Aibu to ask how on earth you find a childminder?

[Zooforhouse]

Just that really. Need after school care from September. Assumed childcare.co.U.K and signed up but now getting messages saying people are trying to message me but can’t until I upgrade to ‘gold membership’ for £25 a month.

Feels a bit like internet dating 10 years ago. Should I be paying this, or is there another way?

Word of mouth at DH’s work for us. Do you know anyone with DC at the school your child is going to? If it were me I could link you in that way.

Your local will have a free list on their website. Or ask for recommendations on local Facebook groups etc.

Yes, you should pay if you want to use the service to recruit childcare.

You can contact your local council for a list of childminders in your area, ask around, ask on a local Facebook page.

If they've already paid, and a lot of childminders do, then you can message them for free.

My post should say local council.

Our council has a list of registered childminders. Childminders most be registered so there will be a list somewhere.

Finding a nanny or something is a bit crazy though and yes involves either an agency or childcare. UK or something.

They are 2 types of childminder. Those that are register with ofsted. These are listed on the councils website. Gentle reminder if you are near a council border to check the other council.

The other is the unlisted. I find out about these via school WhatsApp. Try and find other working parents...

All the best

@LemonDrizzles
There is only one kind of childminder and that is those of us registered with Ofsted.
Anyone else who accepts money for looking after children outside of their homes is breaking the law.
As Ofsted registered childminders we are fully insured, regularly inspected, attend first aid courses regularly and keep up to date with professional training and development and child protection.
Value your child and choose professional care for them please.

Local council will have a list, but I also went onto ofsted’s website and searched cm within a 10 mile radius.
School will often know which childminders cover your school too, worth an ask.

Do you have a local Facebook page? Ask on there, or do a search for any previous posts!

In our area there is a local Facebook group you can join and post if you are looking for childcare. I think it's just called 'childcare in "city name"'. Childminders also then put posts if they have spaces. The last childminder I found was through one of the rainbow leaders, she didn't cover our school but put me in touch with someone that did. We had to change a few times due to childminders changing jobs so know how difficult it can be! Good luck!

Word of mouth is the best recommendation but your local family information service will have a list.
Their availability isn’t always up to date but it gives you a starting point.
If you contact them and they have availability to collect from your dc’s school on the days that you need, arrange to visit them.
You get a feel whether or not the setting is right for you and your dd pretty quickly. The one I visited with a battered minibus with just a booster seat for each child and a full potty in the living room was pretty easy to decide on!

You can see them if you google Ofsted and put in your postcode - the nearest childminders reports will show. Equally you can call your local council and ask for a list.

Thanks all. I will call the school tomorrow and have joined a few Facebook groups. So far have only had a few childminders telling me that they don’t cover that school and don’t know who does. Surely I can’t be the only working parent out of 200 🤦‍♀️

Have you looked at breakfast and after schools clubs? There is one childminder near us, but the school as a brekkie and after school club and a local nursery has a private one attached too it also

You need to pay on childcare.co.uk to use the message thing, but you can get away with only paying for one month IIRC.

The local council will have a list and as others have said, ask the school too. You might find it a struggle though if the school is small. Our school only has one CM doing wrap around currently.

Ofsted website.

It is small, but in a big town with lots of schools and I think that may be the problem. There is a breakfast club but no afterschool. I don’t think I can be the only working parent there though, I wonder how everyone else manages? 🤔 It was actually my third choice, primarily for this reason, but it’s a lovely school and if I can make it work I’ll be delighted….