CMs: Wrap around care?

[AliHasQuestions]

Hi

I've not posted before but hope you might be able to help me. DD1 is 3 and I am pregnant with DC2. When I go back to work, probably next March, we will need childcare for both DC. DD1 is currently at nursery, but when I go back to work will be 6 months off starting school, so we were thinking of looking into a CM for both DC on the basis that the CM will be able to drop off and pick up DD1 from school when the time comes.

So my questions are - do most CMs offer this type of wrap around care? If they do, will we have to pay for the whole day to keep her place available, or can we just pay for the hours she is actually at the CM? I understand that CMs round here (SE London/Kent) tend to charge by the hour, but I might be wrong! I guess it may vary by CM, but it would be great to get a feel for what is more common.

Last question! Roughly how far in advance should we start looking for a CM?

Thanks in advance.

I've been looking around as well and, from what I can tell, most will offer drop-off and pick-ups but you want to try to find one that is already doing drop-offs and pick-ups for that school as they obviously can't go to a few different schools all at the same time.

You should only have to pay by the hours that they are in the care of the childminder and many offer sibling discounts.

I would start to look a few months in advance and call around so that you can get a feel for which childminders you might like to use and ask them to keep a place for you for next March.

i offer 3 types of "set" hours (but am in herts)

before school only
all day care
after school only

people can then choose which hours they want and pay accordingly

If childcare is in short supply in your area you may find it difficult to find a CM with two spaces full stop. Secondly you may have a problem finding someone willing to take your older child for just a couple of hours when they will be taking up an early years place which will be difficult/impossible to fill for the rest of the day which obviously makes a full timer look a much more attractive proposition financially. That is why some will charge full or half fees during the time a three or four year old is at nursery or pre-school. There the fact that you are also seeking care for a little one may actually help your negotiating position if you present it as a package, stressing that it is only a short while until your elder child is at school. It's very hard to say what your chances are without knowing what local supply and demand is like. I would say ask around and see what you are offered but don't rule anything out until you know what your options are.

Thank you for all your help.