Would this put you off a childminder?

[njmummy]

We have been to visit a lovely childminder who has a space for our daughter when she will be 10 months old.

They have a lovely huge space, nice safe outdoor area, separate children’s toilet and lots of resources. Between the childminder and her assistant they have over 40 years childcare experience and both of them seem so lovely and are very passionate about what they do. They regularly go on trips and offer home cooked meals. They have also maintained Ofsted Outstanding for 15 years. We can use our funded hours so cost to us will be minimal for the part time place.

Between them they have 6 under 4s in the day and also collect up to 10 primary aged children after school. They collect from 2 different schools, so they take 3 of their early years children each - two in a buggy and one walking.

The after school provision is what concerns me. I can’t imagine how two adults can be responsible for so many children of different ages and stages and meet all their needs but appreciate it’s maybe standard for a childminder.

What do you think? It’s considerably cheaper than a nursery and seems a fantastic setting for every reason other than this.

It’s true that second (and third, and fourth children) have to go on school runs but I think posters forget that unless you already live next door, there’s already been a commute to the childminders!

So it would be pushchair / car seat to childminders, then pushchair / car seat on the school run, then the same in reverse at the end of the day.

It wouldn’t bother me much to be honest but if you have a fussy child or a baby still on two naps it can be disruptive.

To be honest I would find this a bit off putting, but everything else sounds so good that I would probably still choose this setting. It's only for a couple of hours after school, whereas the rest of the time the care sounds really good.

I’m a childminder I have 3 under 4s a day and I then collect my nearly 5 year old after school. I stopped doing wrap around care as it became too hard trying to entertain children all different ages.
The numbers wouldn’t concern me as some might only be there half an hour to an hour. But for me the walking would take a large chunk out of your child’s day and potentially miss out on some learning opportunities.
but honestly I’ve never been more stressed in my life queuing up at school gates with three children then collecting two more and trying to contain them all I’d want to cry and we were all getting in my car the walk home would be so stressful

Based on the way I see the childminders collecting after school children near me, it would put me off. Unless perhaps you live in a village with safe pavements etc

My son attended a similar set up. He loved it as he liked the older children (and they were very fond of him). He also then went on to attend the school and had no trouble settling in as he knew other children and the layout. She always kept him warm and would talk to him as she pushed him along. They once found a local building site and learnt about diggers that week.

You can apply for an extension if you have adequate space and risk assessments in place. Or the additional 4 will be over 8 and not included in numbers

This is what happens in all families with different aged children where parents pick up their children though. I actually think it is good for younger children to mix with older children and to go out on the school run.
However I'm not sure about the number of children the OPs childminder has and whether they could meet all their needs, although they must have assured Ofsted that they can. I guess the only way of being sure would be to visit them after school.
Having said that I have heard some dreadful stories about some inexperienced nursery staff looking after more children then they should. So I wouldn't necessarily assume that a nursery would be better

I was this childminder. I would have two in the double buggy. One on reins next to me. The youngest school age would be on other side with reins if needed. Any one under 7either held the pushchair or the hand of someone holding the pushchair. Over sevens walked alongside.

In ten years I had one child run off(when he saw his aunt) he was nine.

School run was 8-9 and 3-4. We did loads between 9-3. Kids came between 7-6.

For me it would depend on several things. What time is she there till? If you're pixking her up at 16:00 its just the school and a short time with a lot of children. If shes there till 18:00 it would put me off.

We used a childminder from 12 month to 2.5 years and it had its advantages. But the number of children in a small space got more detrimental as time went on. It was a similar sounding setting. Though they had 2 assistants so 3 adults. The TV was utilised more than ideal i think. She watched a lot of things at a young age i wouldn't have allowed at home with the after school kids. It was very chaotic. Older kids were caring of the little ones, although she did pick up some things from them that wasn't always positive. She also got alot of illness partly i think due to mix of school kids but also lack of outdoor time.

Saying that for first year it worked well and was a home from home. But we moved to a nursery that is outstanding. She spends alot of the day outside and seems happier generally.

When your child is older, they'd be the child being taken on school run so would you care about the other kids then? I wouldn't personally put my 10 month old into childcare but different strokes for different folks🤷

That’s a lot of children , I don’t know how two people could realistically keep up with what’s happening and their safety. I wouldn’t be keen on that at all.

It sounds like a lot of children to keep an eye on regardless of it being within the law.

Sometimes our childminder would get together with others and they might have 20 kids in the summer holidays sometimes but that would be between four or five adults.

With DD1 was a baby, 11 months onwards, she was 1-1 with the childminder during the day, then there were her kids (14,11 and 7- and they doted on DD1) and one other child after school who was about 7 also.

With DD2 at another childminder (as we'd moved house) there was DD1 - 9 months old, another baby who was 18 months (and they got on like a house on fire from day 1, it was immensely cute) and DD1 and another boy who were primary school age after school.

Thank you everyone, lots to mull over. I think she has 6 over 8s, 4 or 5 under 8 and then 6 under 4s between them. They all have a nap time at lunchtime in the same room so it doesn’t disrupt but again not sure if I’m keen on this. It’s hard as there isn’t many places with space, even though we are enquiring for the end of next year

The schools are about 0.5-0.75 miles away in different directions, one along a main road and the other not.

I really wouldn’t be happy with this. I have a 10 month old and I’d hate for him to be dragged on a school run in all weathers every day. I also would want him to be able to nap when he wants and not be forced into a specific time and one nap only. What if he had a bad night and needed an extra nap at 2.30pm and then had to be woken for the school run? Also at 10 months not every baby manages on just one nap a day, some 14 month olds are still on 2 naps. But this is why we pay for a nursery, I didn’t like the idea of child minders for these reasons.

I'm not sure I'd be keen on this.

I'd also be questioning WHY she takes on so many children. Is it for the money, or what?

I have thought that tbh. It seems a bit rigid you’re right

No idea, between herself and the assistant they have 3 so not charging for those obviously. But still having 7 other after school aged ones.

Massive no from me. Go and visit when the after school children are there and see how messy, loud and chaotic it is. For any child under 4, I would never consider a CM that takes after school children. There must be other childminders in the area.
my 4 year old was briefly at a CM with after school kids and hated it. For a 1 year old no chance. She won’t get the appropriate care.

Yes of course! My CM has 3-4 kids max (ages 1-4 years) and doesn’t want the extra hassle of school runs, and school kids running in her house. She wants a calm environment for pre-schoolers.
just add up how much extra you make with school kids every day.

My 1 year old loved his childminders and being around older children.

6 over 8s is insane! Honestly how big is their house?

please go and visit at 4pm on a school day and I can tell you you wouldn’t leave a baby there. What happens during school holidays? Childminder closed or kids there the whole day?

I wouldn’t consider one that didn’t! I lt was so nice when they started school and the CM was the wraparound for older brother, and he could spend his early mornings and late afternoons with his baby brother. And neither of them were at all anxious about starting school because they’d seen the older ones going there and had played in the playground for years. And my older ones would come home all excited if one of the littlies was saying a new word or starting to walk. I guess it depends on the other children- we were lucky, all the ones at our CM were a nice bunch.

Kids there the whole day in the holidays. 3 of them are their kids tbh. But it is still crazy! It is an extremely big extended house but all the same

sorry I wouldn’t be happy with this. It sounds like a massive money making business with too many kids. Your child will be one of the youngest and needs a lot of attention and care at this age.