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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

CHILDMINDERS: is everyone finding it very quiet at the mo???

62 replies

chezbabe101 · 25/04/2006 18:50

have been registered since early jan this year and have had no calls at all :(

Caroline

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Isyhan · 01/05/2006 17:52

Well the choices you have is to remove your child straight away and not pay. She may pursue breach of contract. To remove your child straight away and pay. I think even if you contact OFSTED youll end up in breach of your contract if you dont pay. Ideally you shouldnt have to pay but how are you really going to demonstrate neglect of the scale that warrants non payment? Have others complained about her? You cant keep your child there whether you pay her or not.

jellyjelly · 01/05/2006 17:50

Why dont you start a new thread as more minders are likely to see it and reply rather than reading older threads that they might have already contributed on.

Have posted on the other one though.

looneytune · 01/05/2006 13:04

Have replied to your message on the other thread! :)

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 01/05/2006 11:47

I would contact OFSTED with your concerns about the childminder they can advise you, or maybe the NCMA, you shouldnt have to pay a months notice if the care your child is getting isnt good

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leah258 · 01/05/2006 11:14

hope someone can help, am currently using a childminder for my 14 month daughter but she doesn't play with her and leaves her sitting in a ball pond all day, also am being told that she wont eat for her but then comes home screaming for food??? i have found a new one is seems brilliant but the old one wants me to pay her 4 weeks notice but the thought of sending my child there for one more day brings me to tears. any suggestions???

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 01/05/2006 09:42

fingers crossed for some work soon,I'm loosing the will to do it any more to be honest, if even the NCMA arent interested then I can't see what I can do really

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ThePrisoner · 30/04/2006 12:40

There is government money "in the pot" to train new childminders. That's why there is ongoing recruitment.

Our networking group is trying to organise "getting" to very new mums who might need a childminder later on, and to make them aware that there is such a thing as "childminders". Some people know nothing about us, that we have training, more training, and more training again!

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 30/04/2006 10:34

our not out, can't type today

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Original poster
chezbabe101 · 30/04/2006 10:32

So meanwhile we spend loads of money getting out houses "safe" as far as OFSTED are concerned all for nothing Angry

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cat64 · 29/04/2006 21:26

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Isyhan · 29/04/2006 20:45

Yes I think its a case that the government has produced targets for early years departments to meet so it can say 'we have increased childcare places to x so that we can help parents back into full time employment blah blah!' As long as they meet the targets they dont care that there is too many.

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 29/04/2006 20:42

your right, I saw my childminding buddy today and she told me that there were more prospective childminders at the CM1 meeting last week(a room full), even after we've told the NCMA that there is no work in watford currently, they just arent interested.... so theres absolutly no help at all from them..

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Isyhan · 29/04/2006 19:38

I think it must be the area chezbabe maybe more cmders than demand. Im waiting to get registered, OFSTED only just been out but Ive had 6 enquiries now. Thats nothing to do with my service, rates etc because I dont have one at the moment.

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 29/04/2006 18:20

:)

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Original poster
chezbabe101 · 27/04/2006 10:32

They called me this morning, they didnt really want me to put that my child goes to a certain school for child protection, didnt think of that, doh

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ThePrisoner · 26/04/2006 23:04

I've just had a look at the Hertfordshire CIS - it's set-up the same as ours with stuff about charges, school pick-up etc. (I guess they all are!), but the "Other information" you are able to personalise is brilliant.

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 26/04/2006 23:03

*can't type tonite I have emailed them, terrible spelling, im sorry Blush like you said its late, will email them again when I've sorted it again, night night and thanks :)

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Original poster
chezbabe101 · 26/04/2006 23:02

thanks thats great, haven emailed them anyway so maybe can think of more to say like you suggested, but im sure my new info looks better than the old one :) every little helps :)

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ThePrisoner · 26/04/2006 22:59

All registered childminders have to have CRB check and 1st Aid certificate, so not sure that you need to mention them on CIS site?? What do the other minders have on theirs?

Definitely include any courses/qualifications you hold, like Food Hygiene. Would you need to say that you'd actually collect from your dd's school? (eg. Can pick up from St. Meryl etc., where eldest dd attends reception class etc.?) Am only nit-picking, sorry!

You could also say something about taking advantage of any child-related (?) courses to enhance your service/professionalism (needs better wording than I've put!) It's late!

I wish we had the opportunity to "sell" ourselves in such a personal style on ours!

chezbabe101 · 26/04/2006 22:40

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bubble99 · 26/04/2006 22:36

Our (nursery) CIS listing was all wrong initially. The age-range, vacancies etc. etc.

It took a while and a good few phone calls to get it sorted and I was very P'd off as it affected our business badly.

ThePrisoner · 26/04/2006 22:34

I think it's a really friendly way for it to be put down, and must be nicer for parents to read than ours - ours is a list saying things like:

Garden
TV/video
Open space (???!!)

I've just checked mine out to see what was on there and am a bit miffed to find that they have removed many of my things. On my list of "facilities", it says "kitchen". Eh? Don't we all have kitchens? I don't see a kitchen as a selling feature! Apparently, I also have a "sleeping area" and "other". All news to me.

I would also make sure that you have your own phone number on there (and email) rather than having to ask parents to contact the CIS to get your number.

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 26/04/2006 22:23

thats how they put it, exactly as its written on this post, I dont knw what else to add really

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ThePrisoner · 26/04/2006 22:19

chezbabe - is the information you wrote earlier written out like that on the CIS website? Ours just lists stuff, not particularly personalised as such.

Original poster
chezbabe101 · 26/04/2006 21:51

dance can't spell

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