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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

CM Club: I'm closing!!

56 replies

Katymac · 22/02/2016 18:48

A long time ago on MN we had a childminding club for discussing lots of childminding issues

I'm reinstating it to say I'm closing my large childminding setting/small nursery.

Between minimum wage increases, pension responsibilities, 30 free (ha-ha) hours and the government no longer supporting hobby businesses I can't do it any more.

Any ideas what sort of job I get now? Goodness I will miss it!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

Katymac · 24/02/2016 12:30

can anyone help me?}

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Original poster

Katymac · 23/02/2016 20:48

Hey Maureen - how are things?

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MaureenMLove · 23/02/2016 19:08

'Ello you lot!

My brain is frazzled from a long day at work and our builders pounding down the footings for our new drive way, so I'm not sure I have the strength to make any useful suggestions at the moment, but boy, it's good to 'see' you lot!

Cuttheraisins · 23/02/2016 18:51

www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/15/number-of-childminders-england-falls-10000-in-five-years

Article in Guardian about child minders closing down.

Original poster

Katymac · 23/02/2016 18:41

When I started I had a visit every 6 weeks, free training (often forced upon me), loads of support - now I can't have a visit unless I'm RI Training (even mandatory training) costs a fortune & I've asked for support 3/4 times and got none

I feel this has been forced upon me rather than a choice I am making

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Cuttheraisins · 23/02/2016 18:29

Can I ask, I am not dreaming am I, are child-minders on their way to extinction? I heard an interview on radio 4 that there are far less child minders now than 5 years ago. Many local councils are cutting training and support for chilminders. Training is more expensive, 30 hours of free childcare is a joke I would have to work more for less money. expectation from Ofsted is just ridiculous. What about childminding agencies?

I am going to retrain and be a teacher assistant if I can find a job. I think I will childmind for another two years max.

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/02/2016 09:10

I rem reading your cm club posts

Sorry you are not able to make it financially anymore :(

Agree government don't help and it just doesn't pay enough

Could you look into doing the mnt and being a maternity nurse /work nights worth newborns or assume You have childcare qual and look into being a nanny or ad hoc /temp nanny

Tinies and sitters always have jobs but low paid tho over nmw (just)

Original poster

Katymac · 23/02/2016 08:36

It probably will - I work 50 hrs & earn very little & I get full tax credits - but the changes for UC are coming & those are going to be the rules

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HSMMaCM · 23/02/2016 08:34

Contact your local authority humble and they will let you know what you need to do.

humblebumblejo · 23/02/2016 08:28

Thanks for reply Katy... I am single parent so have to work 16 hours per week. I used entitledto.co.uk and put in as a childminder starting working 16 hours a week and earning £80 and it gives me my full tax credit allowance? I don't want to pester you so do you know where I can go for info? Thanks

hibbleddible · 22/02/2016 22:14

I was going to suggest temping in a nursery as well. Other obvious options would be nannying (either signing up to an agency to do emergency care) or a part-time nanny job (they do exist!).

HSMMaCM · 22/02/2016 21:20

One of my friends retired from cm. Then started doing sick cover at a nursery. Now she's working there full time

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 21:10

DH & I have considered long & hard but sadly with a 2 bedroomed house it just isn't possible

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NattyTile · 22/02/2016 21:02

Fostering?

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 20:29

Hmm let me think - you have to earn £7.20 an hour for 24 hrs a week or you won't get Tax Credits r Universal Benefits, you have to go on courses to recognise radicalised 2 year olds, EYfunding is paid at 60% of the market rate for 15 hrs and may be lower again when it's required to be provided at 30 hrs

Anyone any other suggestions?

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humblebumblejo · 22/02/2016 20:26

What is not good about it now... sorry hijacking thread!

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 20:10

humble - I've been doing it for 13yrs, things have changed so much

TA & Nursery relief are my fall back I guess - not what I fancy

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humblebumblejo · 22/02/2016 20:08

I'm considering starting as a childminder, previously worked in primary schools, just had a baby and don't want to go back to work.... this thread doesn't sound good

Shosha1 · 22/02/2016 20:01

Or what about signing up with a couple of nurseries as relief.

I'm nannying now, originally full time. Now just before and after school

Love it no more bloody paperwork

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 19:52

Not really - I can't work FT it'll have to be PT & from home would be good (if poss)

I'm trying to think of a way to market myself

Almost like a poorliness nanny you know child to ill to go in & I'll come to the house so you can go to work.....maybe & emergency stuff?

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nannynick · 22/02/2016 19:49

Any jobs in your nearest city which would use the systems analysis degree?
Would you want to commute to the city each day?

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 19:25

Yep - my degree is Systems analysis & change management - & I'm EYPS for all the good it does me

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longdiling · 22/02/2016 19:24

I've been pondering life after childminding too as CCSIW in Wales are getting harder to deal with (in my experience anyway). I'll be interested to see what you do next! I'm debating volunteering at a school to see if working as a Teaching Assistant might be an option. Good luck to you!

OddBoots · 22/02/2016 19:23

I am not a CM but I am an Early Years Practitioner currently working in a busy setting - I'm retraining to something entirely different, I'm aiming to head into bioinformatics (I have a year left of my degree).

Early Years is getting crushed from all sides - funding not meeting costs, costs going up, the requirement to do the job of social worker with the threshold changes, influx of funded 2 year olds who have more than average additional needs, Prevent, banning of mobile phones and suspicion of everyone, piles of paperwork, ever changing inspection frameworks, schools asking for more phonics before they start ... I could go on and on.

I love the basic job, I love looking after children and supporting their play and learning but all this extra stuff is madness. I can see my manager leaving soon as she could earn double what she gets for much less stress, once our happy team has been broken up I think I will get out fast.

Original poster

Katymac · 22/02/2016 19:20

Live not like (D'oh!!)

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