A new childminder has started up. She is trying to poach parents

[Saltire]

Which is good, and she is doing pre-schoolers as well as before and after school care.

However she has approached all my parents, the parents of the other CM and all the parents whose children go to nursery and said that if they let her know how much they pay us all and for what hours she will guarentee to under cut us.

(frankly with the 2 siblings I have I don't actually care if she does)

But I am a bit about it all, i think it is actually bad practice for her to be doing this.
I had noticed that my adverts and those of the other childminder kept disappearing , now I think I know why
What do you all think?

that's awful - I don't generally like confrontation but I think I would have words with her - even if you have to do it with another local cm to support you. she is out of order. or talk to your network coordinator if you have one...

What a stupid way of doing things! And more fool the parents who use her. If she's happy to use such underhand tactics then they shouldn't trust her as far as they can throw her. Also, I go out of my way to get to know the other childminders in my area, we have a lot we can learn from each other; I get ideas for activities from them, we help each other with paperwork and pass on prospective parents if we're unable to take them on.

I think that's a good idea from Reet, speak to your local co-ordinator, someone should have a word with this silly woman - for her sake as well as everyone elses!

She is mistaken in the belief that price is the key factor in selecting childcare. her business skills need serious honing.

Doesn't sound like she really gets what childminding is about if she thinks that undercutting on price is the most important factor. I'm about to start up and will need the support of other local CMs for advice and potentially to help each other out, they're a really friendly bunch, always willing to spend time talking about the job, the last thing I'd do is to try and poach their kids!

x-post Easter!

Well it's a business and a tough job so all you can do is hope parents will realise cheaper isn't always better and ensure you offer the best service you can. People prefer dealing with a known quantity, you probably have a fine reputation, don't slag off the competition just make sure you get your ads back up. Hope your customers stay loyal.

Saltire, let her have the siblings you've been struggling with, then sit back and watch her cope as a new cm having alienated all the other cm in the area . Rubbish business practice, unless in your area price is the only factor parents are concerned about - I like to think that my parents put quality of care above price.

I use a childminder - not only would I tell her where to go, I would refuse to have anything to do with someone who ran their business like that. I chose my current and last CM (who retired hence the new one) purely for how they interacted with my children and how the setting felt. Saving a few pounds here and there was incidental.

All the CM's round here meet up with the kids to play, she's really shot herself in the foot if she plans anything like that...

There's only 2 other CMs (one of whom is me) and her. Most of the children go to the nursery, which also undercuts us childminders (£20 per day for a whole day school age child session during the holidays) but there seems to be enough to keep us all going.

On another note, a local B&B is looking for a cleaner, for 15 hours a week. I am sorely tempted to pack in CM'ing and give this a go.

I lose 2 children in August so will be left with those 2!

Very poor practice. If I needed to use a childminder, I'd cross her off the list straightaway for behaviour like this. Totally unethical. And not very clever!