Childminder,,,what does she do?? & fees

[lumpybum]

Ladies, just need some advice (sorry if I sound like I am ranting)
I have a fab childminder (or so I thought) I feel that she is being a bit slack as she isn't doing very much with my daughter, When I read through dd's day book she used to take her here there any everywhere, now it just looks like she goes to her friends house(all day) I'm not sure how to discuss it with her without her thinking I am picking fault in her...any advice??

The other thing that really bugged me tonight is that I pay her in arrears on a monthly basis, on the last day of the month (being tomorrow) but she now wants me to pay her for Wed, Thur & Friday saying it makes it easier for her account books...do you think this is acceptable (it works out nearly £100 extra than I had allowed for), i have always paid up to the last day of the month, again I don't know how to approach her without her thinking I am just picking.
What do you think, do you think I am being picky?

Blooming I agree with your sentiments on the EYFS to some point, tis complete tosh to have to have a written down plan for development before age 3yrs, however, all childminders have to comply and the underlying teaching through play and outings should always happen to ensure childrens physical, social and emotional wellbeing. OFSTED are not suggesting they sit in rows like a class, just that all childcarers must set goals and encourage children as much as possible to achieve. It is basic things such as putting a toy slightly out of reach of a child learning to crawl, but not so far away that he can't reach it, just that he has to stretch iyswim. Instead of saying 'oh, look at that bus' you can extend vocabulary by saying 'oh, look at that big,red bus' iyswim.

Another thought is that tax returns have to be in at the end of October if you do it online, so perhaps it is easier to complete her books if you pay those days.

I'm in pretty much the same situation as WallOfSilence

I pay £2.50 for both of my DCs. They rarely go out anywhere but spend a lot of time playing outside, drawing, baking etc.

The CM herself is great. She loves the DC and they absolutely adore her and the rest of her family. In fact they are treated like part of the family when they are there.

My friends CM goes to the park or playgroup almost every day with her mindees, does all sorts of activities and would probably score top marks with Ofsted. Unfortunately, friends ds cries every morning when he is dropped off and can't get out quick enough when he is collected. Mine, on the other hand often have to be man handled to the car!

I would judge the situation by how happy you think your DD is there. If she enjoys going then I wouldn't worry too much.

God Wezzle, thats really cheap and your CM sounds really good.
I don't think crying being dropped off/leaving is the mark of children being unhappy at the specific CM/nursery though- more that they want mummy/daddy other than anyone else at that time.
I have to say that I did loads with my mindees- toddler group monday, soft play tuesday, swimming wednesdays, art and craft thurs/fri or music/rhymes/ general play. In summer we went to local parks/outings to farms etc every week, but I am still not rated as outstanding and am unlikely to be due to lack of space for certain resources and lack of planning on ETFS. All my mindees loved coming btw

Mytether that should say I pay £2.50 each!

I agree with crying DC, that it's not always an indication of being unhappy. However, my friends DS would shout 'I'm not going to CMs' if they happened to drive/walk in the direction of her house at weekends!

You sound like a fab CM btw

It's a while since I used a CM, but my gut feeling is that maybe she's getting bored if she's been doing the job for a while? To be going to ger friends house every day sounds like she's a bit bored tbh. As she has a 9 year old, maybe she needs to be doing something more rather than just looking after little ones? Just an idea.
I know CMs don't seem to earn a lot, but most of the ones I know do it as a means of earning money while basically staying home with their own preschool kids. So when you look at what they're saving in being able to do about the only job which doesnt incur childcare costs for your own kids, it's not so bad really.
But I don't know many CMs who continue long past their own child being in school. Maybe you could gently try to start a conversation going and try to find out whether she's getting a bit jaded. As for the money thing - I think it's only reasonable to give you advance warning if she wants to change the system.

thanks wezzle! I tried my best. On maternity leave at the moment. 2.50 per child is not bad. My rate is 3.50 when I go back, the same as everyone else I know iyswim, so 5 for 2 isn't bad.
Shame for your friends ds though. Mind you she might just be strict and he doesn't like it for that. I know I am , but the children I had were good as well.

findtheriver could be right about your CM getting bored. It is pretty good from the point of view you don't need childcare BUT hard work. i know a couple of CM with older/grown up kids who do it because they like it! TBH, I think CM with older kids of their own maybe a better choice than someone with a young family as they are more likely to do it because they enjoy it, have less time off (their own kids are sick) and be less frazzled.

myte, i know where you're coming from but just because CM are supposed to follow certain guidelines does not mean they will. I think (from what I have read and heard) a lot of CM will struggle with the EYFS and a) leave CM (as many are) or b)make up the paperwork side of it.

I would not have a problem with a cm going to their friends everyday although i would'nt do as long as my baby was well cared for and had appropraite toys/other kids to play with.

Hi, i'm registering as a CM and i'm doing it because since having children of my own and helping out at the local pre-school i've finally realised that i love playing with children.
Once i start my business in January (want to get Xmas out of the way first!), then i plan to do at least one messy art play a day, go to softplay or similar and to the park, all depending on the weather.
I'm actually just the wrong side of 40yrs old and my DD2 will be starting school next September. There is no way i could have done CM when they were younger as i wanted to give full attention to my own children.
Now, we can't have any more children it would be nice to have some little ones to cuddle and see them achieve all those development goals again.
The EYFS seems to make CM more "professional" and as i don't know any different i'm not too fazed by it.
Just trying to sort out my policies at the moment and so far it looks like i may have to have at least 40 different ones!
OFSTED do love their paperwork, pity we can't just put it on a computer disk for them to look at instead of printing out half a forest! .