emergency childcare-your views

[bembridge]

Hi there, would love to hear some of your views , comments or suggestions on emergency childcare. I am a mother of 2 and realise that finding childcare for the day/week is very hard for all working mums. i am debating to open my home and become a registered as a childminder for school holidays only I.E- half terms summer christmas...I will take children from 5-11 in order to give a wide variety of stimulating activities, and keep them all well entertained by planning each day as you would in a play scheme or summer camp. you can send your child just for the day or for the full amount of time that i would be open and no need to register months in adcance. I would like to know what people think of this idea and if they would use such a service like this one if they needed emergency childcare.
thanks in advance for all comments

[magicmummy1]

I tend to think of emergency childcare as being for kids who are unexpectedly sick and therefore can't attend school or another childcare setting. School holidays aren't really emergencies and most parents I know plan well ahead to ensure that care is in place.

Having said that, I'm sure that lots of parents would appreciate a flexible childminder who is available through the summer.

[twinklytoes]

there is scope for holiday only care. As a family we are about 3 weeks out in the year where we need to buy in care. At the moment the grandparents cover it but once they are all in school, we'll be looking at playschemes and such like. But the problem with this is the DCs ages - they wouldn't all be able to go to the same place and most of the playschemes only run 830 till 530. No good if your commute is over an hour each way. Though to compete with playschemes you'd have to offer a day rate versus the hourly rate that, traditionally childminders offer.

Also consider bank holiday cover too - we both work bank holidays but always have to rely on friends as every other option is closed.

[bembridge]

Magic mummy1- yes i agreee, i said emergency because im hoping i would be able to take children at the last min in all other forms of childcare had failed- but yes i see your point maybe need to think of an alternative way of explaining it. Its always interesting and helpful hearing from others.

Twinlytoes- (nice name lol) Thanks for that message also thats def made me think about doing full day hours then, and yes will look into the cost of hourly charge of childminders. Im assuming one of your children is prob to young for a playscheme?

I do understand why playshemes say the age should be 5 years and up because of ratios and the fact that the difference and independace of most 5 year olds compared to 4 year olds is massive (in my books) As i did used to work for a playscheme many years ago.

Good luck in finding something i know its costly and can be confusing at times!

Im glad you see a posssibility for this i find it very hard as i have just moved to the area and have not many people to help me or could contact at one hours notice and thought there must be others like me?
Thanks for your time and great feed back ladies.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

If you are going to offer emergency childcare it needs to be more than school holidays.

The downside to this would be that parents wont know you and many will be unlikely to leave their child with a stranger unless you plan to do open days etc so that parents get to know you and the setting.

[titchy]

When will YOU go on holiday? Spend time with your children without other parent's kids?

[bembridge]

well was thinking that i would always book a week off in the summer and i always have weekends with them, i have asked how they would feel and they like the idea of having other children around when they are off school. But weekends is always when i spend time with the children.

[bembridge]

i think its clear i need to think about calling it last min child care for holidays, I think there are many people who could do with somewhere to take your children for the day in the holidays where you can just get on with things catch up or just have a day off and relax without the hassle of trying to plan far in advance. But yes so very true, thank you for that comment that people will have to get to know and trust my setting so open days would be a must to give parents a chance to see how it works and what fun the children will be having.