Am I wishful thinking? It’s a childcare one

[conundrumchildcare]

We’ve moved, circumstances have changed and currently experiencing a lot of difficulty in finding DC a childcare place. The only settings with space are inadequate or required improvement settings, a couple of which we have been to see and they are not great. I wish I did not have to leave DC but I also want to continue my career. It is what it is, just like for lots of families I’m sure.

An amazing childminder which we viewed has space, but unfortunately only one day a week, no more. They are also only open term time only. We would be first in line for any additional days as soon as they come free. I work 3 days a week but may be able to compress these hours into 2.5. My parents have offered to do one day of childcare and have said they would do a second day if they knew that it was temporary, or that it wouldn’t be every week. It wouldn’t be every week as my OH works a varied pattern so every couple weeks is off on the days we’d need, sister is a SAHM and has offered to help as and when but doesn’t want to definitely promise the same day every week, or failing all that I could book annual leave. This childminder is literally gold standard and hard to find I think. I feel like we’d be stupid to turn the day down because in doing so it would sort of close the door.

I have been to see other providers but either they don’t compare, or don’t have space because they’re good. I have a horrible feeling about leaving DC anywhere we don’t fully trust or feel great about.

Is there any viable way we can take the place? Or am I wishful thinking? I worry the reality of piecing things together until an extra day or two comes free would be extremely stressful, but I am confident the setting is the best place for my child to be. Childminder can’t say when it would be. Could be new year, Easter or as late as next autumn.

You’ve answered your own question?

Do it!!
you could try family for the other 1.5.. your parents do one day and you alternate the .5 day between your parents/ sister and dh. And annual leave as last resort. If it’s not working you could look at nursery for 1 day a week until a space comes for child minder

You're only working a couple of days a week, not full time so don't have much extra to cover in addition to the day she can currently offer.

Hell would freeze over before I left my child somewhere rated inadequate.

This is my train of thought atm

In the scenario that I could not yet access my desired childcare, I temporarily hired a nanny.

This was expensive, but allowed me to continue to work - and, it was only for a short period.

If your parents are willing to provide this temporarily, I’d bite their arms off.

As a childminder, take it take it take it!

If your child settles well, she may find she is happy to increase her ratios sooner to cover the gap. If not, then at least you are next in line.

As a nanny, take it!

Take it. Children often move etc and your DC will be first in line.

I'd take it.

I'd then try and find a nanny for the other day(s) as a temporary measure until you can get more days with the childminder. If a permanent nanny isn't an option it is still worth asking around for any recommendations as you may find someone willing to cover ad hoc days.

Is there any way your OH could fill part of the gap?

I think it’s fine. Does the childminder expect to lose any to school in September? I would assume she must have a mix of ages and some will leave for school or preschool soon.

We had to patch days together with our youngest for the first 4 months. It was fine. We made it work.

I think the difficulty is that there are two issues here. The first is that you will have to find 2 days childcare every single week. The second is that you will need to find an additional day as well during the school holidays and the six week summer holidays are only a few weeks away.
I don’t have experience of an inadequate nursery but I do of a school. They turn around programme they put in place was enacted pretty quickly and it did make a real difference so, depending on when the inspection was and what measures they’ve put in place, it could have changed quite a lot already.
I’d take the childminder place but also put your DS in nursery for the remaining days. Once he’s done a few weeks at the nursery, you can decide if you are happy with the care there. By then, the cm may have a better idea of what position she will be in and when. And then you can decide what your preferred option is. If you just go with the childminder, I worry that you will be using up a lot of goodwill
amongst your “village” and that people may be less willing or less flexible when your child is sick or when you are yourself and want them
to step in.

sorry I should’ve said, it’s to start in September, the availability is from then so not losing any to school this time

I actually had DC1 booked into a daycare and removed them during the first week. I found a wonderful childminder with very limited availability and just made it work through a combination of flexibility at work and doing favours for family to help out other days.

I do have a flexible role so for example could write reports in the evening but also have lots of meetings so tried to condense as much as possible and use leave etc.
It worked out well and definitely worth it for our family, but felt daunting at first.

Can you husband put in a request for flexible working and have one of the set days off a week? Or does he work away?

We made do for about 6 months when I went back to work. Somehow it worked out.

Is this something they can do in theory?
They work with an assistant too, which hopefully gives even more chance.

It sounds like you have absolutely no other choice. If you don't take it there is no other suitable place so having childcare sorted for one day a week is a bonus

It may be another nursery place comes available someone else, she can offer you more time or something else.

What's the alternative?

Yes absolutely. If you can risk assess and cope, enough space and provision then yes cms can extend their ratios. Never beyond 6 under 8 years though (each registered adult, so double that if she has an assistant).