CMs - Mindees moving up to next age ratio - what if can't keep all existing mindees? :-(

[looneytune]

I've been doing lots of planning work for all the upcoming changes. I've got ds1 turning 8 in March so he'll not count in my numbers any more. I'm therefore looking at 8 seater cars to allow 1 extra older child, mainly to allow current families to increase days as they've been waiting for me to be able to for ages.

I've then got 2 mindees moving out of the Early Years age group in September (but this only frees 1 space 3 days a week as I have a variation which will not be applicable on those days any more). I then have ds2 and another couple of mindees moving up the following September.

Now, my problem is I can't afford to not have full time income so therefore have to replace relevant Early Years age group spaces, however, doing this means eventually (probably Sept 2012) I'll no longer be able to offer care for all my current mindees :( Obviously things can change in that time but as I've had most of them 3-4 years already, it's very possible the parents would want me to continue.

I'm sure many of you must have come across this problem? If so, how do you get round it? I'm thinking some of it would be ok because others will turn 8 in that time therefore stopping them being in my numbers. BUT, I don't want it to appear like I'm cramming them all in to make loads of extra money plus I wouldn't be able to get them all out and about in the car and do all the outings I'm used to doing. I guess the way round this is working with an assistant? But I'd need to look at the whole picture and I'm not sure I could feed them all due to the extra room required.

If you came across this problem, I'd love to hear how you dealt with it. I know I've got a while but I'm currently dealing with all the new requests for changes over the next year or so and I'd much rather be upfront with parents about potential problems later down the line.

TIA :)

My other thoughts are moving into a job where I can maybe be a teaching assistant or something and then do just before/after school and holiday care?

You would be a great TA.

I went through this, but I was lucky that the schoolees (?) went to a different school to my DD, so they used the before/after school clubs and came to me in the school holidays. If they had gone to the same school, I would have been stuck for space in the car.

I'll watch out for you driving your mini-bus

Thanks :)

I've worked out roughly what I could earn from just before/after school care and depending on the income for a TA job (if I was lucky to get one), it's definitely something I'd be interested in. I love childminding but also like the idea of something different. I wouldn't even be thinking about it if this situation about keeping mindees wasn't an issue. Decisions, decisions!

Could you not apply to OFSTED for a variation so that you can keep you existing mindees.

If those mindees are going out of the EYFS age group surely then it frees up your EYFS spaces meaning you can take on other children under 5.

Mind you - you say these children move out of the EYFS age group - do you mean they are going into Y1? So I presume your difficulty comes with the 5-8yr old group?

Looneytune - I think you are stressing yourself out about something that might happen in 18 months time - in the nicest possible way - that's madness.

You don't know what will happen in that time - one set of mindees might move away, parents change jobs, be made redundant, kids might change schools - too many variables to be over thinking what might happen in 18 months time.

If you want to be a TA for you, because you think you would enjoy it then do it - but not because of maybe not being able to keep mindees in 18 months time.

Pippin - it's the 5+ year olds that I'll have too many of, that's what I'm thinking.

Chippingin - I'm not 'stressing', just forward planning and don't want to lead any parents on with saying I'll be able to continue with them all as that won't be possible on my own. I was just trying to get feedback from those childminders who've been in this situation so I can see what options there may be. My main concern is for the family asking me if I can do XYZ from January 2012 as they want to know what I can and can't commit to. I was really just looking at my options :)

As for the TA thing.......that's been going round my head for a while anyway but WOULD have to wait for 18 months purely because ds2 is still only 2.6 and not at full time school til then :)

I agree with ChippingIn - I am stressing about April; that is dealable with but 18m? Lives change is 6 months never mind a year or 18m

If (& it's a big if) it's a problem - you advertise for a child from 9-3 term-time only.....that would help

But as anticipatory as I am (& I really am) only deal with 3/4 months at a time

I'm clearly in the minority then for just wanting to get a general feeling of options . I don't know why, it just feels so wrong to take on other children (one currently wants to talk about starting in Sept) knowing that I may be dumping them down the line - I'll try not to feel bad about that .

Early on I made all these plans because of keeping a child, didn't take others on, reorganised others so it would work & the dad got transferred & they left 3 months later

So I won't do it again

Think back 18m (read you mn posts around that time) did everything turn out exactly as you anticipated? Do you have all the same children doing the same hours?

I'm off the cross that bridge when you come to it opinion...

You may be in a position to take on a PT assistant, you may no longer want to CM, you may be able to apply for a variation for your 5-8s on continuity of care grounds. A lot can happen!

Katy - I wouldn't stop myself taking on new children unless I was thinking of changing what I do, I would never do that for a parent because as much as I'd want to help, my business head can't allow that!

As for the mindees....yes they are all still here, any hours which have changed have been an increase. As mentioned in my OP, most of the children have been here 3-4 years, 1 has been here a year now (taken on as extra when dh joined me and kept on as variation when he stopped) - the only one who hasn't been here as long is a before school child who started in Sept. I'm fully aware that people can move and stuff like that, I thought I made my OP clear that I realised it was a long way off but just wanted to get some thoughts from people who've been here - HSMM gave me one side of what can happen.

