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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

can't find families in need of a childminder

20 replies

BeccaLouise · 05/12/2011 11:11

Can anyone help? I've been registered since July and as yet still have no children to mind! I have one potential starting January for just 10 hours a week. I've been at home out of work since August now because we have a 3 year old daughter and I couldn't afford to pay nursery fees on my wages but I didn't think it would take this long to get work as a childminder.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

south345 · 05/12/2011 12:06

Have you done a leaflet drop round your local area? I did one about 18 months ago and still get enquiries now as people remember that I live on the estate (we are out of town on an estate of about 200 houses), I got a full timer from that too.

Where else do you advertise? Do you go to local toddler groups? I go to the school one and have picked one up from there but there are only 2 childminders who go to the school.

Pancakeflipper · 05/12/2011 12:16

A mother I knew became a childminder and she made some posters with strips at the bottom with her mobile phone number on so people could tear them off (instead of searching for a pen and paper).

She did a huge poster campaign at the post office, newsagents etc. Put them on the church notice boards and village halls etc. And she went to all the toddler groups.

She also got business cards made and handed them out to mums with little ones.

Any local magazines? We have 1 village magazine that can be advertised in and one done by mums that also does advertising.

south345 · 05/12/2011 13:02

Also are you on childcare.co.uk, childmindingforum.co.uk? I have a website which costs £2.99 a month such is www.(town name) childminder.co.uk so if anyone googles town name childminders I come out top.

Original poster

BeccaLouise · 07/12/2011 12:20

Thank you all for your replies I will try out some of your ideas. I'm on childcare.co.uk and have been since July but I've had nothing from it. I've joined all the toddler groups around here and put up post cards in shops and on the village notice boards. I will try a leaflet drop and I'm in the process of doing an advert to go in our local parish magazine. Hopefully that will get things going.

OP posts:

south345 · 07/12/2011 13:00

Do you message the parents on childcare.co.uk? It's worth it I've had 2 from there, they can't see your details unless they pay but if you message them you can include your details.

Arkady · 07/12/2011 13:13

Our children's centres put up adverts for chilminders.
They can also register with Families Information Service which is a council funded thing with childcare / surestart / playservices / state nuseries/ benefits etc info. No idea if everywhere has one of these or its just a London thing.

Octaviapink · 08/12/2011 12:46

I've had lots of enquiries from childcare.co.uk. Also your council should have been able to help - most councils have a family information service for people moving to the area and if you're on their list you should get enquiries.

ASparent · 08/12/2011 13:50

All local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland (not sure about NI) must by law maintain a register and provide information to families on childcare facilities, usually (always?) through a Family Information Service. If you don't have the details of yours, find them out here, give them a ring and ask them about how many enquiries they are getting: if there are lots they may help you work out why you are not getting any, but if there is just noone looking for childcare in your area they will be able to tell you that too.

Original poster

BeccaLouise · 08/12/2011 13:58

Where I live the children's centre won't put up adverts for childminder's as they say are not allowed to make recommendations. The nursery and schools are the same. I have sent messages to parents on childcare.co.uk but not had any response from any of them. I'm wondering if my advert isn't very good.

OP posts:

SootySweepandSue · 08/12/2011 14:01

Most people I know have found CM on... dare I say it...Netmums in their local sections. Not recommended for nowt else mind .

COCKadoodledooo · 18/01/2012 18:47

Bump! Have pm'd you

dmo · 18/01/2012 20:34

Do you take your dd to toddler groups? I have found children by word of mouth throught toddler groups

HuggyPomBear · 20/01/2012 22:32

Where abouts are you if you don't mind saying?

HSMM · 20/01/2012 22:59

My lovely postman popped leaflets through all the doors locally for a small cash incentive.

Bonkerz · 20/01/2012 23:07

I only had my inspection on Monday and already have three children lined up to start as soon as I have my certificate through. One was through childcare.co.uk and the other two were via networking. I gave my cards to other childminders and if they couldn't take a child they passed on my name. Do u know other childminders in the area? It's a good way to see if there is work.

CH1957 · 22/01/2012 15:10

Im having the same problem as BeccaLouise. Advertised everywhere but still only got 1 child 14 hours a week after being registered 3 months. I do not have young children of my own (grown up) so difficult to network at toddler groups etc but of course I do on the 2 days I have mindee. I think some areas are just not very busy at the moment.

Mum2Luke · 23/01/2012 16:18

I also have the same problem,done the dropping leaflets absolutely everywhere but no-one seems to either have jobs or they put their child/ren in nurseries. Newsagents are stopping putting in adverts and supermarkets won't let me either. How are childminders supposed to advertise if they won't let us put postcards in their windows?

I asked the library and they were as unhelpful - 'you can't advertise in here!!!! The most obvious place was the job centre and I could not believe I wasn't allowed to advertise there. Our Family Information service says its not had any calls.

missymoo2411 · 23/01/2012 20:07

car window works a treat ,jacket with childminer and phone number on your back a shopping bag with childminder and number on magnets on side off car have a look on vista print

HSMM · 23/01/2012 21:05

vistaprint also have something that they call a lawn sign. I bought one (without the stand) and pinned it to the front fence of my house. I love watching people walk past with their pushchairs and stop to read it :)

CrispLeCrisp · 23/01/2012 21:15

You obviously don't live round my way - not a single childminder serving the whole school

When I got my previous cm I used the local govt website and contacted 4. My 'preferred on paper' one had no space, but she told me who to try and we got the most wonderful cm in the world. This time I have done that, and been on childcare. Co uk and asked around. Bonkers!

Other adverts I generally read are in the local parish magazine, the post office and the doctors. Also at our toddler group we often have people drop by with leaflets for their new startup businesses so that might be worth a try. Do you have a local cm network coordinator you could speak to and suss out any other potential ways to find new charges?

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