How do I find a child minder?

[Munchkinola]

I'm moving house and would like my dd to go to a child minder rather than a nursery. How do I go about finding out what is available? There must be a website or list somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

TIA

Ofsted site? Local council?

Childcare link or do a search for children information centre in your new town and they will send out a list of stuff.

Melton borough council website has no information. Will try Ofsted but am allergic to that site being a teacher

Ofsted silly idea actually because doesn't identify cms (unless you know who you are looking for ie their postcode)

Oooh childcare link seems to be good :)

Early years section of the local council have a list of all registered childminders.Sometimes these are also on the council website although not all childminders advertise on the website.
NCMA members can advertise on their site.
\here{http://www.childcareplaces.co.uk/}
Sometimes childminders use the local yellow pages

\link{http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk\here's the childcare link website}

This information is fed through from the local councils but it's still worth calling your local childrens information service as not all childminders choose to be listed on the website.

If you need the phone number, it should appear once you have gone into the above link and chosen the area in question.

HTH :)

Oh, Direct. gov site also lists some.

Thank you I now have the name of 4 child minders in Bottesford, 3 of which do the days I need.

Any tips on things to check?

I think it would be nice if you could:

Enter postcode in Ofsted's site, get list of childminders. From there, read their reports. Then click a link to get though to local CIS, who confirm if the childminder has vacancies. If so, CIS then pass enquiry details on to childminder. Childminder can then contact the parent.

This is all technically possible, Ofsted and CIS just don't offer it. Why? By CIS doing the contacting of the childminder, the childminders full address need not be revealed... if that's where the concern is.

Munchkinola - I am about 10 miles from Bottesford so if no luck with the ones you have found I might be able to help you find one, depending exactly where you want a childminder (by the way I am a childminder and know lots of other childminders but in Lincs)

Thanks feelingold, I work in Grantham so am looking for somone lovely around and between those two places. Any recommendations would be great :)

I live in Grantham and I am part of the local group and know lots of childminders in this area
Can't do links but our website is www.granthamchildminder.co.uk (we have only just become an ncma group so there's not many of us on there but I know lots more), or if you would like a little bit more personal help you can email me at e dot curtis97@ ntlworld dot com (no gaps).

Good luck with your move.

Thanks, I checked out the website it looks great.
I work the downtown end of Grantham and couldn't see anyone on the list who lived that end?
I rang Leics child info services and they sending a list out to me and gave me the number for notts and lincs one so hopefully between you all I should end up with a great child minder. Thanks for all your help
xxxx

Depending where abouts you are coming into Grantham from/or where joining the A1 I might know some childminders en route (or only a few minutes out of your way). If you don't find anyone or you would like more options just let me know.

Good luck.

Hi

I sent you an email feelingold, did you get it? Not had much luck so far.... my daughter doesn't like dogs

when you find a childminder check:
their ofsted report
what child eats
where child sleeps
routine
playgroups they go to
mot on car/car seats
smoking/pets
age of their children

Just seen this and have emailed you back.