Husband wants to be childminder, a few queries we can't find answers to!

[artyjoe]

My partner has decided he would like to be a registered childminder. He has one DD aged 9 who he looked after while wife worked(now lives with ex wife), has organised theatre for children, circus's, concerts, helped in DD's primary school etc, and now I am expecting his second child in January and as he is working for the NHS, childminding seems a good option for him, both financially and in terms of reward.

However, I've searched the threads high and low and can't find what we would expect to charge per hour when based in Surrey (Virginia Waters/Thorpe).

Also, I have read that someone was unable to be registered because they have pets, we have a dog, who could be on two other floors of the house seperate to the children, but does this make this a non viable option? The 150 ft garden would be cordoned off so the dog has her half and the children have theirs, this will be done this year from scratch so the dog will never have entered their area.

Also, I work from home in an office enviornment but intend to look after my child myself, so would this enable partner to look after 3 children? My mum will also be here 3 days a week, so there will be 3 adults to a possible 4 children in the home, although only my partner (and possibly myself) will be registered childminders.

We are both musicians and artists and take a positive parenting approach and feel we have a lot to offer a child in terms of love and care and education. My partner is so excited by this and is wanting to enlist on several training courses to help with the possible situations we have no experience of, but I wondered if the dog situation would halt these plans...and whether it is financially viable.

I have read all the threads and it seems 50/50 as to whether it is a good idea, some mumsnetters hate it and some love it, so if we assume we will love it...are we in for a chance?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated before partner gets carried away :-)

[muddaofsuburbia]

Alibubbles is a childminder. She has a fab website. She's not around as much as she used to be, but I'll try to find her site.

[SoupDragon]

Alibubble's site

[hmb]

Pet thing isn't true. My regestered, and fantastic, childminder has a dog.

[Mosschops30]

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[muminlondon]

Price varies a lot, between £3-£5 per hour. See this thread here

[artyjoe]

Thanks for this, isn't Alibubble's site great? Her ethos is exactly why my partner wants to do it, not just a job but a real contribution.

We were hoping to charge between £40-£50 a day for 8am-6pm with all meals and snacks, activities included.

Great news about the dog, now we just have to figure out if you have to have a certain sized house, again, so far, I can't find these details. Maybe this is in the 'briefing meeting' the council provides?

Also, he wants to study for NVQ3 over the first few years, is this a reasonable ambition or are we being a tad too naieve?

In all honesty, would having a male child minder put you off or does the fact that there will be a female in the house counteract any negative feelings?

Thanks for all your help - joe

[Pidge]

artyjoe - I know a number of people whose kids go to male childminders, though in each case it's a husband and wife team who work together, each registered as a childminder. So I guess it's slightly different. But I think the main thing is to be happy with the person who is looking after your kids, rather than what gender they are.

[muminlondon]

I pay within that range so it sounds reasonable.

A male childminder might put some people off admittedly, but it could be interesting for others, especially for looking after boys (I wonder what DH will do when dd's potty-trained and they're out on a trip together - which toilet?!). I agree that the idea of a female in the house would be reassuring.

I think it's helpful if you have a play area next to the kitchen and a garden, but the council could advise you I'm sure.

[Yorkiegirl]

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[throckenholt]

We pay 18.70 per day in Norfolk from 8am-4pm, no food included. Our childminder has dogs (and chickens, cows, pigs - they have a farm !). The dogs are not loose with the kids in the house - tend to be in a side room I think.

House isn't particularly big - 2 rooms plus a kitchen downstairs, couple of bedrooms upstairs with cots if needed.

I think it is great for kids to be looked after by men - many kids hardly see men, especially with the preponderance of female teachers in primary schools.
Some people may find it worrying - but I would be happy as long as I had confidence in them as an individual.

[goosey]

this
will give you both all the info you need on pets/room sizes etc. You will need the national standards for childminders bit.
I am a childminder (part-time), and have a dog. The playroom and the garden are dog-free zones, but my inspector was absolutely fine about the dog. You just need to show that you have adequately covered all health and safety areas with a risk assessment, and that parents/carers are informed.
If you would like to discuss any aspects of starting up please don't hesitate to contact me privately.
Good luck!

[Easy]

There is a childminder lives near me who also breeds spaniels!

How you part the children from the puppies at the end of the day is a mystery to me

[KatieMac]

My DH is a CM (along with me) and he really enjoys it - he is often the only male influence/role model in a childs life (before Senior school). The dog would need to have all it's injections and the separate garden bit is great (minimising pooper scooping). Realistically the NVQ (if done over 1 yr) is an evening a week PLUS 10 to 15 hrs study a week. At the beginning I said 'no problem' however it is now becoming a real problem.

Whether your child is in the house or not they are likely to be included in your DH's numbers unless you also register.
In our case our DD is included in my numbers (5) even if she is at school (as she could be ill and the school would ring and ask her to be collected), I have pointed out to OFSTED that if she was ill I could phone her dad - he would collect her and come home (allowing us our total no-8) - but they have said no we each have to be individually responsible for her. It's ridiculous and this has been queried with them up as high as area manager - to no avail!!!
So it's now going to the Government to see if it can be changed in law (apparently)
Good luck to your DH and if he wants any man-to-man advise email my DH - Kate

[artyjoe]

Thanks Katiemac and goosey, some really helpful information here. My DP and I are sooo excited about this and we have booked a briefing meeting in three weeks to get us on the first rung of the ladder. Painting the hallway, recarpeting the stairs and the garden are now our highest priority, shame about the weather now!

I'll have to look into the NVQ as it sounds a bit of a chore and wouldn't want that to dampen DP's enthusiasm from the start.

I am certainly going to look into be registered myself, although the reality is I'll only be able to help part time due to my 'first job' based at home..but if Ofstead allow this then it's definitely the way to go I think.

Thanks again for all your help, I really do feel positive now!

Thanks - Joe

[KatieMac]

Artyjoe - If you want to chat email us and I'll give you a ring. Loads of luck with your course
Kate