I have my first potential parents visit, help!

[LingDiLong]

I've just been registered and have got my first potential 'customer' coming round with their preschooler on Friday. Apart from a big tidy up and making sure I have some nice age appropriate toys out what more should I do? What paperwork (if any) should I prepare for her to take away with her? Policies? Copies of contracts? Activity plans? Menus?? Also, is a months deposit fairly standard?

Don't give out contracts etc, she could be a childminder wanting copies! (it happened to a friend of mine) invite her back to sign contracts if she wants to go ahead, then give policies to sign and return. Do you have an info leaflet about yourself? I don't but some do I have a website with general stuff, also be wary giving out ofsted number etc til contract in place as I know loads who give out details required for tax credits then never hear from them again.

My post sounds awful but I have been stung so many times and def take a deposit! I usually ask for a week as many here can't afford a month.

I give out copies of my policies and procedures as well as my parent handbook (with info about the activities, menu, my 'ethos' sort of thing) at the first meeting.

It's never bothered me that they could be a childminder wanting to take copies, if they do then they're making work for themselves, I'd be quite happy to email them over to them to save them typing them up again if they asked straight out

Have your contracts to hand in case they want to sign there and then, although I do suggest to prospective parents that they might want to go home and sleep on a decision rather than signing on the spot (but if everyone's happy, then there's no reason not to do it then!)

I don't give out my EY number though until they've signed a contract because they can use it to claim tax credits for childcare, as south345 says.

Have a look at this page on the NCMA site to see what sort of things they might ask you and remember to have a think about any questions that you might want to ask them: hours, shifts, particular needs of their child, what sort of behaviour management they use, things their child likes/dislikes - it's about finding out if they're a fit for you as well as if you're a fit for them

Interact with the child as well - it seems obvious but sometimes can get forgotten if parents are firing lots and lots of questions at you! :)

I'd also take the first month's money on the signing of the contract - I don't take a deposit on top of that, but that's purely personal choice and if you want to then contract signing time would be the best point at which to take it.

At the end of our first meeting at her house, which went well, my cm gave me a little folder with a written introduction about herself and copies of her policies, activities, menu etc, also a blank contract with detailed terms. She suggested I take it all away, read and email or ring her with any questions. This seemed v helpful and professional. I still have the folder!

She explained that it was important to her that my DC got on OK with her DC, so we had a couple of play sessions (all toddlers / preschoolers). This also seemed helpful, since it'd be in no-ones benefit if we signed a contract and there were problems later

It was also helpful to deal with awkward contractual issues, eg payment if DC ill, CM's DC ill, leave etc, variation of hours etc by email, then when we met face-to-face we could just discuss the nice stuff!

I paid a month's deposit to secure the place - a lot, but understood the CM's need for security.

Hope the visit goes well for you!

Agree that interacting with the child is as important as answering Qs. The first time I met my CM I went without my DC as thought this'd be quite hard for her and wanted her to be able to see if she liked me and vice versa without the DC! Then we met up again at hers soon after with the DC.

Thanks so much everyone, that's really helpful. I know she's not a childminder as she's a mother from the same school as my kids go to - although I don't actually know her other than from sight.