* New childminder on the block - need some advice*

[Lauraschildcare]

I am a newly registered childminder - the phone still hasnt rung yet!!! Being impatient i know. But when the phone does fianlly go i'm a bit concerned about the interview, in general what do parents wish to know the first time we meet, and do you honestly think they are as nervous as me. I really want to start working but am worried my inexperience of the "interview" will hold me back. HELP HELP HELP... THANKS

I make sure that i gather enough information on the initial call as i can, ask the childs age, what hours they require, if they will need you to take or colect the child from a school. Then at the moment what i do is i take their name and number have a think about if i have space, or if i can accomodate what they need and then call back asap. When i first started I jumped at the first chance i got, which were very odd hours, and later on in my career it has been hard to find someone to cover the rest of the hours on the days he comes. So make sure you're accepting whats right for you.
When you invite them round for an interview, maek sure you have more questions, i think you can find some on the ncma website, and they also have a guide for parents which gives them questions that they might ask you, so its worth looking at that so you know what to expect from the parent as well. Stay confident, be honest and you'll be fine.

Thank you diddle for advice. :)

Do you have any pets? If so ask if child is allergic.

No pets. But TY for advice. Just need to stop being a nervous wreck i think :o

When I first registered, I remember having a pad and pen next to the phone, with a few questions on it asking the basics (what childcare did they want, age of child, their phone number - always get a contact phone number!!) Every time the phone rang, the adrenaline started and I felt really panicky!!

I am totally laid-back about it now. I am usually scrabbling around in the bin for a scrap of paper, and shoving my hand down the side of the settee or emptying out the contents of my bag looking for a working pen, and often changing a nappy at the same time.

A lot of parents probably will be as nervous as you. They won't know what to ask you, may know nothing about childminders etc.

It also took me a while to get my head round the fact that I was "interviewing" the parents as much as they were sussing me out.

Good luck!