Co-operative childcare? another option being considered

[Italiana]

This article in The Observer looks at co-operative childcare

www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/oct/27/soaring-cost-childcare-parents-work#start-of-comments

and this is the editorial in response to it

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/28/observer-editorial-childcare-needs-radical-strategy Both causing big discussion in Twitter

What do you think of co-operatives?
Looks like neither party has found a solution to the childcare debate
(hope the links have converted properly)

Sounds like a good idea. There have been barriers to this recently where people have tried to do things informally, such as doing quid pro quo childcare for each others shifts. Just the sort of thing the Government should butt out of really. I don't think childminders should have to provide the EYFS curriculum though for one thing. This has just increased costs for them and parents. Whereas what most parents want (I imagine) is something informal, kids being cared for as if they were in their own home. Mine both started pre-school at 2.5 so were getting EYFS at nursery plus at childminders (though she only played lip-service to it, which is why I liked her).

Some kids DO need extra help and yes yes, the differences start right from early on and the sooner this is picked up the better. But most are fine and it's using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

More explanation on co-operative nurseries...but no mention of c/ms
In my view this is a daft idea but wonder what you think
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/bulletin/nurseryworldupdate/article/1157022/?DCMP=EMC-CONNurseryWorldUpdate

Tanith

The co ops here have trained staff members and the parents help and they work great.
I worked in a nursery- none of the staff were qualified.Some were simply brilliant intuitive carers of children some were indifferent- all of us were paid a pretty low wage- I did not expect any more as i had no qualification apart from a desire to earn a living by doing my best to look after children in my care.Much prefer the co op system were people are not simply doing it for money.

I am afraid that I do not see child minders as professionals- they offer an invaluable service but they are doing something parents across the world do day in and day out with no training so I do not think they do justify a professional salary-which pushes the cost of childcare up,
I have a cap I am willing to pay-7- 8 quid an hour for one to one and 3-4 pounds an hour

The UK has some excellent benefits- for a start child benefit- what is that all about just getting paid for having kids- believe me I would love to have it but it is a pretty unjustified give away- unless you are really in need.
In the US there is no subsidised anything- no free nursery- school does not start till nearly 6 for us due to DS's b day.
The UK is a very attractive place in terms of benefits- that is why so many wish to immigrate there.

Co-operative will not work because nurseries are struggling with subsidising the free education anyway....I repeat I have no intention of sudsidising parents their free education...as I care and educate I want to be rewarded for it...you said some people want a lot for nothing...I want a living wage

This is the UK not Sweden where childcare has huge investment from the govt and staff without qualifications do not get anywhere near children
Look at Nutbrown review and you will see her recommendations for investing in the workforce...some recognition would help

Child benefit is about to be drastically cut as have other benefits making childcare more expensive to parents while our costs for delivery increase
Parents still have c/vouchers which is a tax saving scheme...I don't get that

Childminders are professionals and have been for a long time...we look after children and qualify to meet their needs and know about child development called 'expertise and knowledge' ...you said you do your job without training we do it because it is a career

In this country c/ms have always been seen as trailing behind and despite the EYFS that feeling still comes out in such unhelpful remarks...unfortunately we are also badly represented
Do not judge c/ms professional or otherwise until you have seen what our skills and knowledge can produce in terms of professionalism

Pitmountainpony

If you're talking about the US system, then I can understand your comments to a certain extent. My understanding from American parents is that a lot of childcare in the US is pretty poor quality. That's not the situation here in the UK, where the majority is good or outstanding - and that includes childminders.

It makes no difference whether or not you regard childminders as professionals, especially if you have no experience of British childminders: in this country, they are professionals and do a great deal more than simply watch over the children while they play.

Another problem with your co-operative model is its exclusivity. You mention a lawyer, a biochemist etc (incidentally, those professionals can't afford childcare? Really?). Where are the shop workers, the gardeners, the hairdressers? Are they admitted? Sounds more to me like privileged, well off parents avoiding childcare fees.
In the UK, nurseries and childminders take on children from all kinds of backgrounds.
In this country, of course, they'd have to be pretty well off to afford the hall hire and insurance!

