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Original poster

CHILDMINDER CLUB: Want to join with 4 others, any advice?

40 replies

bonkerz · 26/04/2006 20:43

Title says it all really. Was talking with 4 other childminders that i see every day and we have decided we would really like to join forces and become a cooperative group and maybe rent or purchase a building to childmind from as a group! We are all prepared to get buisness loans and 3 of us have Level 3 qualifications in childcare and also nurserie management experiance.
Im just after any advice or info that you lovely ladies might have to help us decide if this would be worth while or not. Also what would be better? Purchasing a bungalow and turning it into a workable property? Renting commercial building and adapting?
All advice would be gratefuly recieved. TIA

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LoveMyGirls · 27/04/2006 14:16

bonkerz - u mean have a daycare/ creche combined with a soft play area (n somewhere for mums to watch, have a cuppa)?? if thats ur idea it sounds cool!!

jellyjelly · 27/04/2006 14:11

Isnt that for normal insurance?

Isyhan · 27/04/2006 14:09

I heard something about the max being 10?

Katymac · 27/04/2006 14:07

max 16 whatever age

12 under 8
6 under 5

remember your own children cout (obv)

Isyhan · 27/04/2006 13:24

Katymac- if my hubby works as my assistant during school hols what is the maximum number of children we can take? OFSTED just didnt know the answer yesterday and confused me?

Isyhan · 27/04/2006 13:22

Katymac- if my hubby works as my assistant during school hols what is the maximum number of children we can take? OFSTED just didnt know the answer yesterday and confused me?

Isyhan · 27/04/2006 13:21

Just dont do what somebody recently did near hear and buy an old pub, invested loads of money converting it to nursery, arranged for loads of kids to start then realised they needed planning pernission which is notoriously hard to get to open a nursery and had to close, never to reopen!! Your best trying to find an old school or church building which doesnt require a conversion of use. Dont ask me why I know this I just collect useless information!!

Katymac · 26/04/2006 21:24

\link{http://www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/P0000409.PDF\It's here}

Katymac · 26/04/2006 21:24

under 2 3.5m
2 + 2.5m
3-7 2.3m

But it might be differnt for nurseries

Original poster
bonkerz · 26/04/2006 21:15

Katymac, do you know square footage per child off the top of your head?>

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Original poster
bonkerz · 26/04/2006 21:14

Its such a tough thing to decide on. Am really enthusiastic along with the others BUt to be honest im apprehensive as well. It will mean loans and possibly remortgagaing BUT its something ive always wanted to do and DH said he is 100% behind me! Just spoke to one of the minders who has said that we should look in our area for a possible plot of land or buildnig and if something comes up thats suitable i think we will just go for it! Are thinking that if we purchase a property that we can convert atleast if it goes belly up we have some way of clawing back the money with the property investment!

OP posts:
Katymac · 26/04/2006 21:07

The portacabin is the way I want to go (or maybe refurbishing an existing building)

But there is no funding for opening a nursery in my area (and therefore no support from the Early Years Team) so if I do it I must do it alone

Paring is the biggest issue here with outside space being a close second.

Good luck btw (i don't want to sound negative)

Original poster
bonkerz · 26/04/2006 21:04

thanks Katymac! Thats what i was after! We were not certain if we could become a cooperative or if we would have to broaden our plans and become a nursery/creche!
Looks like this is more the path to take! TBH we have been looking at some large commercial buildings that could double as a nursery/creche and include a soft play area too. As i mentioned 3 of us have been nurserie managers and are aware of the set up requirements etc of a nursery.
We are also looking at buying a plot of land and erecting a purpose built nurserie/portakabin.

OP posts:
Katymac · 26/04/2006 20:58

Ok

First of all the new children act is preventing more than 3 minders from working together

Secondly a childminder would have to livein the house in order for it to be childminding

Thirdly there is a point at which you are not insured for more children (I think it's 16)

I have done extensive research into it (considering my current situation)

It would be Day Care and the reg are quite different (and much more onerous)

lunavix · 26/04/2006 20:44

How would this differ from being a nursery?