A few questions about childminders...

[Doobiedoobedoobie]

Argh I'm in a right pickle :(

Having so many problems finding a CM for my DC (4 years and 16 months) basically there's a choice of one childminder who I went to see today that's able to do pick ups/ drop offs at the school DC1 will be going to in Sept.

She's nice. It wasn't exactly like we clicked but I didn't dislike her either iyswim. I have the option of a nursery I suppose but I'm not madly keen on the one I've looked around tbh. Maybe I need to branch out.

My main question is regarding ratios. She has 2 children of her own (a 4yo DD and a 6 mo too), how many other children is she allowed to take on? She mentioned another sibling group today go on the days I'm thinking about using (3 full days), 6 children seems like an awful lot!

Type the school postcode in as well, see if that gives you names of anyone local to the school (it may not, as you say not all childminders have opted to have their name details available). Then contact them (cross match details with the council list) see if they can collect from the school.

Have you spoken or emailed childminders on the council list to ask about collecting from the school. I know some lists say which schools someone collects from but that info is not always uptodate.

X-posted... See you have rung them already.

Friends could do it for free but not for payment/reward due to being more than 2 hours. Any after school club?

Try nannyshare.co.uk and childcare.co.uk: nannies have so many advantages, they can mind your little ones when they're ill, where CMs and nurseries won't. They can do house work, cook what you want them to, teach what you want, do the activities you want too etc. we're paying about 7 ph including NI, taxes etc. and that is sharing with another family for our 3 year old. Check out nannymatters for payroll info. It is really easy. Good luck

Does the school have an after school club at all? Then you could look around at the other cm's in your area for your youngest one?

Would you need more than 2 hours for your school aged child? Your friend would be fine to not be registered if its for less than 2 hours a day,

Or I could you even have them in different cm's? This lady for your eldest child and a different cm for your youngest?

I'm a childminder, my own dc are now 8 and 6 but I have been minding since my eldest was 6 months and so over the years have had my own dc be the youngest and the oldest and its all worked out fine.
No decent cm is going to ignore your child just because her baby is crying. It's all about spreading your time and attention. A good cm is able to do this well and as someone else said toddlers can gain a lot from interacting with babies.
But if you're really not comfortable with the idea then I don't think you should use this cm really. You do need to be happy with your choice and not just settle because she is the only one who can pick up from your chosen school.

Good luck with it all.