What questions to ask??

There's an alibubbles list of questions floating around hopefully someone will post.

Ask to see certificates (training, registration, first aid etc) if they're well organised they should be in a file given to you with policies etc. Ask to see latest report (pay attention to this as any complaints will be recorded in it) and ask for references.

Ask how the child will be settled in, and what the daily routine involves, and can this be adjusted to suit your child.

Umm... is your ds under three?

This is Ali's list I think :)


How long have you been working with children?

What training have you had? Any qualifications? Are you part of a network, achieved a quality assurance qualification, look at registration certificate, insurance details, business use for car. First aid must be no more than 3 years old, food hygiene certificate, Certificate in Childminding practice or NVQ 3, Contracts and record forms

Do you enjoy being with children and why?

Can I look around, see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside play space - how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?

Where will my child rest?

What kind of food and drink will you give? Can I see a menu?

What will my child do all day?

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will their timetable fit in with my child?

How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?

What hours is she open?

How much does she charge?

What about when my child is sick, holidays, days off

What do you do in an emergency?

When was her last Ofsted, can you see the report?

Top 10 Quality Pointers

When you visit possible childcare options, look for these Quality Pointers:

Are the children calm, safe, happy and busy?

Do children play and talk together?

Is the childminder listening to the children and answering them carefully?

Is the childminder friendly and proud of her work?

I'd just ask about the kiddie stuff first - I always feel if the CM or parent talks about money and holidays and stuff too soon that's what their basing it on... I like to focus on the kids first, then contract later.

But the contracty things you need to ask - how long is settling in period (ie the first few weeks where you can cancel without giving notice) price obviously, whether this includes food etc, how she takes holidays, what happens for your holidays, what happens if shes sick or needs a random day off, what happens if your LO is sick or needs a random day off, bank holidays....

If it helps:

I take 4 weeks holiday at half pay. I give a lot of notice and hope parents can fit it in around me (if I only have one or two parents I try to fit it around them) any holiday they take outside of this is at full pay.

Any random days off I take, or if I'm sick I don't charge, and I'd try to help find cover. Any random days off/sick days for the LO are at full pay.

I charge for bank holidays, but don't work them. If I was really needed, I'd charge double.

My settling in period is 2 - 4 weeks depending on age of child, during this period either side (parent or CM) can cancel at any time if it doesn't seem to be working. After this, notice period is 4 weeks.

Think its the care comission in Scotland or something. Not too sure though so wouldnt take that as gospel :) Good luck

Try \link{http://www.carecommission.com\this} hopefully it will help

Alibubbles list

How long have you been working with children?

What training have you had? Any qualifications? Are you part of a network, achieved a quality assurance qualification, look at registration certificate, insurance details, business use for car. First aid must be no more than 3 years old, food hygiene certificate, Certificate in Childminding practice or NVQ 3, Contracts and record forms

Do you enjoy being with children and why?

Can I look around, see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside play space - how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?

Where will my child rest?

What kind of food and drink will you give? Can I see a menu?

What will my child do all day?

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will their timetable fit in with my child?

How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?

What hours is she open?

How much does she charge?

What about when my child is sick, holidays, days off

What do you do in an emergency?

When was her last Ofsted, can you see the report?

Top 10 Quality Pointers

When you visit possible childcare options, look for these Quality Pointers:

Are the children calm, safe, happy and busy?

Do children play and talk together?

Is the childminder listening to the children and answering them carefully?

Is the childminder friendly and proud of her work?

Is she joining in joining in with what the children are doing?

Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these activities themselves?

Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?

Is the premises clean, well kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will the child go to parks and other places regularly)?

Do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?

If there are other things you want to know, don't be afraid to ask. Good childminders expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

Always take up references. You could ask for names of other parents to talk to about the service

Listen to your child and find out more if he/she is unhappy
Always trust your own feelings about your childcare - you know your child best

Lots of luck

Katymac is my post not showing????? :o

opps just saw that i hadnt copied the whole document LOL

I thought a bit was missing?

i am in a similar situation as I am too thinking of taking my DD out of nursery.
I didn't ask to see an OFSTED report-can I look them up on line like you can with a school?

Yes Gemmamay

\link{http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/\They are here} you just put in your postcode

But remember not all minder will have had a new style inspection - and there won't be any old style ones on-line

It will take about 3 yrs for all minders to have an inspection on-line

I personally would not give notice until you have a contract signed..but if you are confident of the C/Mer you might take the chance?

Thought of something, think it applies in Scotland (though you may need to check).

A 3.5 yr old will get nursery education funding, so could attend pre-school a few mornings a week. Did you discuss anything about pre-school education with the childminder? If not, may be worth doing so, as the childminder will probably know good local pre-schools and may take another child they care for. This can increase your costs as you may need to pay a top-up for pre-school fees (as the grant does not always cover the full cost) and you would be paying the childminder at the same time. However, your DS would be interacting with children of his own age within a learning though play environment.

bump