CHILDMINDERS: is everyone finding it very quiet at the mo???

[chezbabe101]

have been registered since early jan this year and have had no calls at all :(

Caroline

Does the personal information about you on the CIS website mention that you are an ex-nanny? (qualifications?)

Have a look through other minders' information listed - there may be stuff on there you could include on yours. It may only simple stuff (special needs experience, languages, activities you offer, courses etc.), but it may give you a couple of brownie points.

I have had all my calls from the netmums site, apart from one from the CIS site... Have a mindee but not exactly working...!?!
So back on the search again......! Just seem to be no children in either of the schools I can collect from.

this is my additional info on CIS, what do you think?

I am a Mum to two lovely girls and an ex-nanny of 14 years so I am very experienced. I am willing to take from newborn and have lots of experience with them having had two children of my own.

We live in South Oxhey, Watford in a welcoming family home with a nice size garden and lots of toys and activities for all ages.

During the week we go to toddler groups, do creative activities, visit parks and libraries. We try to get out as much as possible, weather permitting.

I already do a school run to St Meryl in Carpenders Park as my eldest daughter goes there. I am able to pick up from all local nurseries too.

I am CRB checked and hold a current First Aid Certificate.

Oh _ I get my dance shoes in Carpenders Park...totally useless info I know - but I just thought I'd say

I've done a search for childminder in watford on google and I come up from some of my ads on websites but still nothing, am running out of ideas :S

haha my daughter gets hers from there too :)

bbet mine cost more

how come?

Sorry assuming your DD was little - mine are size 5 cost £45 + postage....but they are handmade

wow my little girls jazz/modern shoes were £25 i thought that was expensive, what dancing do you do?

When I have time

Ballroom, latin, disco, rocknroll, salsa

I used to do disco latin american and ballroom as a child, wish I hadnt given it up, I bumped into my teachers last week after 24 years... they havent changed, I just love watching those dace progs on tv, wishing it was me up there... oh well... carry on looking for minding work ay lol

dance can't spell

chezbabe - is the information you wrote earlier written out like that on the CIS website? Ours just lists stuff, not particularly personalised as such.

thats how they put it, exactly as its written on this post, I dont knw what else to add really

I think it's a really friendly way for it to be put down, and must be nicer for parents to read than ours - ours is a list saying things like:

Garden
TV/video
Open space (???!!)

I've just checked mine out to see what was on there and am a bit miffed to find that they have removed many of my things. On my list of "facilities", it says "kitchen". Eh? Don't we all have kitchens? I don't see a kitchen as a selling feature! Apparently, I also have a "sleeping area" and "other". All news to me.

I would also make sure that you have your own phone number on there (and email) rather than having to ask parents to contact the CIS to get your number.

Our (nursery) CIS listing was all wrong initially. The age-range, vacancies etc. etc.

It took a while and a good few phone calls to get it sorted and I was very P'd off as it affected our business badly.

All registered childminders have to have CRB check and 1st Aid certificate, so not sure that you need to mention them on CIS site?? What do the other minders have on theirs?

Definitely include any courses/qualifications you hold, like Food Hygiene. Would you need to say that you'd actually collect from your dd's school? (eg. Can pick up from St. Meryl etc., where eldest dd attends reception class etc.?) Am only nit-picking, sorry!

You could also say something about taking advantage of any child-related (?) courses to enhance your service/professionalism (needs better wording than I've put!) It's late!

I wish we had the opportunity to "sell" ourselves in such a personal style on ours!

thanks thats great, haven emailed them anyway so maybe can think of more to say like you suggested, but im sure my new info looks better than the old one :) every little helps :)

*can't type tonite I have emailed them, terrible spelling, im sorry like you said its late, will email them again when I've sorted it again, night night and thanks :)

I've just had a look at the Hertfordshire CIS - it's set-up the same as ours with stuff about charges, school pick-up etc. (I guess they all are!), but the "Other information" you are able to personalise is brilliant.

They called me this morning, they didnt really want me to put that my child goes to a certain school for child protection, didnt think of that, doh

:)

I think it must be the area chezbabe maybe more cmders than demand. Im waiting to get registered, OFSTED only just been out but Ive had 6 enquiries now. Thats nothing to do with my service, rates etc because I dont have one at the moment.