Childminder or nursery?

Agree with @jannier. In my experience children have thrived more in groups of different aged children rather than the same age. Younger children are drawn to older children and their language and communication and ability to develop friendships and socialise is far superior as they learn from the older ones. In turn the older ones learn to be nurturing and caring towards the younger ones.

When comparing CMs and nurseries, it is very much the feel you get from a setting and what your individual child is like. Both CMs and nurseries have to follow the statutory EYFS, have to plan a curriculum and teach, are inspected by Ofsted and have to complete training and follow safeguarding requirements. So for some previous posters to say there is more safeguarding in a nursery is incorrect.

The downside to a CM is that as they work alone then they may be unreliable if they have a lot of sickness or time off. But having said that, I know of several nurseries that send children home all the time for debatable reasons.

I vote childminder if you find a good one.

One with experience and qualifications. I wanted one person to really know my child and work with me.
I wanted my child to feel at home and part of a family.

Mine didn’t thrive at nursery they were always poorly so took them out after a year, they now go to a CM only 4 months in and OK so far.

Another one that opted for nursery - mainly for the reasons already listed.

It's interesting some feel children will learn more from being with children their own age I find the reverse younger children are keen to try what they see the language is so advanced and they want to try fine and gross motor skill activities and no reason why they shouldn't with the right supervision which is easier as you only have one really young child we sit around the low table baby in a low chair and I support everyone no holding back development by an arbitrary birthday move to a bigger room just like you wouldn't in a family when we go to school the number who can't put on a coat and doba zip aged 4 amazes me mine are starting around 18 months (supported) and achieve it around 2. Most stay with me to reception, I've had a few go to school nursery but they regressed because they were copying the others or staff automatically doing things like writing names or putting coats in without finding out what a child can do.
Babies love it and the older children are so caring and supportive it's amazing to see every time

We were lucky to get a very good one though. In the 7 years she's been looking after one or both of my children, she's never once closed for illness. She does have time off occasionally but not excessive and we work around it easily (e.g. a week at Christmas, a week in summer - think that's it).

Love our childminder. One adult, children of different ages, home environment, own room to nap, trips to toddler groups, popping to the shops, making lunch, going to the park. For me it felt as close to what I'd be giving my kids at home if I wasn't at work. Nothing against nursery - but for me a childminder gave the personal touch I wanted.

@AliasGrape my DD nursery closes for 4 weeks per year. (My DD goes to both a CM and nursery. Apart from a week at Christmas the holidays are at different times so the other can take DD for extra sessions.)

It is a charity run nursery and the charity do other childrens activities. They have had staffing issues due to staff leaving but all they do is reallocate staff so those who have some qualifications and experience in running activities for children of certain ages, get moved to do so. This means they never close or refuse children unless the children are ill.

Nursery were supposed to have pets. Unfortunately due to various issues they don't. Luckily the CM now has a menagerie of pets as some small animals were rehomed to her.

Oh and my CM has done wrap around care for mindees who go to nursery sessions within walking distance from her home.

Our childminder is brilliant. She’s a qualified teacher too. She links with another childminder so they often do things together and DD benefits from a slightly larger group of children. She takes them to playgroups and out and about to different places like the farm or aquarium - all included in what we pay. They spend tons of time outdoors. She provides food and it’s all homemade and healthy. DD loves mixing with the older children before and after school too.

In 18 months she’s never closed for illness - and actually in contrast to what you often hear about nurseries she’s not trigger happy on sending DD home for the smallest reason - she’s only ever sent her home once when she was actually sick. She charges for term time only in the standard pricing structure, but does actually open in the school holidays for those that want it, apart from Christmas and 2 weeks of the summer hols - but obviously that’s a consideration that we wouldn’t have with nursery so a downside.

I went with a childminder because DD was 11 months, a super clingy lockdown baby and I just felt like it would suit her better at that point. We looked at some nurseries but with Covid none of them were letting us look round really whereas we were able to visit our childminder and I just had such a good feeling about her right away, I knew it was the right fit.

Now DD is 2.5 I think she’d probably be equally happy at a nursery, but when we first sent her I don’t think that would have been the case. We are going to send her to school Nursery once she’s 3.

We went for a nursery. Better opening hours and more flexibility. The childminders round ours didn’t fill me with much confidence either and still don’t when I interact with them at toddler groups. I reckon a brilliant childminder would be worth their weight in gold though.

