How do you know if you can trust ur childminder

[EenieMeenieMineiMo]

Hi all, I am wanting to go back to work after more than 5 years, DS now 5.5 and is at school full time.

I want to get some part time work, but am worries about fitting it round my DS.

I am going for an interview in a bit for a caravan cleaner, now the hours arnt that long i dont think, so i might need some1 to take DS to school or pick up and have for a few hours after school.

Trouble is I have been looking online for registered childminders, but think I am feeling a bit PFB, because I am thinking I cant leave DS with some1 can I, how do I know I can trust this person I dont know?

Thanks in advance

Well registered childminders will have gone through a checks process when they applied to their LA/Ofsted for registration - things like a CRB check, social services check, health check and an interview-cum-visit where inspectors would check the safety of their house and how much they knew about the regulations CMs have to work within. That would weed out the plainly unsuitable.

After that it is a mixture of experience and personality. Everyone has horror stories of CMs who ignore the children in their care, and know ones "they wouldn't leave in charge of a dog" or whatever. But equally most Mums or CMs probably know others who are wonderful and would bend over backwards for the children and parents - who genuinely enjoy their work and love the children. Recommendation and word of mouth is very useful - do you know anyone who uses a CM, or who once did, who can pass on a name? Or someone who attends a lot of toddler groups and knows the local minders so has seen what they are like? Once you have some names you can then arrange to visit and speak to those who have places - see whether you get on with them, and how they interract with your DS and the other children in their care. If you "click" with someone then that means a lot and may go some way to reassuring you.

Just remember that they aren't replacing you and won't do things exactly the same way - just like if you left DS with a friend or a MIL, some things will be different. Different isn't always bad though! To a certain extent you can ask for things like whether your DS has just a snack or a meal/packed dinner after school, if he is allowed to chillout in front of the TV for a while or should be encouraged to be active, etc but it is likely he would have to fit around the other children also being looked after by the CM - most have one/two/three under 5yos plus some school-age (there are limits to different age groups). CMs are not nannies they are self employed and you need to find one whose methods you agree with rather than thinking you can necessarily ask them to do set things at set times.

Anyway enough rambling and good luck in your search! (PS - in case you are quite new around here, despite the bizarre acronyms like DS and DD, textspeak like "some1" and "ur" isn't very encouraged on mumsnet)

Ok Thank you both