Childminders club - Should be having an interview now

[jellyjelly]

But she hasnt turned up yet, was expecting her at 4pm. I do hope she turns up.

ring her?

Oh jelly, how annoying. Maybe she's caught in traffic or something? Was she coming from work? Do you have her number?

Fingers crossed she'll turn up!

I do have her number, btu gutted she hasnt called yet.

I'd call in case she forgot! Off to make dinner and check on the choccy crispies but good luck and let us know how you get on!

I called and i got her partner who gave me another number but it doesnt work. Just have to hope that they turn up.

i hope shes there and your talking to her right now if not come n have a rant, sorry my reply was short earlier was doing 5 things at once.

No,not here guess she is not turning up which is a shame as she so seemed to like me on the phone and it is what i need.

Sorry she didn't turn up and even sorrier she never called you to let you know! Did her partner seem to know anything about it?

Just that she might be waiting for him to get home but that doesnt help me. I hope she feel guilty.

disapointing but i guees if theres a bright side it is that if she lets you down now she probably would have been a nightmare to work with anyway?

Yes maybe you are right, i just really wanted to have another one to look after. Maybe she will call another time to rearrange or apologise. I dont know but a call saying she wasnt coming would have been nice.

jelly - did you hear anything in the end?

Sorry - this happens a lot, I haven't had it happen, but it does.

Just one of those things I am afraid!

Jellyjelly, I really sympathise. It's is so annoying when things like this happen; I had a similar experience a few weeks ago but in my case a couple came to see me with their little boy who was adorable and got on so well with current mindee's. The placement was for all school hols and after school care (school literally 5 mins away so ideal) - they stayed a good 45 mins appeared to really like me and loved my setting. I showed them my policies which they took time to read and they asked to see a contract which I showed them - this was followed by them saying they would like to place child with me. I asked if they would mind going through contract and signing when they brought child back for settling-in as current mindees having dinner and parents due at any time. That seemed fine with them and they left saying they would ring me nearer to time to arrange settling in. Three weeks passed so I emailed them twice to find out exact school hol dates, got no response, telephoned their home number, left message; a lady called back to say no such person on that number! I called their mobile, no reply. Well what do you think of that? very strange indeed. The worst thing about all of this is that for the last year, to supplement my income whilst starting up my childminding business, I have been working as a key worker for Autistic lad early mornings and gave in my notice in preparation for this placement - this has really caused me no end of grief financially I can tell you - I am furious to say the least. Did you hear anything further from her?

No i didnt and the other enquiry i had - well she found someone else.

Oh sorry to hear that....

back to the drawing board oh well, it happens.

Tan1959 - sounds strange, do you reckon sometimes people who are registering to childmind do this sort of thing to be nosey??? I've heard of that happening but could never do that myself. Oh well, could have been anything but how annoying for you!! I've been thinking about you loads as I know you've given yourself until January - fingers crossed you find something.

Have you gone through my advertising list since I updated it yesterday? I had a phone call this week from someone who saw me on Tinies.com. Did you have any luck with that possible overnight care from mumsnet?

Jelly - poor you, hope you get more enquiries next week!

Hellybelly - yes have been going through list today actually (no mindees ) - hence the reason I have time to keep popping on here! Sent some details to enquirer but not had any response - yet - also had another call from someone local re occasional care for a baby - she may call back.

Yes, I think you are right that some people do feign needing a childminder just to see what our set-up is to use for their own purposes! I too started to wonder whether this could be the case for this particular couple but they were ready to sign then and there. I just did not have the time to sit with them and go through the Contract at dinner time and when it time for little ones to go home; I did mention to them that it would be best not to come during dinner/home-time but that was only time they could make on that day!

Yes, I saw that you had the baby enquiry - I really hope that the meeting on Wednesday goes well for you - I am sure it will - I think full-timers are pretty rare now aren't they - well thats my experience - and how lovely to have a baby ...

Me too (no mindees on Friday's)! This baby enquiry is not the one I meant actually, this was a search on the internet and somehow she came across my website. Not sure which internet route she took as a lot of these people just know they found me whilst surfing the net, don't tend to remember what site? Anyway, main thing is get your name to appear in these searches by being on as many things as possible

Good luck with your enquiries

Do you remember the couple I mentioned with little boy who came to see me, said they wanted a placement with me then did not return my calls etc., well they emailed me at the weekend asking if I could still have him but amount of time they needed care changed dramatically. I decided that even though I really need the work, it wasn't worth me commiting to them when I would be worry whether they would let me down again so I replied asking them to telephone me at the beginning of each period of childcare needed - we'll see what happens....

Some people do phone round, e-mail, and even knock round when they're registering to be childminders it's happened to me a few times.

I got an e-mail a while ago asking times of business prices activities I do with the kids etc and I thought it was top. I was so chuffed anyway she e-mailed me a few times then I heard nothing. I had to check on childcare link to see what details they had for me and there was the lady that had been emailing me right above my name on the list and she undercut me by 50p!!!!!!!!!

I don't understand the point of doing that really. I'm sure that most of us would happily discuss our rates and how we work with a newly-registering childminder if asked. We have a mentoring scheme here, so the new ones tend to meet lots of us oldies anyway, and we're always happy to answer questions.