advice from CM's about becoming a CM!

[RogueRebel]

Hi I'm currently seriously considering becoming a childminder.

I enjoy looking after children and I am genuinely interested in childcare professions.
I feel the need to spend more time with my children.
I work a mere 16hrs a week but my managers are constantly causing me stress over asking for time off and working hours, (my oldest has a small graduation ceremony from nursery and I was told by my manager that a days holiday would be the best option, it was agreed there and then with official holiday forms. I'm now in to work on the Rota finishing at the same time the ceremony starts. I also have a problem with a 3week staggered start from reception class in September which is also going to cause problems, they've also put me in for weekend work during weekends I have my children when I've put in writing the weekends my XP has my DC. And are constantly trying to Rota me in for a start time that is physically impossible due to childcare opening times.)

My questions are what is the best online course? I've found a few one being my distance learning college.com and childcarecollege.co.UK

Also would like to know how childminders take their own holidays? Do you need to put all your holiday dates into a contract etc?

Any other advice would be very much appreciated

Bumping for you, also interested.

None. Do not do an online course without first talking to your local authority. If you are in England, Ofsted requiries that you do a course approved by your local authority. Actual wording I think is "a local authority" so technically it may be possible to get a different course accepted, however you may then lack support from your local authority until you have completed registration (as the local authority would not know about you until Ofsted tells them).

So contact your local authority Family Information Service and tell them that you want information about becoming a childminder and they should be able to get the ball rolling.

thank you for that answer, its so confusing to select the right course and doing that is going to make the choices a lot easier.

It is possible to do it online. I rang the family Information service at the council and asked them if the NCMA (now Pacey) CYPOP5 course was acceptable to them. It was - and I completed it much more quickly than if I had done the council evening classes. They still support me with pre inspection visits and invite me to free training courses.

Ask about funding though - in some areas the course can be done free through the council. I paid about £180 for mine. In my case though my postcode wasn't eligible for the funding anyway.

Regarding holidays, in the Pacey contracts there is space for holiday arrangements. I work term time only though, so take all school holidays, which works for me.