Council list of childminders vs childcare.co.uk

[AmeliaEarhart]

I'm trying to find a childminder for DS. I have a list of registered childminders with vacancies provided by my local council, and I've also been looking on childcare.co.uk. I've noticed that there are lots of profiles for childminders in my area who aren't on the council list. Why is this? Are they not registered with the council, or is it because they don't have vacancies (if so, why advertise?). I'm new to all of this and a bit confused!

Also, has anyone used childcare.co.uk before? I like the more detailed profiles (there is very little info on the council list), but it all seems a bit too good to be true.

Hi, which county are you looking for, the new Herts one is excellent, it was awful for the last 2 years, but now you can search by first name, postcode, virtually anything!

Soe childminders do not put there details on the public list, it is not compulsory, so only do so when they have vacancies, some never update their details, but we get taken off if we don't update every three months, or so they say!

I may be able to find a few names though my private childminding forums, they are all excellent dedicated minders, very proactive etc.

So if you want pm me and I can see if anyone can help.

Also try www.childmindinghelp.co.uk there is a childminder wanted section and some advertise their vacancies. Childminders have to pay to message parents etc on childcare.co.uk but fis give out our details free which is why the lists can be different.

I recently came off my councils lst of childminders because the format they used didn't explain my service the way I would of liked it to and it therefore gave parents the wrong expectations. I explained my concerns with my local council who were unable to make the changes due to the format.
If you where to ask your local FIS, im sure they would have some knowledge of the local childminders or be able to direct you the local network coordinator of childminders.
I use childcare.co.uk, as I able to give parents a lot of information on my service and they can in turn decided on whether my care is suitable to their Childcare needs. also parents can leave reviews which is helpful.

Children's centres are also in touch with childminders and will post notices for you on their boards, I had a vacancy notice posted and three childminders filled vacancies by being put in touch by the managers and outreach workers, and told parents to come along to our drop in group!

Are they not registered with the council

That is always a possibility. The council don't register childminders anymore... it's done by regulators (Ofsted if in England). As others have said, childminders can decide not to be listed by their local council Family Information Service.

I don't think internet sites are able to check that people saying they are a childminder are actually registered as a childminder. For anyone you go to see, check that they are registered - look for their registration certificate - back of the door, notice board.

is it because they don't have vacancies (if so, why advertise?)

That is also possible. The listings from the council and online can be out-of-date. So if a childminder appears on a vacancies list, it may not mean that they actually have a vacancy now - they may have filled it last night.

Childcare.co.uk enables you to list childminders by Last Login Date, By Distance, Newest, Most Viewed, Only those with Photos. So when you look at the search results listing, it may or may not be the listing you want to see. Do have a play with the Advanced Search, so that you can restrict search to a smaller distance and sorted by last login.

It can be useful for childcare providers to advertise all year round even if they don't have any vacancies - as parents can search for childcare quite a long way in advance, plus some parents may want to be put on a waiting list so they get told when a place does become available. A childminder may be full now, but with the way things are currently a parent may give them 4 weeks notice tomorrow. Childminders don't know that far in advance when a childcare place may become available - it can be very unstable in the current economic market.

Thanks everyone. It's good to know that the council fis isn't the be-all and end-all of my options. I didn't realise that their list wasn't compulsory. And thanks for all the handy tips and offers of help. I'm not in Herts alibubbles, but I'll PM you.

I am an ofsted registered childminder in Chingford. I was informed by my local FIS office that you have to inform them every 6 weeks to basically update your list, otherwise they will take you off. Having viewed the council list it not suprising as they have about 12 pages of registered carers. No wonder us childminders are finding it hard to get work when they are registering so many new childminders. I think they should wait until carers unregister before taking on more.

FIS/Early Years and the regulator (Ofsted in England) can not stop people from registering as a childminder just because other childminders in the area have not filled all their places.