I’d have preferred a childminder up until preschool but has to go with nursery because we would have been stuck if the childminder was Ill or on holiday. It was fine though and the advantage was that our kids got to know the nursery staff really well having been with them since babyhood. Even though they moved to different key workers they’d still see the old ones and get cuddles from them.

Very useful thread. Going back to work in a month and considering childcare options. In hindsight I should've began the search months ago but here we are.

Both are regulated and inspected to the same standards (EYfS) by the same Ofsted inspectors and supported by the same LA childcare development team. The attend the same training ....ongoing professional development is part of the Ofsted inspection....someone above suggested childminders don't do it? The first aid and safeguarding training is the same...
There is no evidence to suggest safeguarding is not as good in childminders settings or that there is safety in numbers ( 6 arrested from one nursery just this week).
Babies need a close bond for development so a small setting where you hand over to the same person who then works with your child is important .....the idea behind key workers....but in practice few nurseries do this and the key worker is just for paperwork.
Yes you do have to consider reliability but you can ask about time off and talk to existing families ....most childminders rarely go sick like other self employed people they can't afford to. Holidays vary some take 2 weeks most 4 and a few more..typically deciding on dates in January ..how does this fit with you ?
You can get childminders who work with co-minders or assistants....up to 4 adults, then bigger childcare on domestic premises.
The right childminder can look after your family until secondary school can support you through a crisis, like illness and bereavement, being there with your child overnight or weekends in some cases and offer advice and support as a friend and professionally.

I went to a childminder when I was little. She was a nice lady, definitely no awful stories, but equally I never felt it was my home from home in the way that seems to be assumed on here. It was me in someone else’s home, and I just remember looking out of the window looking for my mum!

Of course, ds could feel like that about nursery, but it probably did colour my view a bit.

Depends on age for me. Assuming both provisions are good, I’d opt for a childminder over a nursery for an under 2 every time. At that age I wanted to prioritise being in a home like setting and enabling them to form a secure and consistent attachment to one person. Also under 2 they were fascinated by older children and less interested in playing with babies their own age.

2-3 I think either is fine. 3 plus I preferred nursery/preschool to help prepare for school.

This is a change- MN used to be very pro childminders and you were deemed heartless if you sent a 1yr old to a nursery

We chose a nursery.

Firstly, more accountability. More adults. More safeguarding.

Reliable. My concerns with a childminder, what do I do if they are off sick? What happens if their kid if off sick?

I know childminders should be structured, following a curriculum. But the nursery we chose has 3 rooms, doing different things according to age. I don't believe a childminder, with varied ages of children can offer the same level of care.

We went with nursery as always open apart from the bank holidays. Lots of children to mix with, different care givers which gave me an added level of peace of mind. Also as a summer born baby my child was more ready for a school environment.
im sure there’s fabulous childminders out there and some children would be better in their environment.

Honestly think it depends on the individuals. Saw some terrible nurseries and CMs and some fab ones. DS at nursery and has totally thrived. He started at 11 months.

We went with nursery but there are definitely good nurseries and poor childminders and vice versa.

We did need watertight care and it does seem not many childminders provide food and that was really a hassle I didn’t want or need - the best thing about DS’ nursery days are the fact I know he’ll have healthy meals and snacks (I’m not much of a cook!)

There is a nice routine at DS’s nursery, a bit of free play in the morning as the children arrive, breakfast, craft activity (I am dreadful at doing painting and what not) snack, outdoor time, lunch (and pudding) nap, time outdoors, tea, free play as the children are collected. I think he likes the set up. With a childminder there would be a bit more ad hocness if you like with school runs and so on. But some people really like that.

I started settling my first son in a nursery, the most expensive, new, everything any mother would want to hear new nursery, new play trays every day, chef on site, etc etc etc

3 days in, I took him out as I just didn't have a good feeling. I decided for a local childminder, it's two ladies doing it together. They take the kids to singing Monday and Friday in the morning and play group Tuesday and Wednesday, they have lunch at play group.

It's like my extended family, my children never had to worry about their key person changing or someone quitting. We had 3 sick days in 3 years. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Its 7 kids at the, 3 sibling groups and a baby.

They also take them out and about including to playgrounds and often know other CMs in the area so children can mix with others.

I do have to add that childminders take children to groups, including preschool later so there’s plenty of opportunities to mix and socialise

This 100% and as another pp said, it depends on how sociable your child is