Having a bit of a downer about childminding

Yep going rate some charge slightly more, some charge slightly less. Wish I lived where you do! Very poor area, poverty, low employment and education levels, social deprivation etc where I live, all these factors keep childcare fees low, as does the nurseries popping up everywhere which charge less.

Katy mac, have posted similar thread re ofsted. Love cming hate the stupid ridiculous ofsted hoops.. ama waiting for my inspection to let rip, sorry give feedback to the inspector, that its quite frankly getting ridiculous, I am NOT writing a hand washing policy.. i am just NOT...

You have up and downs in this biz. I once had no work for a year, now im earning an embarrassingly great amount.

Hope things pick up for you.

SammyK - Is that the going rate in your area? Im charging £4.50 an hour.

Must admit if I take off my expenses and look at my overall net pay at the end of the year it's not much. My house does resemble a nursery and if I am honest only I get something out of it now. My kids are older and my old man, although he's patient and understanding would much rather I was out at work. I think the rules are changing because everything is new to everyone, ofsted, childminders, parents alike and what works one day doesn'f fit the next. It is all very frustrating but I'm hanging in there for a bit longer. My ofsted is due this month and I am going to see what the outcome is, who knows the decision as to whether to carry on or not could be taken out of my hands on the whim of the inspector. My paperwork is up to date and comprehensive. My kids are all genned up on when to wash their hands, they know what to eat to make them super fit and that they should drink loads of water while she/he is here. They have their own veggie plot in the garden and will be digging on the day, my toys and equipment would put an early years catalogue to shame, all pics on boxes, I risk assess breathing, I log all the babies poos, there are books and mirrors everywhere, tents with cushions to be cosy in, to read or tear the books in (which ever the children choose - free choice). We may fit in a trip to the library, local butchers, look for a policewoman and do a bit of road safety. We might fit in a fire drill, music session and creative painting session. Think I will be ok ??????? Have I forgotton anything ???? Oh and I have observations on my children, mindees, the cat and the two dogs. The rabbit didn't take long he is not meeting the eyfs development matters so I am logging his progress under the early support list.

This is why I am moving out of cm'ing.

and going into {gulp} fostering.

I want more family time and I don't mind other kids being here for that.

I can only have two under 5s and charge £2.65ph, so even looking at what I earn overall, still no worth the stress, extra unpiad hours, courses out of my pocket, house being wrecked, parents messing me about, etc.

I will always work with children as I genuinely love to but definately need to wave bye bye to ofsted childminding.

I know it is hard but I try to think of my hourly rate as what I charge times the amount of children I have and that makes me feel better - no job outside childminding could pay me what I earn per hour when I calculate it that way. The paperwork does sometimes get me down, but then when I worked in an office the paper work got me down too, without the freedom I have now to just up and go out when I feel like it, especially when the sun is shining. I watch my mums go off to work and I never feel jealous, I have no boss, my kids see me whenever they are at home, I can go straight away and pick them up when they are ill at school, they can bring friends home when they want and I don't miss one moment of their growing up. No I wouldn't change my job. I do take 3 weeks summer holiday EVERY YEAR, where even if we don't go away, I don't have any minded children. This helps me have time with my own kids and keeps me refreshed and ready for the year ahead. I have a wonderful bunch of parents and children, I keep my paperwork to the very bare minimum and live for the day.

p.p.s

I have still spent more than 1 day on my (unpaid) holiday time, catching up on learning Journeys, planning, college work and general "sorting out".

I so agree - I am very proud of what I have achieved. I love my all my kids, many who have become little members of my family - but am feeling more and more resentful of the paperwork and extra hours spent on this position with such high expectations for such low income. Also this weekend a "well meaning" realative complained that we don't go to see her very much - I explained I was working a 50 hour week (not including cleaning - paperwork - college work - courses) said well it can't be that hard as kids love the TV and the Wii, and at least I am at home so can get some jobs done and look after my DH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP

p.s I took half term as holiday for the first time in 5 years and have absolutely loved it - lots of self-doubts setting in