Considering becoming a Childminder

[ValiumQueen]

Very early thoughts about this tbh. DC3 due October, so on Mat Leave for a year, so no urgency. How long does it take to register and do all the training? I currently work full time as a Nurse, but will need to cut my hours when I return, as I could not afford the Childcare costs. DD1 is 6, DD2 is 2 so would be in Nursery come next August for half days. No experience of Childcare except my own and their pals. I have a good sized house and garden.

Thank you for your help.

I started the process at the beginning of March 2011, started my pre-reg course in May (as I just missed out on the previous course).
I applied to Ofsted in July 2011 had my Registration visit from Ofsted in mid November 2011.
My first mindees started June 2012! Due to being messed about and parent circumstances changing.
Things are kicking off now.

Hi currently it takes about 12 weeks start to finish, but that will alter in September as from then you will have to complete all your compulsory training before Ofsted will register you. The training you require is CYPOP5 (or equivalent) (this is an introduction to childminding unit from the NVQ), paediatric first aid & safeguarding training (child protection). Your local authority will run briefing sessions about what is involved that you usually have to book onto & they should be run in the areas where they think there is a demand for childminders. A word of warning though as you will have 3 children under 8 years old you will be restricted to no more than 3 children you can care for & as you will have 2 under 5 years old then you will only be able to care for one other under 5 even when your dd2 is at nursery, as she is still considered to be your responsibility. Therefore you earning potential will be limited until dd1 turns 8, however you will not be needing to pay out for childcare of your own children. I would do some research on the demand for childminders in your area, in other words how easily will you get the work, and also what your earning potential is with up to 1 full time under 5 & 2 children aged 5-8 before & after school.

As you need to take the training in advance now I would think about 6 months from start to finish to allow you time to get on all the training courses you need, which are also likely to cost you some money as well.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I knew I would only be able to have one little Mindee, and that would suit me down to the ground. I had a dreadful time finding a childminder for mine, and there is no after school club or wrap around care for Nursery so I am pretty confident I could get business. I already have a 7 seater, which I guess would help! I will start putting out feelers around courses etc. and watch this board with interest

I'm mid registration at the moment and won't be registered until after Sept 1st so am currently doing my CYPOP5 course. Ive done the local authority days, the 12 hr paediatric first aid and sent off my first lot of forms. I am about to send back my CRB forms and Ofsted say I can expect to hear about my visit within 7 weeks from them receiving those back. I did my first local authority briefing in June and anticipate being registered by Oct/Nov so around 4 months all being well. I also anticipate that it is going to cost in the region of £500 to set up, get all the qualifications, registrations and the couple of necessity items I will need for my home (although I have just heard the LA will pay towards my online course which was doubtful at one point - so maybe a little less once they send my refund). It would have taken longer if I'd had to wait to do the classroom course that didn't start until October. Good luck. i'm finding this forum really helpful!

By 'things for your home' do you mean things like double buggies and safety gates, play pens, cots, bouncers etc? probably a daft question really, but is there anything else that would need to be got that I would not have already?

Consider first aid kits, fire blanket, extra car seats, high chairs, toys, crafts, garden equipment, travel cot, folders etc to hold paperwork. Other costs might include, first aid course, doctor's fee, ofsted registration fee, PLI, car insurance, home insurance, college fees, ink for printing, storage for extra toys.

Are these extra costs all tax deductible? as I say I am at the very beginning of these thoughts, and it is clearly quite a complicated process. I am really grateful for your contributions. Is the car and house insurance a lot more or fairly negligible? Is there a yearly fee for registration? I pay a fortune for my nursing registration.

Yes all tax deductible so keep all your receipts. I actually made a loss in my first year so don't be surprised if you do too. The yearly ofsted fee is currently £35 if your registered on all three registers. More if you're not. May I recommend www.childmindingforum.co.uk for more support.

Wonderful, thanks for that link. I will have a look. Made a loss in your first year? Do you need to have a partner with a good job to survive or do benefits kick in? My DH does not yet have a contract, and only gets paid minimum wage. We have a mortgage and bills to pay, like most folk. Maybe I would be an idiot to give up a well-paid full time secure job? Hmm. Thank you.

It's tough. Like most self employment, you have to be prepared for dry spells. It can take time to fill all your spaces and especially with only one early years spot, finding one full timer or a couple of part timers whose hours fit seemlessly around one another isn't as easy as it sounds.

Seriously go to the forum I gave you and have a look around at the different sections. You'll find out very quickly if it's for you. I think if child care is something your passionate about and happy (and financially able) to spend time building up a business then it can be very successful, rewarding and money is good. If you just see it as a way to save money with your own child care and earn a bit of pin money then I wouldn't say it's for you. It's incredibly demanding and takes over your house, plus evenings and weekends spent on courses or catching up with paperwork.

Benefits I'm not sure about, we receive tax credits due to our joint income but what else could you claim? Job seekers? I think that's only about £65 a week. Income support I don't think as you have a DH earning. Something to look into though.

Childcare is something I wanted to do when I was younger, but I was told I could not have kids and just could not bear it. I now have a fairly good job, but with childcare to pay for it hardly seems worth going to work, and I would dearly love to be a SAHM but finances just do not allow that. I guess I am wanting to have my cake and eat it.

Thank you so much for your honesty. I will look at that forum

Good luck then! :)

And shout if you have anymore questions.

I started when DH had a 'proper' job, but now DH and I both CM together. We love it, but we do have to budget for times when we might not have much work, or have extra expenses.

Sorry ... Good luck ... if you go ahead, keep us updated

(also interested in how new registration process works)