Starting childminding

Sorry, I'm confused, which she of the house is the bathroom in? The children would need access to the bathroom/toilet/hand washing.

I agree with what cindy has said, is your housemate in full agreement with your changing jobs. I have three children, but it is so different for DH when we have minded children here. He can't leave his coffee cup on the floor, i can't have his mess cluttering anywhere up, there are children and toys everywhere, he can't watch what he wants on the tv. The children wanting him to entertain them. It's not a relaxing day off work for him if I'm working. I'm not trying to put you off, but do you and your house mate appreciate how much of a change it will be having small children in the house.

The toys do kind of take over. I have two large toy boxes, and an expedit ikea unit and a toy kitchen always out. Then in a large, built in cupboard I have more stuff, then another couple of boxes in the loft. In the garage, buggies (double and single), car seats, outdoor toys, spare high chair. The list go on. So yes, children's stuff does take over.

As a parent, I would be concerned about the dogs. I don't think many parents would be happy about their children having free access to a dog and it's also not fair to have a dog locked in a cage all day. So you need a really good plan of what you are going to do with the dogs all day. If they are locked in the garden that may create issues about where the children can play (if the dogs poo in the garden, the children shouldn't be playing there).
The set up costs vary. You can buy a lot of stuff second hand and you may find you don't need a lot of stuff immediately. For example, I've been minding for eight years and only recently have needed a second travel cot. I've managed with only one until now. No point buying a buggy if your children will all walk. Don't need lots of preschool toys if you are childminding for a baby etc.

personally, I think it is harder to get your first child. Once you have a child to look after and start going to toddler groups and meeting other parents, you can spread the word that you are a cm and looking for children. Until that happens you are waiting for phone calls, which may or may not come to anything.

Talk to council early years, they may run courses and thus those may be lower cost to you, though may not be at convenient times.

Ofsted will probably want their own DBS check and you will need to be on the DBS update service. If your DBS check was within the last year and you are on the update service, worth sending Ofsted an email to ask if they would accept it, never know they might if they can access enough info.

What does your housemate think about the idea? Are they prepared to have a DBS check?

It can take a long time from decision to registration. Agree your house share partner needs a DBS check. The children cannot be left unattended with dogs at any time. There are toys, paperwork, equipment like steps in the toilet. If you are planing to use your car, you need to change your insurance. It takes over your life and house even when you already have children ... Good luck if you decide to go ahead. I love it.

Even with business insurance, you will need to specifically tell them you are a cm, many insurance companies don't like that. I had home insurance refuse to renew me, had to shop around and some of them were extortionate. I found one in the end that would cover me at a reasonable premium, but not for any damage caused by mindees!

Speak to someone at the children and families dept at your local council, they can tell you what you need to do, as I think it varies a bit anyway.

Sorry to sound so negative about it, but it seemed like it should be so simple when I first started and yet it's been a bit of a pain in the arse. I do it because it fits well with my DCs, but I'm not sure I'd see the benefit if I didn't have DCs of my own.

If you're providing food, which I'm guessing for little ones there all day you'd have to do, you may have to do a food hygiene course and have a your kitchen inspected. I only look after school age DCs and they bring their own lunch in the holidays so I don't have to provide food.

And yes, you have to be inspected by OFSTED before you can officially start, but again, not for older children, just for under 5s. (Didn't stop them delaying my application while they waited to make an appointment for inspection, I had to point out that it wasn't needed, they were so disorganised!)

Have a look at PACEY's website. The course is called CYPOP5 I think. I did mine with them online. It was a complete bore, really badly set up, so if you can do it in real life at your local college I'd try and do that instead as the pacey one was really confusing.

It was one of the most frustrating things I've ever had to do, worth it in the end, but honestly such a lot of hoop jumping and paperwork.

1. any adult who lives with you would have to have a criminal records check as well, but house share itself shouldn't be any more of an issues than having a spouse. There will be mess (if you don't have children this may be quite a shock for you, snack time will leave your floor covered with food, the toilet will need a good clean every day as there will be splashes and spill ages , tissue on the floor (why can't it make it into the loo?!) cut up paper off cuts all over the floor, pens and pencils strewn around, mainly with the lids left off etc. Short of not providing any activities, there's no way to avoid the mess, you'll just have to have a big clear up when they go home.

2. you don't need lots of toys, better to have a few good quality resources (must be sturdy, durable and preferably educational, especially for young children who need to follow the early years foundation curriculum). You will also need to think of various free or cheap places to take them out (parks, farms etc) so will need car seats or to have pushchairs etc.

There are also set up costs such as the courses you have to do, ousted registration, first aid course and DBS check etc. this will all cost several hundred pounds.

3. dogs and other pets may be an issue for some parents. While not restricted, there will be risk assessments to do regarding pets and some parents may choose not to use you if they don't want their children around unknown dogs.

4. you need to check with landlord, council, planning permission, environmental health, home insurance, car insurance. It took me around a year from starting the course to being finally able to start. It could have been quicker but I could only work on the course part time and the DBS check took months to come back.

5. I was lucky that a friend of my dd was in need of a new cm, so I trained specifically to look after her. Other children came along within a few months, but some of them are only part time, so a year on I'm not making my full potential income by a long way.

It's not an easy solution, it's a huge responsibility being in charge of other peoples children, not something to be taken lightly as a quick fix financial solution.

Not a childminder but I don't know how you would keep th house from being clutter or at a minimum. Also your bills will go up so you would need to bear that in mind.