How to work out ratios?

Hi
How do you work out correct ratios?
example
19 children in - 4 members of staff
9 under 3yrs
10 over 3yrs

So for under 3yrs need 2 members of staff for 8 children..what happens to the 1 left?
10 over 3yrs needs 2 members of staff and they can include the 1 left over on the under 3yrs?

Its the one remaining under 3 yrs that gets me. How can they be included in a staff ratio that then is worked out for the over 3yrs...sorry confusing myself!
Does an under 3 yrs take two places of an over 3yrs?

Think someone on here had a point score system but I cant find it.

[SomeoneSpecial]

1 adult to
8 over 3's or 4 12 months-2yrs or 3 babies

adults are 24 points
over 3's = 3 points
12month-2yrs=6 points
babies=8points


we have a chart we add the points of the children and then make sure the adult points is equal or more

Thanks for that. We dont have any under 2 so have done it this way...
1 Adult has 8 points
1 point for over 3 yr old
2 points for under 3yr old.
Number of staff = 3 so can only have up to total of 24 points
Number of staff = 4 so can only have up to total of 32 points
Is this right? So one adult can use points on both under and over 3yr old so long as doesnt make more than 8?
Thanks

[SomeoneSpecial]

yep thats it :) yw

You've lost me with your adult child ratio

In Wales it is as follows

1 adult - 8 children over the age of 3

1 adult - 4 children aged under 3

We don't take children under the age of 2 yrs.

[SomeoneSpecial]

yeah so you can work out points

1 adult=8points
1 over 3=1 point
1 under 2=2points

so for example if you have 2 staff, 5 under 3s and 6 over 3's its allowed because
adult points add up to 16 points
under 3s add up to 10
over 3s add up to 6

mmmmmm..
until you get an Ofsted Inspector who using the 1:4 and 1:8 says you cannot have a 2yr old counted in a ratio with 3 year olds which is in effect what you are doing... they do however sometimes say Ok to to have a 3year old in a 2yr old ratio,
In above example you would not have correct ratios using their criteria.. not point counting.. Had this happen to a friend
You would need more staff to ensure correct ratio.. you would be either 1 under 3 or 3 over 3s over.. ( a few too many overs but get my drift?)

Watch ratios carefully not just point counting... if unsure always ring Ofsted to clarify and check your ratio is correct..then you will have some back up if an Inspector takes this approach.
I would rather ensure it was correct than chance it.. and have someone turn up and then discover you get a poor inspection because of it.

[SomeoneSpecial]

weve been ofstead inspected and everythings been fine although we do have 4 different rooms with different age groups in

[Mini]

Where in Wales are you Butterflyflutterby?

Hi
So Noah you say you cant have an adult that mixes their ratios ie is responsible for a mixture of under and over 3 yrs old? So for us at the moment an example on one day would be:
4 2 to 3 yrs old
13 over 3yrs old

How many staff should there be in?
We have got 3. I suppose if you cant mix your childrens ages there would be 1 staff for the 2-3yrs and another 2 staff for the over 3 yrs. However if we get anymore 2- 3 yrs booked in then we would need an extra staff member? Would be interesting to hear your argument about not being able to mix the children up. I know the committee will probably come back with the fact we have parent help but they cannot go to toilet etc.
Suppose we really need to know where we stand with OFSTED on this. ANyone know how I can find out for sure? Thanks