cm club: is my house fit for childminding? help!

[beth6]

hi, i dont know if anyone can advise me? i want to become a childminder but im not sure howm much cash id need to spend on my house first. ive heard they check your whole house for health and saftey. i have wooden floor boards, do i need to put down carpets? also i have an open plan sitting room, and the stairs dont have banisters. also, my garden has a concrete/stone path which isnt completely even. would i have to rectify all of these? also, do parents use 'newly qualified' childminders, or is it hard to get children? also, sorry for going on, but i am currently a primary school teacher, do you think that would help any?!
also, what do childminders do about pay, i am hoping to be term time only...do they charge nothing for holidays?
would appreciate any help!
many thanks.

Can tell you the wooden floors wouldnt be an issue as i have then and tiles floor all of downstairs. Is there anyway to block of the stairs? Parents do use newly trained as i have been doing this a year and not been short of work.

Regarding the holidays research the area you live in as there is very little point in singling yourself out if they dont charge as you might not get the work but remember it is your business and you can do as you like within reason.

great thanks jellyjelly! did you have to wait long before you got a child to mind? im in se london, and i get the cm list from the council [as i need a cm for my children], but it seems that the same names are on it month afetr month, which made me wonder if there was any work!
thank you so much for your help!

I assume that your list of childminders was from \link{http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp\ Childcarelink} (not Social Services?). All childminders will be on the list anyway; you can also access those minders who have an "immediate vacancy" only - they are not necessarily desperate for work, it may be that they have a specific vacancy for a particular day, or for an over 5 yr old, or just for school holidays etc.

Wooden floors are definitely not a problem. I don't know about your stairs - it is something that you could ask an inspector on your first visit.

If you are only wanting to work term-time only, it would be a bit unfair to charge for the holidays. If you are available all year, then it is up to the individual minder as to how to charge. I personally do term-time only contracts - it suits me as I have other children who require holiday care only.

I think being a teacher would be in your favour (and you'd know all about Ofsted inspectors!!)

Have you heard of the early years people that run the courses(they do around here) as they can come around and have a look at your house and tell you ways to improve it to ofsted standards before you shell out loads of money. they helped with mine and put in place some things before ofsted came around btu they dont expect you to have it all even if the early years say so.

It didnt take long to fill up, i minded for a friend for 3 months first which was a big tester and opened my eyes. I changed my contracts after!

Hi,

I think you may need to do something about the stairs. Mine had horizontal bars, and the gap between them was too large so i had to fill in the gaps with another bar, to make the space smaller so children couldn't fall through.
Oftsed will only inspect the areas you are planning on using for childminding, so if you're not using upstairs, or your bedrooms etc then they shouldn't need to go up there.

Yes parents do use newly qualified minders, although i suppose some would prefer not to. As a parent what would you do? I think your teaching background will definitly help you, and of course your parenting skills.
when i started, I had a years worht of experience in a nursery and work experience from college many years before, I was also in my opinion very young (22) which i thought would put parents off, but fi you're confident and friendly, and prove to them that you know what you're doing and what you're talking about, you'll have no problems.
You just need to believe in yourself and your abilities, and stay positive.

I think you major issue is the stairs. If you are not going to be using upstairs for childminding, then you will need to block off access to the stairs, to prevent a child getting up there.

Do the stairs comply with building regulations? \link{http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/build-plan/buildingcontrol/regulations/regulations.html#part-k\Building Regulations, basic info.} I am current visualising there being stairs with nothing to prevent someone coming off them sideways part way up. Is that really how they are?

thankyou all soooooooooo much for all your advice! :)
i am going to go and buy new banisters tomorrow, i think it's best! will leave the floorboards for now!
thanks, you have all been very kind.xx

hi there. my stairs are just like yours and in my living room. I don;t often use the living room as i have another reception room, but when ofsted came i told them it would be used. it has never been an issue. all you have to do is explain how you will keep the childrn safe........i always explain that no child would ever be left unattended in that room and that has always surficed (hope thats spelt right) we also have a huge, deep fish pond, and as long as it is securly covered its also never been an issue. its all down to you to tell the inspectors how you will cope, they don't (often) come in a say YOU MUST DO THIS or THAT.. Good luck.