Childcare.co.uk

[MrsHerculePoirot]

I am trying to find a childminder for January and have used the website as recommended on here by somebody on another thread. I can't however work out how to actually contact any of the childminders on there - do I have to pay to do this? Thanks for any help...

Yes, pay 19.99 by paypal. Just take out one month subscription and then contact everyone on the list who is remotely useable.

I found that so many had not updated their profiles and had actually had babies themselves, or got married, or changed jobs already.

I did find my current nanny on there and she is brilliant. Lives round the corner too!

Fab thank you very much!

Has your local authority not been able to send you a list of local childminders?

Chilcare.co.uk is useful to find people in your local area as it has a mileage radius search.

Once you have paid, you get access to phone numbers, email addresses and anything else on the Profile Plus bit (such as a website address), so you should be able to get in touch with local childcare providers in various ways to see who has a vacancy to take your child in January.

Yes I've also been on their website (list sent out is same apparently) but only one who has vacancies on there that pick up and drop off at school nursery we need from Jan.

Thank you Nannynick

Have a look on iChild too. You can message people free through there.

The other thing with childcare.co.uk is before you pay make sure your profile clearly shows what childcare you are looking for. This is because many childminders pay already and regularly trawl through parent profiles to contact any whose requirements match their vacancies. |I've been in touch with quite a few parents this way

Agree with Children - I see so many parent profiles that have no useful information about the parent, child or what they're looking for that they might as well not bother with a profile!

Thank you all! I was messages overnight by someone who I was planning to contact so that is promising.

I've put the days I need, term time and the school nursery I need drop off and pick up for and age of my daughter. Have I missed anything?

Thanks again for all you help!

You could try adding anybody you like the look of to your favorites. I would send a message to anyone who did that!

You could put the sort of things that are important to you - whether your child likes time outdoors, or prefers to be quiet inside, that sort of thing. It will help minders understand whether your child would be a good match for the way they do things.

You don't have to subscribe to send a message, only to contact directly. Click on the send a message box on the right hand side and you make contact through the site only.

minderjinx I did that - thank you!

Thanks zule might add something to that effect.

ali you definitely have to pay to send a message to someone. If you click on send a message it just asks you to pay! If someone messages you first you can reply, but you can't make initial contact yourself.

I have paid and contacted 5 people - 2 are definite no, 1 is going to ring me for a chat and 2 still to hear from.