said - we always go 1 over ratio as a norm. I also I only ever have 1 or 2 key-children, but I am the 'key-cover' for any absent staff for all children.
sunnyday Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 I am counted in ratio and have more than my share of Key Children too - but that's my decision as owner/manager.......however, just for this term I am taking a back seat on a Wednesday morning - a quiet session (only this term though) - I am really enjoying this opportunity to spend that time catching up with the never ending paperwork! :1b
lashes2508 Posted October 3, 2014 Author Posted October 3, 2014 So when your counted in the ratio are the rest of your staff working the session qualified or not? For example 9 children over 3 yrs old, 4 staff including yourself but only 1 other qualified , answers on a postcard ! Or just here will do
louby loo Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Did you mean 19 children? If so I'd take that as 2qualified + 1 not. 4 th person not counted in ratio. If 9, then 1 q + 1unq, and yourself on premisses but out of ratio ? Difficult to work out if you work over ratio, but have unqualified staff!!! I think I read on here in the last few weeks that someone interterpred it as 'the total of all staff employed' - but personally I'm note sure about that. Luckily for us all staff are qualified - so my brain is a little rusty on working out these issues in afraid :-(. Sorry not much help . 1
lashes2508 Posted October 4, 2014 Author Posted October 4, 2014 No I meant 9 louby lou , basically in total we have 8 staff inc myself as 50 % of other staff have to be qualified , this applies to each session so where there is a shortfall in qualified staff percentages ( we currently have 3 working towards a qualification one of whom is an apprentice, I have included myself in ratios but this is still not good enough so we now have to advertise for a temp qualified member of staff until the others complete as the other 2 qualified staff can't cover all sessions , we are always over ratio . It nearly meant I was going to have to let one person go ! But fortunately we have found a way round it but Ofsted have said they understand but until such time we need yet another qualified staff and that on the Wednesday example I would not be fulfilling requirements . So what is the point of including myself in ratios if not ok unless for sickness.
Fredbear Posted October 4, 2014 Posted October 4, 2014 Hi lashes2508. Sorry to hear of your dilemma. So how many hours do you need someone for each week.
lashes2508 Posted October 5, 2014 Author Posted October 5, 2014 Thanks Fb , now looking to employ someone for 18 hrs per week on a temporary contract
Guest Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 I am also turning into a paper pumpkin!!! I love my time with the children but I am also counted in the ratios, (Manager), cleaner, parent dartboard! I thought we were meant to have less paperwork and more time with the children. We do the job as a vocation, not because of the money, but constant juggling can mean things get dropped. I think we should pat ourselves and our team on our backs, and have the courage to say we do our job to the best of our abilities, and that is what makes best practice. Go on do it!!! Lucy -
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