Any advice on how to find a good CM?

[cye]

I hope it's not cheeky to ask Childminders how I go about finding a good CM for my DD - but I thought if anyone would know what to look for you guys would!
I have the list from the local authority and access to ofsted reports online but I know most people say a recommendation is best - and I don't have one of those! I'm worried that a quick visit won't tell me all I need to know. I haven't done this before and I don't know what I'm looking for. I know what I'd like - a 'home from home' environment with other children and a CM who I trust instictively but who also has an 'outstanding' ofsted report...and spaces on the days I need. I really believe CMs are the best option for young babies - if I can find the right one for us.
So far all this lists have done is give me a headache and everyone is full or too far away...and I'm getting very anxious! Any tips or hints gratefully recieved.
many thanks!

I would also look at childminders with a good report, but please remember that not all childminders have been inspected under this latest round of inspections, as they have only been going for a year & it is a 3 year cycle.
Definitely go with your gut instincts, ask for references & make more than one visit if you need to, any childminder who is good would not mind that happening. Try to visit at different times so as to meet different children, e.g. littlies after schoolers & the minders own family.
You don't say what age your dd is, but if she is under 1 this then limits childminders with vacancies as most cannot look after more than one baby at a time. Good luck with your search, if you want to post the general area you are looking in there might be someone on here who can help.

I would also recommend that you look at childminders with a Good OFSTED report. I like to have the parent/s in with all of my mindees so they know what happens in the house during the day. I generally have 2/3 settling in sessions with parent/s in the house and then 1/2 without parent/s. I would also go on your instincts. I live in a small village with about 15 CMS in total and i would only leave my child with 2 of these.

not all childminders have had an OFSTED inspection, I had my intiial one before registering but have no mindees at present so havent had my 2nd one, so don't disregard new childminders, I have 15 yrs childcare experience as a nanny

Thanks gusy - that's all useful stuff, i appreciate it. i suppose the truth is it's not easy and it is stressful! that's motherhood! DD will be 12 months when i go back to work.
I so want to be laid back - but just can't seem to help being neurotic! ho hum.

thats totally understandable, I'd be the same

childrens information service

they hold a huge list of minders in your area, just click on where you live and there you go

Just as a matter of interest where abouts are you?

I'm a registered childminder myself of 18 years standing and have been graded "good" this time around previously I was graded "satisfactory".I firmly believe it's down to the inspector on the day of inspection as to how you are graded as the only things that are different this time around is the way I store toys and how I present my paperwork,both are hardly going to affect how well children are cared for.I know I will never achieve "outstanding "due to the fact that I don't have a seperate area in my home for childminding or a downstairs toilet but if it's home from home you are looking for these things don't really matter .
Try to visit a number of childminders and go with your intuition and ask yourself if you would feel confident in leaving your baby with them.I agree with munchkinsmummy there are some childminders I would'nt leave a pet poodle with let alone a child .

Lynie, I got an outstanding and dont have a seperate area or a downsatirs toilet, not having either of these did not affect my receiving an Outstanding.

Hi, if you go onto your CIS site there should be info. on choosing a good childminder or you could read the NCMA Guide to choosing a childminder.

Don't knock those of us without 'Outstanding' I've not had an Ofsted inspection since the new gradings came in so haven't had the opportunity to gain one yet!

There are 4 of us C/Mers working together - 3 have good, I have outstanding

They all work to my standards

Don't know how OFSTED work it all out

Hi Iv been a childminder for a year now and I moved at xmas so they had to come and inspect me.The inspector said that she could only give me a satisfactory as Im so new, although all the way through the inspection she kept saying how well I was practising and how organised I am and that my setting was so good and my paperwork was impressive.
I would personally look at as many as possible as near as possible and even ask the childminder to arrange a meeting to meet excisting parents.Check out all references by speaking to them not writing.Be very thorough as Im sure that goes without saying.Spend as much time there as possible before you make a decision.
I have mum who found it extremely difficult to leave her son with me and was often in tears.She feels ok now.It takes time,tolerance and conssideration from all and if the childminder gives you ANY hint at all that she is not keen with the way you want to make the decision then steer clear,after all our children are our most cherished possessions!!!
All the best.

mum2oliver - that happenend to me with my inspection I'd been registered less than 6 months so she couldn't give me any higer than a satisfactory.

cye - I think you should see as many as possible and go with your gut feeling, you never know you could feel most comfatable with a minder that has only just registered. Take your dd with you when you go to meet the minder and see how dd is with minder and the other way round.

You're all being so helpful, thanks so much for taking the time to share your wisdom! It's good to see you're all saying pretty much the same thing. i agree on the inspection thing, i'm sure there are variations according to who the inspector is, whether they're having a good day, if traffic has made them late...etc!
I am in London. N4. Stroud Green for any of you who know the area.

Please don't assume that someone who has "outstanding" is necessarily better than someone who isn't (apologies to the mumsnet minders who are outstanding!)

Ofsted's ability to be consistent is abysmal, and I know of many wonderful childminders who have been awarded "good" rather than "outstanding" because they didn't keep mounds of written plans, or forgot to wash a child's hands before lunch!! (This is not me, by the way, I've yet to be graded with their new system!!)

Another option would be to go along to some of the toddler groups in your area where lots of childminders go,thats were i found my mine. From what i saw, I can honestly say there were some childminders i would never leave my kids with.

cye - don't doubt that a visit won't give you 'the one'.

I spoke to one CM on the phone and instantly disliked her so made my excuses and didn't arrange to visit her. I went to one CM's house and didn't like the way she and her mother chatted to me in one room while the children played in another (and one was asleep in a buggy in the hallway).

The next one I visited I knew immediately. I hadn't read her Ofsted report (I'm not sure if she'd been inspected by then) but I liked the way she was completely at ease with her skills. She made me a cup of tea, talked to DS without being in his face but still managed to give the 2 children playing her 99% attention. She stopped talking to me to talk to them and knew instantly what they were doing - starting to squabble, etc. - almost before they did it. She just seemed really competent and caring and so she has proved over the last 3 years with my 2 children.

Good luck with your quest. There will be a great one out there!

Yes, the toddler group idea is a good one and I'm sure you're right about the gut feeling at a visit. I was thinking i might go back a second time with DH - second opinion from the other most interested and devoted party! - what do you think?