Childminder with just one 'customer' alongside own children?

My ds went to a childminder with just the childminders granddaughter so not dissimilar. We only send term time (teacher) but pay 50% in holiday as retainer. I’d happily send my child to you, and if any of my teacher friends locally had set up would have jumped at the chance! If you don’t need to work any extra income would make it financially viable and enjoyable for your child I imagine! You can then decide if you want to expand and continue when your youngest goes to school or not…

As a parent, the thing that would put me off is that it's pretty clear that you want to be at home with your own child and are doing childminding just as a way of funding that. Now obviously almost everyone works for the money but I would worry that your priority would always be your own children over mine and that you might judge me as a working parent. But this may just be me!

If you don't want a career in childcare but just some extra cash to get you through a few years, I would definitely think about after school childminding or after school nannying as lots of demand for that around here. I would also look at babysitting - as a qualified teacher, you could charge £10-12/hour here, evenings when your DC are in bed, it's easy money if your DH can look after your kids

My twins are in term time only as we can't afford 50 weeks of the year. This month our bill was £1500 which is more than my husband earns a month so I do think it's financially worth thinking about? I think if more parents knew about term time only options they would want them it's just that most childminders I spoke to would only "allow" it if you could prove you were a teacher! (I'm not a teacher) also I was only allowed it because my twins are 5 days per week. If you have an older child already at school who has all school holidays off anyway (like I do) it makes sense that younger children are also on term time only care as ive got to take the holidays off anyway for the eldest?

My eldest has a before and after school childminder - that costs £400 a month - she has around 5 children which is also a nice littler earner for only working 4 hours per day (7.30-830am and then 330-530pm)

We used an exceptionally good childminder who had left teaching to set up. She had two daughters, but her mum was a helper, which meant she could have more children. She also did wraparound. If you don’t need to make much money, and just setting up with the eye on the future then go for it. But you will make very little with what your suggesting. I would look at wrap around to your local primary. Plenty of parents are looking for this service.

If you don't mind doing school runs, and are walking distance, my childminder makes a good living with 2-3 littlies and then 2-3 other older school children (5-11) after school which works well.

The older ones can be lovely with the littlies, but also are easy to entertain. You feed them at table when they get home, sit them at table to do homework (they do it - if need lots of help , then save for parents) or read, play on a game , watch some TV and check how their day went. If each child has 2 1/2 -3 hours after school that's £17-21 per child (an extra £41-63/ day) (so run it as an "after school collection til 6pm")

Tea snacks we had were spaghetti on toast, jam on toast , apples, oranges, 2 biscuits, pasta with cheese etc jacket potato and baked beans.

The logistics to and from school is a faff but you may enjoy the experience - lots of fresh air walks !

Despite breakfast clubs and after school clubs there remains a huge demand for wraparound care and holiday care. You decide how many days,hours and amount of children to have.
Perhaps this could work for you?

One of the things you are presuming is that you will have one child for 5 days a week.

Lots of parents send their child to childcare including CMs part-time due to the cost.

Even the teachers I know have a wide variety of family circumstances so they don't/didn't all need and want 5 days a week term time only childcare.

So you could be looking after 2 different children or just have one 4 days a week.

You may also find that on Mondays, as that's when there are the most bank holidays, you may not have any other children.

I think you are misunderstanding the market/profession

Childminders are unlikely to take on term time only children not due to lack of places/availability but because it's financially not worth their while to do so

If you have 2 children of your own you could only take on one child as the limit is 3 under fives, unless that has changed recently. Only one of those 3 can be under 12 months. I was a childminder for 25 years.When I started out I looked after one child who came to me only in term time. I had a child aged 4 of my own and I liked that I was free to be with just DD in the school holidays. I then increased the number of children I cared for but there were usually some teacher's children in the mix which meant the school holidays were a bit quieter and it made going on outings easier.

Maybe you could do respite care for SEN ? But they may need one to one care.

I've been a childminder op.

Do you have any idea what it involves? Quite honestly one child would not make it even close to worth your while financially.

It's not just dbs and insurance, you're required to have health & safety, 1st aid, safeguarding, food and hygiene and other various registrations and certification

You also are required to have your home laid out a certain way and provide certain toys, books and equipment.

Then there are various other overheads inc but not ltd to wear and tear on your home, transport, food etc

It's honestly not worth doing if you're only going to have one charge.

Very few parents want term time only too!

I started childminding When I had one dc of my own, doing very part time hours with two extra dc, then when I had my own second dc, I only had one extra and it stayed like that for a few years as then I had dc3. As dc 2 went to school I took on the sibling of mindee number 1. Now that my dc are secondary age, I have built up and have 3 or 4 each day.

It’s years since I started out, so not sure on start up costs, but annually I pay £35 to ofsted, insurance is £120, safeguarding and first aid, in total about £150 every 2-3 years. Cost of other cpd- I budget about £10-20 a month for this. Food/snacks, groups, activities, petrol are all regular outgoings, but these are as high/low as you want them to be and depends how imaginative you can be.

Equipment can be costly when you start out, double buggy, extra cost/high chairs etc, but you can get them second hand and once you have them, if you look after them, they will last.

Obviously it won’t be anywhere near a teacher wage, but if you just need to bring in a little bit extra and are prepared for the amount of work lo9king after little ones actually is, I think it’s workable.