What do you need to start childminding ?

[BabiesEverywhere]

I like chldren and have babysat a lot when I was younger, I also helped out at the playgroup my mum ran for many years. I have no hands on experience of babies yet but I'm having one in August 06 so I'll be learning that very soon :)

I know that there is a child care course to do plus a first aid course, additional insurance for home and car is needed.I am already police checked (as my husband works for them)

How big does your house have to be to mind kids, I have a decent sized living and kitchen and a grassy garden (no flowers I hate gardening) would that be enough ?

Also do they mind you have pets (cats in my case) and a child of your own in the house at the same time ?

Is there a way to find out if there is too many or not enough child minders in your local area ?(Sheffield, South Yorkshire for me)

Thanks

To find other childminders in the area look \link{http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/whitebox/postcodesearch.asp?Intro=1\here} & put your postcode in

Cats and your own children are find, will be baby be your first?

You will need another CRB check (irrespective of having one already)

Your car needs Class 1 business insurance

I'll answer other questions as you think of them

Go on to OFSTED website and find 'National Standards for Childminding' . You have to comply with these standards and will be inspected against them. They contain space requirements.
If you have a child of your own you cannot childmind as many children as your own children are included in numbers. You need to contact your early rears department in Sheffield and go on an introduction to childminding session. They answer all your questions there.

meant to say early years department not early rears!

Thanks for the information so far, I'll read up on the standards and other links.

Katymac, this is our first baby :)

And bear in mind that when you read all the information, it might look like pretty heavy-duty stuff, but it isn't rocket science and the course will take you through it all (and us, of course!!)

So you will be allowed 2 other children under 5....but probably no babies under 1 (as you have one)

The first few months, after a baby is born, are a very unusual time, you will be quite tired (probably) and i wonder if it is the right time to open a new business?

Katymac,

It is not an ideal time at all but I can do the courses whilst I'm on maternity leave and I have to give three months notice to my work after my maternity leave, so baby will be 9 months before I can even think about starting.

To be frank I would rather just work part time at my current job but my line manager and director have refused to even let me attend breathing classes, neither by working my fulltime job around the classes or by booking holidays.

So I know they will refuse my post maternity application to reduce my hours to three days, with some excuse or another. I will still be applying for it but I will not be surprised when it comes back as no.

So I need a second plan which will allow me to earn a bit of money, whilst ensuring my child is looked after and I prefer the child spends more time with me than with strangers.

My mum suggested childminding, as a idea, I know it will be hard work but no harder than a highly stressed office job 40 hours per week.

At least this way I get to teach children to paint, play with water and sand, playdoh. Cut out shapes and use stickers, read stories, dress up and sock puppets, walks to the park, play in the garden, visit local toddler groups visits, and a lot of meals and nappies, clearing up and nap times.

Very hard work but fun with it, unlike paperwork and reports which are so bland and neverending.

I don't know if this is the right route for me yet, but I can't stand the thought of leaving my new son/daughter in a nursery full time, if I can find a way to spend more time with her/him...even if this is shared time.

I welcome all opinions/information/ideas as I have nearly a year to sort out my options :)

Are you thinking about doing this full on i.e. fill all the spaces you have available or just as a bit of pocket money with 1 or 2 mindees?

You may want to read up about your Maternity Rights.

For example, \link{http://www2.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/matrights-pl958.pdf\PL958 } states:
All pregnant employees are entitled to time off to keep appointments for antenatal care made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered health visitor. Antenatal care is not restricted to medical examinations, for example it could include relaxation classes and parentcraft classes as long as these are advised by a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered health visitor.

Thus your employer may be in breach of the rules - "line manager and director have refused to even let me attend breathing classes" - depending on if those classes were advised by a medical practitioner.

i'm thinking about childminding too. I have all the qualifications but need to do first aid and get CRB checked too.

I have never looked into childminding as i've heard there is a lot of complications eg, getting your house to ofsted regulations and sorting out tax etc.

I'm assuming you do your own advertising too??

How much is the average charge per child??

My garden is a mess, no grass at all hardly, would that matter and also we have a dog very friendly labrador but on meeting her she is quite excitable. Would that matter.

I need to return to work desperately but there are VERY few nanny jobs here and none that will take me with my own DS (18 months)

To do something else and pay child care juat wouldn't be worth my while doing with no other qualifications.

I'm gonna have to get over my fear of technically 'running a business' and do it I thnik which excites me but scares me.

