I used to work in the early years sector and did supply so have seen lots and lots of different settings. Unfortunately there’s been possibly one or two where I’d be happy to leave a very young child. Some were outright bad (operating below ratio, which I did report) and ‘small’ things like not washing their hands consistently and not taking the youngest children outside. Others were just average but I always noticed the babies seemed to be overlooked a bit. As I say, maybe this was just the settings I was in and there were a couple that were lovely and homely. I would also have no qualms about a 2.5/3 year old+ going to some of these places.
We’re thinking about our options for when I go back to work after mat leave and really not sure what solution will work for us. I like the idea of a childminder for a small child, seems both more homely and relaxed, as well as cheaper and more flexible for shift workers which DH is. The downside to this is it’s obviously one person working alone with your child and they take holidays and sickness, then you’re stuck.
We do have family very nearby who are retired but they haven’t offered and I don’t know how I’d bring it up, nor do I think it’s fair or practicable to rely on them certainly not for the whole week!
I enjoy my job, as does DH and because of the cost of living I can’t see that either of us could go part time. I could possibly ask to drop a day or condense my hours but that’s as far as we could go. My work are really flexible and I am lucky to work from home part of the week but understand it’s impossible to look after a small child for more than an hour or so whilst also trying to work - unless for emergencies obviously.
Are there any other options I’ve missed off the list?