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Original poster

Childminders club.......Have just found out why theres no work around here

36 replies

HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 12:05

the support minders around here have had 50 newly registered childminders in the last year!!

Apparently the new minders keep being told on the courses that there is plenty of work around, when there obviously isn't. I know established minders around here are really struggling. Arrrgh, there's not enough work around, why do they keep telling them that there is???. Sorry to rant but am getting annoye with this.

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Original poster
HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 15:15

Thanks Hellybelly, but I've been waiting for it to pick up now for 2 years Sad

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HellyBelly · 08/03/2006 15:07

not read whole thread but I'm sure it will pick up. I lost 3 mindees in October (oh, that sounds bad doesn't it - I had to get rid of 1 and the other 2 came with him!) and it went really quiet for a while and I really really worried when dh lost his job at Christmas (still out of work - so annoying being here!) but in the last 4 weeks I've taken on 3 new part time mindees and already one has increased her days and today another asked to which will leave me almost fully booked again. I really believe there are quiet periods and then it goes mad! At the moment mine all seem to be babies - must be a certain time of year that everyone's at it Wink Grin

Good luck, hope those new starters don't let you down!

BTW, agree with you about how rubbish it is that they lie about how much work there is!!! Angry

Original poster
HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 14:51

Diddle, I do advertise in schools, libraries, soft play centres, post offices, Gp surgeries/HV. All this has cost me a small fortune over the years! Have a website that I'm setting up at the mo',and have just ordered some more bussiness cards.

Feelinold, I currently have a 20 month old,a 11 year old and 2 8 year olds. I should also have two children starting in September who will fill my under 5's spaces, but, I know from bitter experience that these may not happen!

Thankyou all for listening, just get a bit fed up with it all every know and again.

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diddle · 08/03/2006 14:31

hennipenni - i'm in the mdilands too, and we've got plenty aroudn here, well as far as i know we have, I have never had any problems filling spaces there are loads of minders round here as well. Maybe you could advertise more?

FeelingOld · 08/03/2006 14:18

We don't have a vacancy co-ordinator as such, we have our own group website and one of the minders updates that but we have done it this way so that everyone gets and equal chance when parents look at it.
All childminders in our area are invited to join our group and we have a stay and play session weekly at our local surestart centre, but out of loads of childminders there are only about 8 of us who regularly attend, but if others came along they could have their details put on our website, but for some reason they just don't come along. It's a shame really cos we all help each other to fill vacancies.

FeelingOld · 08/03/2006 14:14

Its such as shame, childminders are spending money getting their houses equipped and getting toys etc only to not be able to find work. Also all of the time and money spent on ICP, 1st aid courses, health and police checks etc and then pack in after a few months.

How many mindees do you have HenniPenni?

Original poster
HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 12:55

I know that they can't stop people registering, but, I really wish that they would be more honest and not just say " Oh yes, theres plenty of work around!". thses poor poeple are getting their hopes up and then wondering why they aren't getting any calls.

At our childminding group it appears that the vacancies co-ordinator and the support childminders are full and getting work,(not going to say anymore) but the rest of us, including some very established minders aren't.

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FeelingOld · 08/03/2006 12:45

There have been quite a lot of new childminders round here just done/doing their ICP whilst some of the ones who did it 12-18 months ago have given up cos they can't find anyone to look after, its just stupid isn't it?
Luckily for me I am part of a local childminding group and we are all quite full and pass enquiries on to each other if we can't do the work.

We spoke to our development officer about this and asked why they were still letting people from here do the ICP and registering when lots of childminders are struggling or giving up (incidentally most of them have not joined our group) and she just said that she gives an honest reply to them when they ask about how much work there is around here when they attend the 1st briefing session saying 'some childminders are full and some are struggling to find work'. She said there is nothing she can do cos she can't stop people registering.

Original poster
HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 12:41

Pol25, I'm in the Midlands.

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pol25 · 08/03/2006 12:31

Where are you Hennipenni?

Original poster
HenniPenni · 08/03/2006 12:06

annoyed

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