Any help would be gratefully recived.

TIA

Nannyjo - my garden sounds just like yours, but mine had loose flowerbeds and bricks I just told OFSTED I didn't want it registering and they were fine with that. When I do get it done it will be like a patio as it's too small for grass anyway.

We do have to sort out our own advertising but the local CIS also sends out our details to people enquiring about childminders and after registering you get the choice of going on the website as well.

I think if you've got a 18 month old then your house would be nearly up to there standards anyway and the tax is easy to srt out, you just register as self employed and then you have a tax return yearly - not sure what this is like I've not had to do one yet.

Well Nannyjo & Babieseverywhere.....I'm not sure if I should mention this but here goes....

I have just set up a consultancy/mentoring business for childminders (& outofschool clubs) and if you want I could try to advise you (not charge obviously) in exchange for a reference to go in my portfolio (if I'm any good).......

I won't be offended if you say no, but CAT me if you would be interested?

thanks Katymac. I think i'll look into it and discuss it further with DH and then if i can i would love to ask for your services. i'll CAT you when i'm there.

Bear in mind it is very early stages yet, i've just looked on the ofsted site and it does look quite daunting and i think there would be a few out going costs to start up that we would have to look into.

I'll be in touch though i'm sure.

Thank you

Thanks Katymac, if I go for it, I will get in touch with you.

nannynick,
Yes, I have a doctors letter but I am still not allowed to do the classes. I have rung people for advice and it is legal to prevent me doing this classes, as it is all 'at your managers discretion as it is not a hospital visit'

It is also legal for my director to ring me hourly on my home phone, whilst I'm home signed off sick and that she is sending me email to my personal email address and leaving messages and ringing me on my personal mobile...neither of which I gave her. Either though I have left a message with HR begging them to leave me alone whilst I'm ill, they said she is allowed to hassel me in this way as she is my line manager!!!

PS. I work for the NHS...funny eh :)

OMG, I think I saw a friend of yours post on here worrying about you and trying to get advice??!!

HellyBelly,

Yes, I post one thread and she posted another a week later. I'm signed of sick by the doctor at the moment, which is really helping me feel better not having to deal with work people...that and having very nice friends.

I can't do anything about my work situation or those women's attitudes, so I'm trying to be positive (I have spent to many evening crying over this situation)and look for another way out of the situation...hence this thread.

Poor you, I must admit I was shocked to hear this is legal to behave this way (well, if it is, I'm still not convinced).

Poor you! :(

BabiesEverywhere and nannyjo - as well as Katymac, Mumsnetting childminders will be the fountain of all knowledge should you choose to become childminders!

It can obviously be hard work, but that can depend on how many children you choose to mind.

Your house doesn't have to be huge to childmind - if it's relatively small, Ofsted may decide to register you for less children. Not having a garden isn't a problem, although they like you to have access to a park or similar. Having pets is also not a problem.

There are enough childminders on Mumsnet who will tell you that, although we all moan from time to time (especially me about Ofsted!), it is a rewarding job.

Your areas may have a local mentoring system in place already, where newly registering childminders are linked with a more experienced childminder. Your Childrens Information Service (\link{http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp\childcarelink}) will be able to tell you. A local mentor would be able to tell you the average rates in your area, and about local groups/activities, and whether there is much work.

Babies everywhere. Im not sure 'its her attitude' but ringing hourly is somewhat strange especially when you have put a sick note into work. I used to work as a hospital manager and the sickness absence policy dictates that it is employees responsibility to keep their manager informed regularly whilst absent. The manager also has a duty to contact you regularly.Therefore you cannot just be left alone. If all managers left sick employees alone I dont think the NHS would have anyone working at all!!

what does your service actually involve katymac

bibbwo&f.....I'm still working on it - but I'm hoping to help with registration (maybe visit local minders for H&S checks), help with accounts, business strategy

I may sound a bit vague - but it's only about a week old and I'm working on exactly what I can offer (eg links to website providers/help with advertising etc)

That's why helping a few people for free might focus what I need to offer and what is just window dressing or pointless

sounds great. good luck with it.

Thank you

katmac - i don;t know where you find the time for all that you do, you're so busy, a true inspiration to me, i must get off my backside and sort out some mothers day crafts

BE - when I had ds I started my ICP course. I immediately applied for registration, and in the end it took 8 months in total.

After this, I didn't take on my first child for another 4 months.

Am pretty busy now... and am 4 months pregnant and miserable