From childminding to nursery?

[poopnscoop]

Hi all, I am after some feedback and advice.. have a big decision to make and need some objective responses. I am on leave this week, and taking this opportunity to do my homework into the following.

I am a childminder... OFSTED outstanding x 3, good x 1... been childminding for nigh on 14 years. I have 2 children of teenage years. I am considering closing my childminding business and opening up a nursery for the following main reasons... would really appreciate your thoughts.

(1) Getting a mortgage as a self employed person is far more difficult... easier if being paid by the 'nursery'.
(2) I get my home back. It's a mini nursery! SPACE.
(3) I can have family members and friends stay with me anytime and as long as they like - no need for CRBs et al.
(4) Concerned re proposed deregulation of childminders.
(5) I'd be viewed as a childcare professional.. so tired of being spoken of as the 'babysitter' by ignorant folk.
(6) If my husband is home he can actually rest... he has a health condition.
(7) Privacy, less wear and tear on home etc.
(8) There is a huge demand for excellent childcare in my area.. I am inundated with inquiries.
(9) I have nursery experience.

Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE the principal of childminding. For little ones I believe it's wonderful... hence me thinking of starting a smallish nursery... and ensuring it still has that intimate and 'home from home' feel. On a personal level... my own ethos and level of care for the children would not change.

There is some information that may be helpful on this thread.

Thanks for that link! I have looked at the Ofsted requirements.

I would just be very careful that you think you can make any money out of it. Your outgoings will obviously be much higher. A friend of mine who runs a nursery says they struggle because the amount paid for 3 year olds on their free entitlement is much less than their hourly rate for younger children, so it is hard to make it financially viable.

Good luck with it though - your reasoning is sound, and it sounds like it would be a lovely place for little ones.

I don't know what the call is for nannies in your area - but I finished cming when my kids were teenagers and I wanted my house back so went back to nannying. I hadn't nannied for over 10 years but parents were fine with the cming experience and that I had brought my own children up so went back into it at the higher end of the payscale.

Interesting reading. poopnscoop you seem to know your stuff.

Just wondering

If a childminder only looks after under fives, would the transition from cm to setting up a small nursery be a big one? what make a nursery? is it the amount of chilldren and the setting its run in? Excuse me asking further questions

The biggest thing for me would be it being out of the home. Nurseries vary in size greatly.

Yes... the govt funding makes it hard for nurseries, I will find out what I would be paid for this, and factor that in.