Where do I start looking for a childminder?

[Chocolocolate]

I'm in Nottingham and will need childcare starting next June (first baby due next week).

DH and I have decided that we would definitely like to use a childminder and are just starting to look - but we're not sure where to start.

Everyone says personal recommendations are the best thing to go on, but we don't have any friends with children here (we're originally from Yorkshire).

I tried looking on childcare.co.uk and there are 314 childminders on there within 10 miles of our postcode, with minimal information for each one. How on earth do we narrow it down? Do we try to meet them all?

We would be very grateful for any help/advice on how to go about making this important decision.

Nottingham Families Information Service 0800 458 4114

Contact them for a complete list of all registered childcare providers in your area. You can specify that you just want to be told about childminders, if you are certain that you want a childminder and not any other form of childcare.

Then I would suggest narrowing it down based on physical location, as you will need to take your child to them, and collect them to take them home. If you intend to stay at your current home long term, then look into where the local schools are located (you won't know for sure which one your child will get a place at) and ask childminders which schools they collect from - though of course where they collect from could vary in the future.

Not all childminders will have a place available for a baby. Many may not know at this time if they would have a place in June 2012. So it's more a case at the moment of getting to know who is in the area, getting your name down on waiting lists. You may also find that by going to baby/toddler groups once your baby is born that you will find childminder attending those groups, so get to know them a bit.

On childcare.co.uk you can use the Advanced Search option to narrow down the search radius. Try narrowing it down to 1 mile. The system will then show you who is registered on their site (not all childminders are) who is around 1 mile or less. It is based on Postcode so isn't totally accurate but gives a good feel for things. If you like the sound of someone on there, then add them as a Favourite and contact them (or they might contact you).

Try www.childmondinghelp.co.uk some advertise on there and you can advertise for one free

Childmindinghelp, stupid iPhone!

have a look at you council website and follow the links for childcare and will have a link for family information services.

I don't know how it is in Nottingham, but when I started searching in York, I also felt quite daunted by the plethora of names and addresses that the Family Information Service provided me with, but in the end, after quite a few phonecalls I only found two local childminders who had any space at all. So you may find it very easy to make a short list!! I visited both and went with the one that felt right. I now think the childcare she provides is excellent, so go with your gut. Also, I would say read ofsted (or HMIE) reports if you will, but don't take too much notice of the grading (excellent, good, satisfactory). I don't have a better solution, but IMO it is questionable whether it makes sense to apply nursery quality standards to someone in their own home and if you were looking for a purely educational setting, you probably wouldn't go for a childminder. My childminder is rated satisfactory, but the care is actually excellent.