ratio's of staff to kids

[riab]

Does anyone have a nursery which has MORE than the minimum levels of staffing? I am concerned that 1 staff member to 3 kids is alot especially if you have 2 staff with 6 kids then one goes to the loo or something?

Willing to pay more for a 1:2 ratio but unsure if any nursery does this?

[Twiglett]

I think your only option is to use a childminder or nanny

[nurseryvoice]

sometimes we have extra staff at my nursery(in addition to the manager who is always extra),if there are a few very young babies.
we always have 1 extra though in the whole nursrey , who can cover for breaks, so dont worry any good nursery will ensure the room is covered if a member of staff has to leave the room.
with regard to a childminder, they are allowed 3 under fives and usually work by themself so this might not be a better ratio than a nursery.

[nannynick]

I have worked in nurseries where the staff:child ratio was higher than stated in the regulations. Those nurseries tended to be the smaller ones, where they were registered for typically less than 26 children in total.

With regard to ratios generally, I'd like to see the regulator change the way it's written to make it more clear as to what they mean... as I do see nurseries intrepret it differently. My concern is that A Group is max of 26 children. A large nursery will comprise of multiple groups. Some will base ratios on a per-group basis, while others do it as a nursery as a whole. I feel a group ends where there is a wall - as how can someone be in charge of a child they can not see or hear. An Ofsted inspector team manager I spoke with didn't agree with me.

[Littlefish]

In the nursery where I work we have half-height, clear perspex walls between the areas, and although all members of staff can see and hear all the children, we still have the correct ratios (or more staff) for each age group.

[ayla99]

That's interesting Nick - as a Registered Childminder I've been told by an Ofsted Inspector that "the definition of childminding is to be within sight or sound of the minded children at all times" her words as best I can remember. I've never worked in or used a nursery but I assumed the same applied to nurseries which would mean the ratios should be applied to each group.

Although childminders are allowed 3 under fives, once they've committed to a part time child its near enough impossible to fill in the remaining hours so during a school day you usually get a good ratio.

[SamsMIL]

I own a Nursery and feel that the minimum ratios are what they say 'minimum' - but I don't expect the staff to cope for the most part with those. We have a Manager who is extra, aswell as floating' staff and part-time staff to cover lunchtime and breaks. Pre-School 1:8? How on earth can anyone cope with eight 3 year-olds and give them the education and care that they need in School Nurseries it's 1:13. Minimum standards are a double-edged sword - they allow some nurseries to get away with low staff levels but do allow reputable Nurseries to release staff for training, sickness, etc. It's about common sense - if the babies are asleep, all happily gurgling 1:3 is fine. I feel their should be help on hand if needed. Lunch times are a real annoyance to me - I know a lot of settings who are under their ratios during lunch time. We employ separate staff to come in or job-shares cross over lunch time. This costs us a fortune but I can sleep at night! Parents must accept that they have to pay for quality - ask about cover staff and ratios when you look around a Nursery. Our parents pay a premium for our higher staffing levels - you get what you pay for!! So if the Nursery is cheaper ask why - are they skimping on staffing?