New to using childminder

[Rosebud05]

My dd starts school in Sept and I've been looking for a child minder to pick up 2 night a week. Met someone very nice who my daughter liked yesterday and have provisionally said yes. We discussed signing a contract and my paying a deposit as she'll be effectively 'holding' a place until Sept - this is of course fine. We agreed times and fees. I'm waiting for her to clarify whether she offers a term time or year round contract - either of which is fine.

I've asked for her reference number so that I can have a quick look at her most recent Ofsted and also asked if she supplies parental references. Is this usual?

Aside from confirming a starting date, is there anything else to work out now?

Sounds like you've got everything covered very nicely! It's absolutely normal to look up her Ofsted report and ask for references.

Sounds great. Will you need any school holiday care?

i don't think she will give you her EY number as you could then use it fraudulently to claim tax credits (not that you would of course)

Just ask her for a copy of her latest report.

My familes don't get my EY number until we sign contracts.

I would however be more than happy for you to speak with other families that use my setting and would let you read my refs when you cam to visit

You can look her up on direct.gov using her name and address and get her Ofsted report from there. That's how I found my childminders.

No you can't look her up on direct.gov anymore. That site was deleted in March.

Was it? Oh dear! Where do we go for all things governmental now then?

Direct.gov is still there - it's only the childcare finding facility on there that has gone. I understand you are now supposed to go to your local council for that information - some will have it on their websites, others may provide it by email or post. It is a pain if you live close to the borough boundary, as I do. I don't think a lot of parents necessarily appreciate that the information they are given may exclude a childminder a few yards the wrong side of the line.

You can also find out whether there are registerd providers in your area using the OFSTED site (WWW.OFSTED,gov.uk). If you look under the "Inspection Reports" section = tab at top of home page you get to a page which allows you to search for registered providers. If you search by postcode, the results are shown by distance from that postcode as the crow flies (I don't think that is explained anywhere either). But then you still need to go to your council for names and addresses.

Thanks - I didn't realise that about the registration number - I hope that she doesn't think I'm being rude. I couldn't find her Ofsted by searching by name and address, although she's definitely registered.

I can be flexible about holiday care as I work freelance and could use a playscheme/friend for a day here or there whilst she's in reception at least. I was mainly wondering about whether the child minder needed to guarantee income all year, in which case I would be happy to use 5 hours a week throughout the year (aside from her holidays of course).

Well, I'm still waiting to hear back from my e-mail and telephone messages confirming that I would like this child minder to mind my daughter and to formalise the arrangement. I spoke to a member of her family last week and have just e-mailed again, but it doesn't look promising, does it?

Would other CMs on here reply within a week, even if it was 'I'm going away, but will reply when I get back?'

Weird. I specified the school, times and days in my first e-mail, which she responded to on the same day saying that she had vacancies.

I've contacted every other child minder in the area, who can't do it. There isn't an after school club. I only work part-time but do need to keep on working!

What on earth do people do in these circumstances if they don't have exended family or the like near by?

Rosebus she wont think younare rude at all.. i always give my ofsted number and didnt think about fraudulent claims.. thanks for that paula.. god have to be so careful..

i aloways reply to parents as soon as possible but dont check emails every day... phone her..

also for me i would charge for the space so would chsrge yopu for the year iyswim

god sorry for the mistakes in that post...

Thanks again, thebody. I have left 2 phone messages. The refundable deposit was her instigation - I thought that I might have to pay a retainer.

the thing is all cms are different and work to their own rules as self employed..i dont do retainers as such.. but lots do.. hope she gets back to you as its so horrible not knowing here you stand..