Hi Chippininlovesautumn I live in the Greater Manchester area and childminders like myself are having to be competitive with our prices yet still try to earn a wage after outgoings are taken (Insurance, food etc). There are so many private nurseries popping up and because this area is quite high with unemployment so many people choose nurseries with the free entitlement sessions which is fair enough but we cms tend to lose out.

Also there are so many people choosing to register as childminders because of job redundancies and cutting down on childcare costs by becoming childminders so there are not many parents wanting our services.

I have had to take a second job as a casual catering assistant (dinner lady) in local schools while I wait for people to enquire. I have advertised more or less everywhere, am on the local Family Information website, NCMA and Childcare.co uk (which I can't reply to until i upgrade but cannot afford the £20 per month to do so ). Many shops, Child centres with nurseries attached and even libraries are not letting us advertise so i don't know how we are supposed to get work. I might be applying for work as a relief nursery Nurse after Christmas as I have no family locally to ask to help with childcare for my 10 year old ds and we get no help with childcare.

I am from the UK Tanith and I have first hand witnessed nurseries there
Please tell me what the great deal more is that childminders do- keeping kids safe whilst they play sounds appropriate to me.
Actually the biochemist and lawyer have both chosen to stay at home with their kids so I guess they are watching their budget like everyone else.
The point is that there is some really affordable child care here- very good quality too and I hear that in UK it is really expensive.
I am sure a child minder can be professional but it is not a profession as I understand one so I do not expect to pay a small fortune to them to keep my child safe and looked after.

Tanith - being 'at home' does not mean a child will get a home-from-home experience. The whole 'we do so much more than watch over them while they play' is exactly what I'm talking about.

Mum2Luke - I think you'll find it's £20 for 3 months?! Have you thought about a letter box drop? Flyers through vistaprint are really cheap and you could just do a couple of streets each day? I hope things pick up for you soon.

Chippinglovesautumn: I'm not sure it is. I thought you were talking about Ofsted and tickboxes, and that's not what I'm talking about at all.
The EYFS is a play-based curriculum and categorically says it's not intended as a checklist. Have you read it?
I offer the care I give to my own daughter: she's there with me. How can that not be a home from home experience?

Pitmountainpony: you said "here in the US" so I'm assuming your experience at the present time is of the US childcare profession. You certainly don't seem to know much about childminders!

You also say you prefer intelligent, committed, loving parents for your childcare. Are you really trying to tell us we're not any of these things? Are you adding to the insult by claiming, on a board full of nannies and childminders, that you don't think we're professional?

I'm trained and qualified to care for all types of children, and deal with all kinds of needs. A parent is not. I have already touched on some of the service I offer above. This thread is not about my personal childminding service, though.

I don't accept that we're too expensive, either. I think you reaffirmed my observation that these co-ops are just a way of allowing better off people to avoid childcare costs.

I also think your objection is not so much to "professional" as it is to "paid".

I agree too Tanith, I don't know about childminders (or babysitters I think they are called) over there but us childminders are running a business, many of us have qualifications in childcare ranging from NVQ Level 3 to Foundation Degrees and Honours Degrees in some cases. How can anyone say we are not professional in the same way as nurseries?

Most childminders are mothers who have their own children and in my case adult children, don't profess to know it all but have 22 years of being a Mother so I know a bit at least.

We just want a fair deal, in my area alone there are 10 private nurseries offering 'free sessions' to parents, how on earth can I compete with them? No matter how many fliers i put around (thanks for the suggestion, I have tried that but not one single enquiry), have also put business cards on cars but found them on the floor in the car park when I went back later.

Pitmountainpony Tell me what do you think you should pay for good quality care for your child then? I pay Public Liability Insurance, I go on Safeguarding Chidlren courses, I never discuss mindees business with other parents and I am qualified in Paediatric First Aid as well as having a Good OFSTED inspection.

People will pay more for a cleaner than for childminders!

Some c/ms also have EYPS but it is the perception that matters...we are not valued and, above all, many parents fail to understand that 0-6 is the most important phase for children....
High quality makes a huge different and it has a price some are prepared to pay