interviewing childminders

I don't use interview because it implies a far more official standing than I'm comfortable with. I much prefer an informal, relaxed approach when we're with the children.

I don't like the word "inspection" either

FlissPaps

Agree totally with your two points above!

The idea that I'd put children's safety at risk by letting standard slip - pissed me off too!

Schnakes Absolutely spot on about people needing to remember that it's your home as well as your business.

Isislondon's comment about standards slipping in between Ofsted inspections and feeling as though they have a 'right' to see everything has really irked me and has grated on me since I first read it to be honest. We live in these homes, we bring our own children up in them - do people really think that we only clean and tidy and keep things nice when Ofsted come around?

I dont show people around upstairs. The children only use the upstairs for using the bathroom, or the baby goes in the cot for her nap.

People need to remember - this is my family home as well as my business. Do you think that downstairs is going to be lovely, and then once you get upstairs, the walls are covered in slime and its actually a torture chamber?? I dont want complete strangers tramping around my personal space upstairs. Would you??? I lay the whole of the downstairs area out for the children. Upstairs belongs to me!!

As for the interview debate - I call it an interview, but as others said - we interview you as much as you interview us. Years of experience tells us who to say yes or no to!!

Lastly - I dont charge for my holidays, sickness etc. Im providing a service. If Im not available to provide that service, I dont charge my parents for it.

*'and the prospective family is checking the childminder out. '

Most childminders use the word 'interview'... not sure why it's being said all CM's dislike the word??? That's untrue. I use it all the time. It really doesn't matter what word you use... either way... the CM is checking the prospective family out, and the prospective family is checking the family out.

Flisspaps I disagree with that... and am often the one who turns down families (when they've emailed me and said they'd like to sign if the vacancy is still available). The decision rest with both equally.

Re us 'saying' being self employed ... we ARE self employed irt HMRC and, as such, can dictate our own holiday pay et al. There is no given. As two plumbers might have different t&c's to each other, so do childminders...

Re docs being shown... well... due to my past career where I put together glossy bids... this quality and care is as important in my childcare business. Without the suits And might take place whilst I have a baby coughing up milk over me whilst sat on the floor... ;) No less professional... just a different service (and environment) being offered.

Not a different language Mr Anchovy ...I think it is more to do with a different way of putting things
As we can see from this blog we all have different ideas and that is just to do with interviews or first meetings or whatever each one chooses to call it

The main thing about this is that it leads to 'working in partnerssip with parents' which is very much stressed in the EYFS 2012 as if it was not important before?

For me, interview suggests a very one-sided decision making process; it implies that the parent is making the decision and the CM will willingly accept the business from whoever chooses them but that's not the case.

Sometimes Italiana I think we must be speaking a different language. My point was not that childminders' portfolios aren't as good as mega-contract bid documents, it was that the companies that have produced them aren't offended by the meeting they attend with their customer being called an interview, so why should childminders be?

Interviews, visits, first meeting...does it matter what we call it...each c/m can do as she wants
Mr Anchovy how many parents have you been visited, interviewd or had initial meetings with?

We too have portfolios to show parents and evidence of good practice plus spend time explaining how we will observe and assess progress as well as showing Quality Assurance, CPD, training list and qualifications...oh and explain how c/vouchers work and write our own contracts and terms & conditions...the list goes on

My documents are not 'glossy' but reflective of my practice which I consider good and I sell my services as best I can.... time to appreciate c/ms for what we do and some do it very well

Visit is good Tanith - it's what you would say about a school you are thinking of sending your child to for instance.

I still don't get the hang up about 'interview' though - when companies bid for contracts worth millions they spend weeks putting together a glossy bid document, presenting their services as professional and competant... and then they are interviewed. Of course there may also be a site visit for the buyers to see the company in action. Yes, visit is good

I interview parents,they don't interview me despite what that may think
and to whoever it was that asked if we childminders who 'say' we are self employed, we are self employed and no, I don't charge for my holidays but lots do. We set our own terms. If parents don't like it, they go elsewhere.

