Is this normal

Or perhaps that they’re just really busy. If they’re highly recommended then they are likely full at the moment!

I expected to see something really bad from what you put. It’s PFB syndrome is all. To be honest this post comes across far worse. It is petty and point scoring and it’s also bad form to drag other threads across from one another.

Now I've seen the OP's thread about the nursery worker, I totally stand by my comment about her attitude coming across badly. Her DH too by the sounds of it.

Lucky escape for the cms involved!

I always had parents visit when I was working. They get to see the setting in action and I explain to them on the phone that the children will take priority during their visit.
i would always try and get back to parents as soon as possible, but if they don’t have active spaces or don’t foresee any coming up they may not be as proactive as if they did.
If they have more questions that we didn’t go through then they can call/email. My hours took up enough of my time without evening/weekend visits too.
as a childminder when families visit, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you! Sometimes you just don’t fit. It is best to visit as many as possible to get a feel for what’s available and why you’re looking for.
9months is a good time to start looking to get added to the waiting list. Not too early at all.

Re the nine months in advance - the problem is if you leave it too long you might not get a space at all. DD was down for the same nursery her brother attends even before she was born.

I wouldn't invite you to visit my setting when I'm working I'm afraid. It's often upsetting for the children i already care for, new parents have lots of questions (quite rightly) and will take my attention away from the children i am caring for. Often they get upset, as they want their own mums and dads or just don't like the intrusion.

I always invite 3 or 4 families to visit me when I have a space to fill. Usually 3 or 4 months in advance if I have notice of a change in my setting, usually i know as children move up to preschool etc. I meet each family individually, interact with the little one, get a feeling for the child's abilities, what the parents want etc. They I can form a decision on which child/Family best fits the current cohort of children and fills the space and requirements, and offer the space that way.

If I thought i had a space in December, and you enquired I add you to my waiting list, send you some info about my setting and not invite you to meet till earliest September. A lot can happen or change between now and then. Just follow up with them later in the year. They will be incredibly busy at the moment. We all have new directives re funding, new children starting and they are already full. I'm sure they will get back to you in time.

As a nanny you are not responsible for other adults in the home coming into contact with the charges....as a childminder all adult interactions must be supervised outsiders are not allowed to be left with mindees or be present if a child is having a nappy changed etc. this means they interrupt the flow of a session and some activities wouldn't happen for fear it would need to be halted to do intimate care. Children can't be left alone eating so no snack time if they are needing to deal with you. It's a safeguarding minefield that many refuse to worry about for random visitors until they know they are going to fit in a setting and are interested in a space....
You can't compare being interviewed as a nanny to visiting a nursery, school, playgroup or childminder where the interview is also of the family

Choosing a childminder is very different from choosing a Nanny. You don’t interview a childminder as you don’t employ them. You are not meeting a childminder in your home like you would a nanny, you are requesting to meet them in their own home. It’s up to the childminder when they would like that visit to take place. A childminder will also want to know if she/he would like to care for your child and would like to offer their services to you. The meeting is as much for them as it is for you.

if you want to make judgments about childminders because they’re not bending over backwards to meet you, especially as they don’t have a space then so be it. If they are only willing to meet you outside of working hours then that’s up to them and they could have a myriad of reasons. They are not beholden to you and perhaps, like someone else has already mentioned, you don’t come across so well in your interactions. If some of your comments are anything to go by then I don’t blame them to be honest.

Wow OP

I think your post and response to a CM who has given their honest, very reasonable view speaks volumes about you and how you view childminders…perhaps as PP mentioned, that attitude is coming across.

If I had space I would have arranged to see people needing childcare. Usually in a week or two of them getting in touch. I never bothered with wait lists so wouldn’t have seen people if I was full. I’d be put off if the person didn’t imminently need care as they may be wasting my time.

I'd be less likely to use a childminder who touts for business during her working day than one who uses her spare time to see parents, thus ensuring the children get her full attention when they're there.

Be careful what you wish for.

I meet parents first have a discussion we see if we have a potential match then come back in working hours. You can't have random people sitting around for safeguarding so limiting contact is important.

I interview parents just as much as them interviewing me. I need to know we can work together. My spaces have been booked from pregnancy.

Huh? You've clearly misread my post but anyway, best of luck with your childcare search!

Ahhh I remember it well. The blissful ignorance before securing childcare for my first, ringing myself fondly touring places to find the perfect little spot for my pfb ideally with a little wood outside the door when the organic food would be grown versus the reality that was me stopping randomers on the street asking if they would be willing to mind my child:..

When I was childminding, all my visits were done in the evening and the children gone home, I would not be able to sit down with a potential new family and answer questions etc with the children about, I also don’t know if you could be a potential risk to the children I care for. You will need to remember yes the family gets to choose their childminder but they are also seeing if you and your family are a good fit for the current children they care for. I had “interviewed” some families that I just did not get a good vibe from or I was not prepared to adjust my routine around there’s so if/ when they contacted me later on wanting a space I would say sorry it’s now been filled. I had parents excepting me to stop going out to playgroups, trips out meet other childminders etc as they wanted little John to stay in my home the whole time.

I've always had parent visits during work hours and as far as I know all CMs in my area do so I don't think it's an odd thing for the OP to want to do. Just maybe not 9 months in advance.

Just to add to my last post. When a family asks to visit, it’s also my opportunity to see if I would like to work with them. If I think the child would be a good fit with the other children. If think the parents will be able to have a good partnership with me or if they are going to be difficult.

When I’m working, my focus is on the children in my care. My working days are devoted to them in every way. I don’t have time to show people around and answer questions. It’s hard enough when Ofsted are here and I have to do the same but Ofsted are as unobtrusive as possible. The children also tend to act very differently if I have a stranger in my home, very often they get shy and tend not to play and communicate as freely when a strange adult is here. When a parent decides they would like a space, Intend to arrange meetings in the parks or for a walk in the woods. That way the child gets more used to me and starts to interact with their future peers.

Ah I see, I would prefer to meet the childminder in action though, seeing how she interacts with the children, seeing how busy/ stimulating it is. I would have thought that was the norm

This is a bit weird and no the norm. Why would the CM be taking up time talking through things with you while she’s caring for children? You’re a total stranger, why would those parents want you watching how the CM interacts with than?

You’ve got the wrong assumption if you thought CMs of nurseries would be begging you to join, most are oversubscribed with huge wait lists.

This used to be the case but childminders and nurseries are very much in charge now and can pick and choose who they want due to the severe lack of childcare places in many areas.

In the case of a childminder, they can be more picky as if they have a certain cohort of current children they will want a child to fit in with the children they already have to keep a happy setting.

Just be warned that if you do get to the interview stage, you won't be the only family being interviewed for that one space. The childminder will see at least two families and go with the best fit.