advice please... childcare on domestic premises, childminder, which to choose

[LauraMysak]

I have to make a decision about where to put my son soon because I'm going back to work fulltime in September. I've narrowed it down to two options, one a nursery cum childminder (childcare on domestic premises) 9 babies are to be in a house with 3 staff, plus they have a room in the village elsewhere where the over 2s will be. Staff seem enthusiastic and don't appear to want to move. the problem with this setting is it's pretty chaotic and they've only just started and are working to get things organised. the other option is a childminder, very calm and quite different to the first option. I'm sure my son would be safe and feel secure with her but I am concerned if she has other mindees whether she won't be able to always look after him properly. do you think I should go with a startup nursery/ childcare on domestic premises or a childminder? sorry for vagueness. fully expecting no replies, just a good place to get it out of my head and into words!

how old is your DS -under 1 ? I would go personally for childminder option- what other mindees does she have - she can only have 3 under 5 - and only 1 can be under 1 - and in my very good experience of CMs if they has older mindees they help/play with the younger ones which in my view is a big plus
the other option -well sounds chaotic and actauly I would say your DS would have less attention than with the CM

Yes thanks, AnOtherName. I agree. The childminder only has a couple of other mindees two days a week, plus her own two, one at 11months, one at 3. My son would be the only fulltime mindee. She wants to keep to only a few so that she can cope easily. I think I'm going to go with her. Thanks for your advice.

Childminder
Childminder
Childminder

IMO

Laura ... just check the CM only has 3 under 5 (or check her registration to see how many she is allowed). If she has 2 of her own children and your child full time, where do the other 2 children fit in?

Bear in mind she may have variations allowing her to go over the usual numbers, and from September CMs can bypass Ofsted re variations if they want to take on another under 1 if they have their own baby under 1, and parents and the CM are happy that all the children's needs can be met safely.

I'd go with the nursery. Feels safer and less likely to let you down.