To the op, it may be that she didn't want to take your children, had interviewed other parents that day already, had already filled the space, any number of reasons or maybe that's just how she is? everyone is different i suppose.

i do tend to show parents round, but only really if they ask. I wouldn't take them into my sleep round as I have little ones sleeping!!

I do show them my policies/certificates etc.

'All you CMs who say you are self-employed'

We don't say we are self employed, we are self-employed and that is determined by HMRC. Each childminder will have terms and conditions for use of their service (just like any other service provider) and you may or may not choose to sign up to that service.

Incidently I don't charge when I'm not available but I'm so tired of hearing people moan about childminders who get paid bog all in the scheme of things. I love my job but so sick of parents trying to make us feel bad for trying to make a decent profit/living from it.

[sorry that rant wasn't specifically at you but more of a side issue in general].

If people ask to have a look, that's fine - I used to offer a tour but was declined am each time so now leave it to the parent to ask.

Holidays - I take 4 weeks off unpaid. I've not factored in any sort of charge to parents to cover my holiday weeks. The onus is on me to save the money I need to live on then!

I don't expect holiday pay. I set aside an amount from my earnings to pay myself when I am on holiday.

All you CMs who say you are self emplyed, do you expect the parents to pay you holiday pay? There are so many threads about this issue on here and it seems that some CMs want it both ways.

I call them "visits", Mr. Anchovy: less to type, too :)

I don't show people round. I've found, in the past, that dragging them round the house on a guided tour and shoving my policies in their faces can be very offputting.

I do give a copy of my policies for them to take home, plus have a hard-bound copy available. I do tell them to go where they want and to ask any questions they like, too. I tell them they're welcome to come back for however many visits they like.
I also do the home visits.

Try another one, my childminder showed me round her house, discussed in length the specific needs for my dc, talked to me for ages and engaged with dc. I kept it really informal, it was a 'meet' not 'interview', but best move I ever made. DC has been with her now for 18mths and couldn't be happier.

But I do think it is a gut feeling thing as well, I do believe you just know when it is right for your child.

Frankly I'd feel a right to see all the areas of the house that my child would be using, & ofsted inspected. Ofsted don't visit every month so you need to see present conditions which can occasionally slip

Mine was like Marypoppins one, showed me round the house & all her certificates , where they sleep eat, the kitchen , everywhere well childproofed & clean. If you feel wary go with your gut instinct there are a lot of good registered childminder in all areas which charge the same or v close to non registered & you can see their ofsted score online.

I prefer 'meet'. I am not interviewed. Interview gives the impression that it's very much the parent making the decision and it isn't. It's the same as people saying they 'sacked' their childminder. You can't sack a childminder because we're self employed.

I don't give guided tours of my house either, unless parents specifically ask to have a look around.

Yes I agree that "interview" is an awkward word but I am not sure what other word to use. As others have said, it is a 50/50 meeting and is as much for the C/M to find out about the prospective mindee and their parents as for them to find out about me. A few years ago, I started asking to meet mindees in their own home after the initial meeting at my house. What an eye-opener that turned out to be and as hungry as I may be for new business, I have over the past three years rejected a number of would-be mindees following my visit to their house.

I agree that the parent must feel totally at ease in leaving their child with you and must have no concerns but the C/M must also feel entirely comfortable with whoever they are allowing into their home (both child and adult). I want to know that any new mindee joining my setting will not alter the dynamic that currently exists between the various mindees and the home-visits are a very good way of seeing the "other side of the coin". I know it takes time but I strongly recommend it.

Agree we must drop the word interview...it is a meeting where you get to know each others needs and practice
I do show parents around and let them ask as many questions as they like...some really are very grateful to be informed

If someone is keen on ther job then a tour of the house surely is part of the whole meeting....my parents always come back or ring for fedback...this c/m was not too keen on selling her services....visit another and compare
Good luck

Why is everyone getting hung up on the word "interview"?

You don't "interview" an estate agent either, but you do expect them to show you round the house!

So what word would you childminders prefer? View? That does sound like you are buying the house. Meet? Sounds like you bumped into each other in the street. Conducted an initial dialogue with a view to potentially entering into an agreement for childcare services???