Am I Being Unprofessional??

[Vals02]

I am relatively new to childminding and was wondering is it a bit forward to suggest a change of day for a part time place. I have a 1yr old comes every other Wednesday and due to this I have to turn down other full time places (as my numbers will be over for 4 hrs every other Wednesday). However I have room on the Monday for the part time place.

I am struggling to make ends meet and this income would set me up. I love this job, it is soo rewarding, the kids are great, lots of fun and not to mention the extra time I get to share with my son. He is an only child and enjoys the company also. I left a highly paid job to pursue this and I would dread the thought of getting back into the rat race.

I know I can make a good living at this but am finding it difficult getting established.

Anyone got any words of encouragement and what do you think of asking a parent if they are able to swap days, is this unprofessioanl?

Is the parent in a position to be able to change the days?

you could ask OFSTED for a variation for the 4 hours

you would have to write down how you could accomodate the needs of the children - ie 2 high chairs, a double buggy, enough car seats with appropriate restraints blah blah

i would ask parents they may be able to swop days failing that yes ask Ofsted

Hi

I am registered in N Ireland and we are not permitted to have variation, what is this?

ah right, I don't have any experience of NI childcare regs I'm afraid

Sorry

Vals, I am also in NI and just newly registered. In fact, I haven't got any kids to mind yet. Have you a friend/family member that could take your son for just 4 hrs every other week when you would otherwise be over your numbers?

PS. Whereabouts in NI are you?

Hi I'm in the Antrim area but my son is 6 yrs so it's not his place I need to swop. At the minute I have no children on a Monday and Tuesday and finding it difficult to accommodate enquiries I receive because of the part time places, not easy. You just have to be patient I suppose and the right child will come along to fill the places but I can't really afford this!

PS where are you? if you near I can pass on any enquiries I can not accommodate. We have a support group also (off for summer but starting again in September) you could come along we meet once a month.

The next time you have an enquiry i would just be honest with the parent and tell them you really need to take on the full timer and give them the options of moving. If you don't ask you don't get.Its always difficult when you first start, it took me a year to get sorted with places that fitted in and then they grow up and move on!!

Vals, I'm near Coleraine, I believe there is a support group there that I plan on going to...only got my registration last week so this is all very new to me. How long did it take you before you got your first mindee? I'm getting impatient waiting already. Yeah I believe it's hard to get full timers these days as so many mums go back to work part time after baby is born and most have grannies to mind them a few days in the week too, which doesn't help us fill our places....

Val, I asked a parent once if they could swop days because of the same reason - had the little girl half day on a Tuesday and got an enquiry for a Monday and Tuesday. There was no way I was going to turn down two full days work for half a day, especially given I am only registered to care for 1 child under 5!! I felt comfortable asking her however as she is a stay at home mum and was just leaving her DD with me to get on with housework and other chores, so it wouldnt have put her out too much. It all depends on circumstances really. It would be a good idea to see if you could get a variation if circumstances don't allow. (the mum did agree by the way, and I managed to fill my entire week)

I think it would depend on what your conditions are for bank holidays - as most BHs fall on Mondays, if you charge for them someone who only uses a Monday could feel a little hard done by (I know I would!).

I know that at my DS's nursery Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the most popular, and Mondays and Fridays usually have vacancies. In fact, at his last nursery if you went down to 1 day a week you had to have either a Friday or a Monday.

this is a really difficult issue for cms. I have one child who I was glad to take on as I was just setting up, she is 8am till 3pm 2 days a week.. now I am full and have lots of enquiries for places. I could fill her place with a 8 till 6 child and am sorely tempted to give notice..

I would feel bad doing this but after all I have to remind myself that I am running a business and have 3 kids of my own to fund BUT in cming you develop such a personal relationship with parents that its very difficult to do this.

I would cetainly ask her though if she wants to change, at least give her the chance to say yes or no before you give notice but I totally understand your position.