I have decided to just concentrate on before and after school mindees

[Saltire]

After discussion with DH, it seems the best thing. My health sin't great due to my fibrmaylgia, but this hasn't ever stopped me CMing, and was declared to OFSTED too, however I found that having under 5s all day for up to 10.5 hours was draining me and making me ill.

So thats what I/we have decided on

Good for you. Are you still doing holidays?

The parents of the mindees I have at the minute are off for holidays, and I've decided not to charge them, it's my choice. It might not work for some people, not getting paid during time when they effectvely availiable, but ti suits me, and this way I can still feel I am doing something and contributing to the household (although DH has never ever commented on that, in case someone says he did) and also I get to rest during teh day, which helps how I feel mentally and physically

How easy is it to get mindees who only want before and after school cover?

It's exactly the sort of thing I need

So hard to find

Gumby - do you mean hard to find a childminder offering those hours or do you mean you are a childminder and find it hard to find parents who only need those hours?

You'll probably do a raring trade with teachers and other school staff.

I've found it quite easy - there is a relatively good childcare centre where I live, which has an after school club but it's not very well used (I think the children don't like the leader) so a lot of the CMs round here (admittedly on 3 of us) are all taking before and after school midnees

Well done for making this decision. I have M.E and work with my DH since starting the CMing it has had it worse days. The way we tend to work is that I look after the younger ones and DH looks after the older ones mostly.

He has been good when I've had a bad morning. Looking after all of the mindees while I have a bit longer in bed.

The key to working with conditions like ours is to listen to when we need to rest. With your DH not working with you this sounds like a great plan. Also you won't need to do obs and assessments for this age group.

I wish you all the best as you continue in your role as you are able.

P.S We don't charge for times that the mindee isn't with us too. It's something we decided at the start we wouldn't do. It suits us too.