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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

A few questions about childminders...

29 replies

Doobiedoobedoobie · 30/04/2013 21:09

Argh I'm in a right pickle :(

Having so many problems finding a CM for my DC (4 years and 16 months) basically there's a choice of one childminder who I went to see today that's able to do pick ups/ drop offs at the school DC1 will be going to in Sept.

She's nice. It wasn't exactly like we clicked but I didn't dislike her either iyswim. I have the option of a nursery I suppose but I'm not madly keen on the one I've looked around tbh. Maybe I need to branch out.

My main question is regarding ratios. She has 2 children of her own (a 4yo DD and a 6 mo too), how many other children is she allowed to take on? She mentioned another sibling group today go on the days I'm thinking about using (3 full days), 6 children seems like an awful lot!

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Original poster
Doobiedoobedoobie · 30/04/2013 21:15

Thank you, Audrey.

So, is that 3 preschoolers plus one baby, or 3 altogether including the baby? If the latter, surely she can't take us on anyway can she (or at least technically not till Sept)? Confused

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Original poster
Doobiedoobedoobie · 30/04/2013 21:13

Sorry, posted too soon.

My other question is more of a looking for reassurance one!

I've never left either of my DC and I'm dreading it, but particularly so knowing that there's a small baby on the equation also. Can any of you CM say how you cope with that? I just think DC2 is still so tiny :( and he needs so much attention and is hard to get to sleep etc, I can't imagine how this will work as she has a 6 month old already and surely it'd only be natural for her to prioritise her own DS? :(

Sorry for the rambling, I'm thinking aloud on paper really, I just hate the thought of leaving them, my littlest one in particular and just want a nice simple home from home environment for them where they'd be cared for and looked after and feel loved.

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AudreyParker · 30/04/2013 21:12

That includes any of the cms own children, by the way.

AudreyParker · 30/04/2013 21:12

Notwithstanding any variations, 6 under 8 is the limit (and the norm), only three can be preschoolers and only one under one.

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