How long from initial enquiry to placement?

[lechatnoir]

I've recently made the decision to quit my job & become a childminder (so will no doubt be back on here soon ) and wondered roughly how it will be before I'm up & running ready to advertise & take enquiries? Is it realistic to think I could be ready for the new school term in September?
Many thanks
LCN

Depends on your area you may be full to start with or looking for work for months, your registration alone could take a few months.

it took me about a year to become registered, and then another ten months to get a permanent and consistent level of business. I hope yours is quicker, but be prepared

September is certainly achievable - in fact if you don't register by September you will hit a delay because a new regime is planned to kick in then requiring training before registration, at the moment you have six months after registration to complete your training.

The longest element is likely to be a CRB check so to get the ball rolling follow the links here, only in your case you are registering on the Compulsory Part (Part I) of the register.

You should also contact your Local Authority as you will have to complete training they coordinate (within six months after registering), beware that they will probably tell you to wait until you have been on an introductory course before applying to Ofsted but you don't want to do that

It's best to have your ducks in a row before applying to Ofsted in terms of having done the local authority training but I agree the longest stretch can be applying for the CRB checks (they also need to be done for anyone else in your household who will encounter the children - eg your DH would need to be CRB checked, if applicable). I would contact your local authority immediately and find out when the training is, and once that is booked you'll also need to book on a paediatric first aid course and a safeguarding course. The latter will also be provided by the council and will usually be free.

You will also need a copy of the EYFS framework - you can download it - and make sure you start getting your paperwork in order in terms of risk assessments and policies.

You could be qualified before September, but most people looking for childcare for September will be looking right now.

I decided to register in February and got my certificate two weeks ago so it took around 10 weeks. I did it all direct with Ofsted as if I had followed the route suggested by my LA the earliest registration was looking like October! I am doing the CYPOP5 course through the NCMA online, which both Ofsted and my LA are happy with. I did a first aid course first and I have had previous safeguarding training as I am a qualified Teaching Assistant. The longest bit was when Ofsted were chasing up references and getting the CRB check through. It is worth getting all your policies and precedures up together as Ofsted gave me less than 48 hrs notice of my pre-reg visit. I only work part-time and I am already as full as I want to be, but i guess that varies hugely depending on the area. Good luck with it.

"PROCEDURES" even!

Many thanks. I've booked onto the next available introductory course at the end of june then I have to do a 4 day course which is likely to be over a few weeks in August or September depending on availability - presumably I can do first aid training & apply for CRB & get paperwork in order whilst waiting to do this course? The man at the LA seemed to think I had to do the courses before anything else but I'm guessing not based on your responses?

I went straight to ofsted myself, they like you to have done or be doing your 1st aid course within 2 weeks of registering you. I had mine all planned for end of may but had to change it to last month so I could register. Good luck with it all.

I had to ask the LA outright if their way was the quickest way or if it was ok to do it direct with ofsted. They were forced to admit to me that doing it myself would probably be quicker and that theirs wasn't the only acceptable course. If you are attempting to access any funding from your LA then you may have to jump through their hoops. The funding wasn't available to me anyway so it didn't make any difference.

In answer to your question - yes, do your first aid and get the paperwork in for crb and references and doctors health check before doing the course, but do look into whether an online course might be quicker, if speed is important to you. I had mindees waiting so wanted to do it asap.

OK sorry one final question, I have recent references, enhanced CRB & medical from fostering application with the same LA - will I still have to do the same again for childminding?

I think so, because it is ofsted that applies for your CRB and checks references not the LA. Worth checking though.

You will have to do a new criminal records check, have your first aid and also some courses under your belt. I started the process in May and took my first Mindee in August. Writing up all your policies and risk assessments was the most time consuming thing and they have to be perfect, it was like a dissertation no joke!! And expect to have to do a fair few things to your house and garden too. My start up costs overall, including buying toys didn't leave any change from a grand. I'm in Scotland tho, so you may be different, but there was no funding whatsoever. Since August, I have made £200 because of all the expenses. I am doing my SVQ self funded at £100 a month. But I hope next year to make a living. If you are struggling with policies or anything pm me and Ill help you, it will be very tough, but some days, well the kids just give you the best laughs.

It cost me about £350, roughly, in direct costs. There was no fee at the doctor's, the local authority course was £129 and my first aid was £110. Safeguarding was free. I had to buy a new travel cot which I got on ebay for £7. Insurance was £44, contracts were £18 from the NCMA, a few bits of stationery £20 (diaries, folders and so on) and the Ofsted fee £35. Didn't have to buy toys because I'm minding alongside my children so we had lots.

There are some very good sites that publish policies that you can adapt for yourself - I got a load from Bromley CMA online - you can copy and paste.

Wow thank you all for the wealth of information. I'm booked onto the First Aid course and just completing our CRB applications & have downloaded EYFS framework (nothing like a bit of light bedtime reading ) and will have a look at the Bromley CMA for policies. Thanks again