I was only thinking about it due to one parent asking me questions about stuff that far in the future. Of course I've explained nothing can be guaranteed that far ahead.

Looneytunes - sorry if we aren't helping in the way you need :(

Frankly, I think you've given that parent the right answer - nothing can be guaranteed.

If you can't look at being a TA for 18 months then for now I'd take on what works with your numbers.

Coming from the otherside as long as you gave me as much notice as you could about any changes that were about to happen I'd be OK with it - I think most parents realise CM's have a life too (well, maybe they don't but they should!!) and you are as entitled as anyone else to change jobs.

You always sound like a lovely caring CM and it would be fab to be able to clone you - but sometimes you have to think about what works for you.

one thing to consider if you are thinking about being a TA and doing before/after school care too-

TA's need to be at school often up to half an hour before the school day, and often are contracted to stay after the school day to set up/clear up, plus for staff meetings and training. It may not be as easy as you think to combine the two jobs.

If you have h ad a variation in numbers before, it is possible you will be able to get a variation again? It is so difficult to see what will happen in the future, and I can understand you desire to plan to be able to help out all your families, but also to protect your income. Hope it wprks out for you.

ChippingIn - Thanks for that, hearing a parent would be ok makes me feel better. I suppose I just don't want to mess anyone round for the children's sakes. It would be ok in my head if I hadn't planned it but 'knowing' that I may very possibly have to dump someone in a year's time makes me feel bad. I will tell my head that as I don't know for sure then I shouldn't worry

PandaG - I'll look more into it, thanks for that. I know a couple of childminders locally who do this but maybe they are called classroom assistants or something else. To be honest I don't know what I want to do really, I can't imagine not childminding but I've always liked the idea of having my own little class of reception aged children one day and it would also be good to get rid of stair gates, baby toys etc. one day . As for variation, I believe you are still only ever allowed a maximum of 6 under 8s when working on your own. Yes, I've mostly always been allowed 4 under 5s (and I can't see them refusing it in the future as they were happy to agree to me having 10 wk old, 8 month old, 17 month & 18 month old) but IF everyone stayed and wanted to continue with me, I'd have (this is an example based on one day as I have different children on different days) in Sept 2012:

Ds2 (Reception)
Mindee 1 (Reception)
Mindee 2 (Y1)
Mindee 3 (Y1)
Mindee 4 (Y2)
Mindee 5 (Y4) - over 8
Ds1 (Y5) - over 8

This of course is without filling my Early Years spaces. These children can fit in an 8 seater car but no more could and of course I'd have 3 full time spaces not being used. If by then I have the full 3 younger mindees (which unless our financial situation improves, I'd have no choice but to do that) then I'd have a total of 10 children. Out of these 2 would be over 8 meaning I'd have 8 under 8s whereas the maximum is 6. I am registered for 8 under 8s in total when working with an assistant so that is an option but I don't think my house is suitable for 10 children, certainly not the bulk being 'big' kids!

My dream is to get a bigger house and work with an assistant all the time but that's me in dream world

I think I'll stop thinking about wanting to please everyone and just go with the cross that bridge when it comes to it! :)

Have you considered owning/running a nursery?

Not a nursery, just a larger scale childminding practice. I don't know how different nurseries are but I very much like the home from home environment with the playroom on top and lots of going out and about in the community which I'm not sure is what nurseries offer?

No schools around here are taking on TA's, in fact 2 have recently lost their jobs. The training has also changed and the HLTA has been scrapped, so before you decide to be a TA do check what is needed near you and if you would be able to get a placement to train.

This was exactly my situation last September. I've always had lots of after-schoolies, who dont start turning 8 till september this year, and my pre schoolers started reception, leaving me with three 9am - 3pm spaces. I've managed to fill 1 space for 3 days but otherwise it has been very quiet. Have had tons of enquiries but no others that fit.

I had always liked the idea of being a TA but others have always told me that its very hard to get into without some form of school experience. By chance I noticed our local school was advertising for a TA last November. Amazingly I got an interview dispite there being 50 applicants.

I didn't get the job. They offered it to someone with classroom experience, but they did tell me that there could be another post coming up early in the new year, supporting an autistic 7 year old (in my own DD's class!!!) and would I consider that?

I've (sadly) given notice to my one daytime child and start my new TA post on 1st feb. I'm contracted to 20 hours per week, working 9.45 - 11.45 and 13.15 - 15.15. I only live around the corner, so the split shift works for me, and I'll be their at the end of the day to pick up all my mindees. The only problem I can forsee is Inset days, but then i'll only be required to attend those that are relevant to me.

So yes, completly do-able. However, as others have mentioned, situations change and you cant really plan so far in advance.

Hope this helps.

I was just thinking it would be a way of getting your house back as well. I think my ideal would be a separate house for childminding/nursery - keeping it home away from home for both you and the kids and still being able to do trips out etc, but you would need more than one helper.