Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

What questions should you ask a childminder?

6 replies

Flowerface · 10/09/2010 09:22

I am in the middle of trying to find a childminder for DD (9MO, she will be 13months when she starts). I have been to see a couple, but I always become totally brain dead when I walk through the door (I think it might be the screeching of excited toddlers!) and can't think of anything sensible to ask. It's making it quite difficult to choose, though of course I can go on the atmosphere and how the other children seem...

Is there anything in particular I should be asking? One of the minders said there used to be a leaflet...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Danthe4th · 10/09/2010 09:49

One mum came to me with a list that I think she downloaded from either the ncma website or the family information service which you may find on the direct.gov website.
sorry bit rushed at the moment otherwise would look.

claireb1974 · 10/09/2010 09:51

this is off the NCMA website

About the childminder

* How long have you been a childminder?
* What do you enjoy most about the job?
* Why did you decide to become a childminder?
* Are you a member of NCMA?

About their training

* What relevant qualifications do you have?
* What training have you done?
* Do you belong to a childminding group or network?
* Are you taking part in a quality assurance scheme?
* Have you had training in the EYFS (England only)?

About their setting

* How many other children do you look after, how old are they and how long have you been looking after them?
* Do you have any children of your own? How old are they?
* Can you describe a typical childminding day or week?
* How do you make sure you keep a good working relationship with parents?
* What arrangements do you have for meals and snacks?
* What do you consider unacceptable behaviour, and how do you deal with it?
* Which festivals and special occasions do you celebrate and how?

Getting out and about

* What would you do in an emergency involving yourself or one of the children?
* Do you ever take the children out in the car, and if so, do you have suitable insurance cover, seat belts and car seats for this?
* Do you and the children regularly go on outings during the week?
* Do you ever go on special trips out?
* Do you have pets or a garden?
* What do you do about holidays ? both ours and yours?

Meeting registration requirements

* How do you make sure the individual needs of each child are met?
* How do you support the EYFS (in England) or the Foundation Phase (in Wales)?
* Can I see your registration and insurance certificates?
* Can I see your Ofsted or CSSIW inspection report?
* Can I see any references from parents?

Remember that if you phone during the day the childminder is likely to have children around, so it's always ask if it?s a good time to talk and keep your questions short. If the childminder seems suitable, arrange a time and day to visit.

there is alot, you may want to choose some or use them all, they may even give you an idea of what you want to ask.

thebody · 10/09/2010 13:06

fab to all of the above and a good cm(me ha ha) will have a pack for you to take away with all her policies, proceedures,all about the setting and activities, fees, open times etc.. gives you time to read and digest at home and then ask any questions on a second visit.

and remember, references are vital..good luck

welshandproud · 10/09/2010 13:11

I always found the answer to 'How will you discipline my child?' to be quite insightful!

Flowerface · 10/09/2010 21:01

We have found someone we think we like, but now I am panicking because when we were there one of the children found a penny on the floor, and my DD manhandled a small knob off a cupboard so I immediately started thinking "oh god! She's going to choke to death in this house!" but I sometimes find it almost impossible to tell whether I am being a PFB lunatic. This may be one of those times...

The children all seemed happy. I did ask her about cars, activities and that kind of thing. CMs all seem to be booked up round here, so I am tempted to take what I can get...

OP posts:
chitchat07 · 10/09/2010 21:15

Well my DS swipes my pennies, and then leaves them around the place so the penny could well have been brought by one of the children....

Also, some children just manage to get into more mischief than others. My DS2 is definitely one of those children that all of the age warnings on toys applies to. He manages to get his fingers stuck in everything!!!! A toy tambourine at a music group was the lastest.....!!!!! I had been taking DS1 for ages, and have never seen any other child to that. (Sob...Wink )

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread