Where to find a childminder

[NoseyNooNoo]

Where is a good place to look for a childminder. I am finding direct.gov.uk useless so far, and that is where my Family Information Service are referring me.

direct.gov.uk is a waste of time. It was set up last year any for various reasons many cm's aren't on it at all or listed as miles from where they actually live. Try childcare.co.uk or google cm's with your area as many of us have websites. check to see if they have a local group or association or network listed as they may run a vacancy service - the national childminding assoc may be able to give you contact details. Our local children's centres also have childcare info. I advertise in Yellow Pages & various free directories too.

Thanks

I understand the problems with Direct.Gov.Uk are down to how your local authority/county council has submitted the information. In my county, we are lucky and it all seems to be working OK now although the answer you receive will vary depending upon whether you put in the town name or a postcode.

When you say that are finding direct.gov.uk useless so far, are you getting details of minders but then finding they cannot offer you what you are looking for, or is it that they are simply not able to give you any contact details for minders in your locality??

Our local health centre/GP has small posters displayed from some childminders and are you in contact with any others Mums because nothing normally beats word-of-mouth. A personal recommendation from someone usually carries a lot of weight.

I've asked it to list miners within 1 mile and it's giving me people much further away and they haven't necessarily got the advertised vacancies.

where do you live? maybe somebody on here can help