Moving and needing a new cm

[JADS]

We currently live in Birmingham and have the most fabulous cm. Unfortunately my husband's job is due to move again in September (Armed forces) and we will find out in May where we will be going. It will be either Cardiff or High Wycombe.

Is it too early to start looking for a cm? I'm getting quite antsy about the whole process, we were really lucky last time but the whole process was ridiculously stressful. Does anyone have any recommendations? We could you the nursery on the base but I'm a bit reluctent as our son will only be 22 months then.

September is a good time to move as most cm's will have children going to school, you could possibly message a few and see what availability is like but maybe easier to wait and see where you're going first.

I have a really wonderful, lovely cm in Bourne End. Don't know if that would be too far from Wycombe for you- depends which side you will be based.

If it's going to be Dawes Hill she might be close enough for you?

when I moved - I started looking about before I got there -I think no problem in looking once you know where you are going - would you be able to get down to meet any before you vist - that's what I did - you probably will find that 2nd time around you will get a feel for people more easily - and in my experience CM like parents who have used CM before -know what to expect etc

I have a fab childminder in Wycombe who will prob have vacancies in Sept. Happy to send more info if you want to pm me. (Never done this before - will the message go to my email?)

Will you need to have childcare in place in advance of your move, or will you have time to look once you arrive? Might be worth checking out the nursery on the base in case you could use it as a stop gap for a couple of months while you sort out a cm.

As a starting point, I would look at the Bucks Family Information Service website, which has listings of childminders. I don't think May is too early to start making contact - I am already making enquiries for September, when we have to shuffle everything because DS1 is starting school. I am finding that cms already have a pretty good idea of whether they will have vacancies then.

Thank you for your replies. The RAF base is near Naphill in High Wycombe. I thought Daw's hill was all but shut now. I need to commute to London so central Wycombe would be fine.

Chilli - I will try and pm you. I have never done it before either so no idea!

I feel a bit better now. I do have a chance to go down first and I don't think my son would be too scarred if he had to go to nursery for a bit.

Lovely school in naphill! My ds is in YR and loves Forest School.