Are full time places disappearing?

[cupcakeandcoffee]

Is it just me or are there less people looking for full time places?

I am looking to fill my places to the max as my husband is joining me and we need to support ourselves financially through childminding.

I am finding that all enquiries seem to be for 1-2 days or pick ups or 1-3pm etc. This all adds up to fill the places but it is very hard to fit everyone in to the exact times they need.

It may be due to the recession (sorry I cant spell!!! )and the fact that many people only have part time work but I also wondered if it was because we have just finished the boom time for September.

Anyone else experiencing this?

I am in the north east, have been registered since Nov 08 and have NEVER had a full time enquiry.

So many jobs are becoming part-time as employers yield to the requirement to be flexible, especially to mums returning to work who may wish to go back but only in a part-time capacity having come from a full-time role.

I have children on my books from parents in professions that a few years ago would have always been considered as full-time jobs (e.g. teacher; GP etc.). I also have children from families that simply do not need full-time care as one of the parents (usually the mum), does not go out to work but just wants a couple of days a week for herself.

It can be tricky trying to accommodate a variety of part-time requests. I try to stick to full-day children only so at least I do not have comings and goings during the main part of the day.

I have been lucky with a recent enquiry for two full days a week for a mum returning to work where I could not offer the days she originally requested but her employer was able to let her change one of her two days so it has worked out well.

I have 7 mindees on my books and only one is Mon-Fri. Another would be full time if they didn't go to grandparent 1 day a week but the rest all work part time. I've got a long waiting list and none of them were after full time so yes, it does seem to be that more and more are going part time. WRT the part timer hours, I've only had part days recently but luckily this will end after the school hols and will all be full days again. I charge more ph for less than 8 hours care as it covers me financially for full days not being used (but I have no intention of taking any more part day children once this other has left as it's too restricting, not to mention the extra EYFS files!!)

Like Silly, I've never had a full time enquiry - in 5yrs! Currently have one 32hrs a wk over 3 days (looong days, especially as doesnt sleep for more than 10 mins at a time ) so almost full time hours. One 33hrs from Sept over 4days, but still have a full-time place to fill overall since DS started school last year.

Have been lucky that all my children 'fit' around each other at the moment. Had no enquiries at all for a few months now

I have my first part timer. But then I live in a Military town, where lots of families have both parents in the Army, so they are all after full time places.

All my other spaces are taken by fulltimers, even the afterschoolies become fulltimers during holidays.