Teacher / childminder

[LGandPandnow3]

Having spent lots of time reading posts on here I have finally joined due to my (unique?) circumstances??
I am an experienced (and successful!) primary school teacher. In fact I have been a senior leader in a number of primary schools. I have been successful in different ways in my career (turning an inadequate Early Years from ofsted inadequate to outstanding.) Now the time has finally come to have my own baby :-) (currently 6 months pregnant.) I have completed a childminding course and can't wait to spend some time with my own child when s/he arrives but also work with other children (as I have for 20 years!) but in a different way now.

However.. Can anyone give any advice as to if I could utilise these in my new career? Do you think there would be a market for me and where could I advertise to find the niche? I have nannied and tutored. Children have made outstanding progress in my care but I don't want to overwhelm potential clients. I ask because so many people have said 'its a waste ' referring to my education, training and experience. I know it's not but do want to put them to good use...... Any advice? Also what could I charge?

It is not a waste and parents choosing between CMs may well love the idea of having a qualified teacher look after their child. Can't think of any special places to advertise though. Face to face meetings at toddler groups often lead to work and/or recommendations.

My DH childminds with me after 10 years as a teacher. A few of the after schoolies pay extra for private tuition whilst they're here which works out really well. we charge £20 per hour on top of the normal after school fee.

Thanks - that is good to know both of you. Just don't want to put people off either as 'teacher' doesn't conjure up much fun usually!!

You may find that offering private tutoring is more in demand and lucrative. I often get enquiries from parents wanting their children formally tutored, but unless they are the only child/ren present, that is not really practicable, unless of course you have an assistant who can care for your own and any others. I am sure that you will find many parents are nevertheless attracted to the idea of having an ex-teacher caring for their children. As for where to look for custom, I would say use your school contacts.

I agree with minderjinx. Private tutoring might make more money, in less time.

My co-childminder and I are both experienced teachers; my experience was mainly as a nursery teacher, and she has extensive experience across the primary age range. Between us we have a range of other experiences in education and childcare - tutoring, assessing, nannying, day nursery management, residential care.

There are of course many, many excellent childminders without such experience; however we have found that our teaching experience has definitely been an advantage in attracting families. In an area where we have heard several other childminders complain of being unable to fill places, we are always full to capacity with a waiting list.

Initially most of our families found us through our ad on www.childcare.co.uk/ But now, two years later, it's mostly through personal recommendation

Luckylou...which area are you in?? You sound exactly what I'm looking for!!

I'm a teacher and would LOVE my little one to be with a nursery teacher/ childminder.

Where are you OP??

Thanks Luckylou that's really helpful.. And I will defo give tutoring a go too so thanks everyone!

I agree with you all that private tuition work is good for making money and utilize your ability of teaching easily.

if I had a teaching qualification I would not be childminding. I agree with everyone who says private tuition would be a far more profitable and probably a more rewarding use of your qualification.

I think as a teacher, you would find it hard to become a childminder as tbh ime most parents don't have very much resect for what we do and seem to think their job/pastimes are far more important than ours.

You would not need to advertise anywhere in particular. Round here there are many cms with qualifications, most childminding as a stop gap whilst they bring up their own children, you simply write any additional information about your qualifications on your listing with your local council or anywhere else you advertise.

Thanks for your comments. Appreciated.

I'm a qualified secondary teacher and am now child minding and loving it. I live in an affluent area and I know that part of my appeal to parents is that I used to work as a teacher. I charge the normal going rate for Childminders in my area.

mammadiggingdeep - sorry, I haven't been back to this thread and so hadn't seen your question.

We're in north London; but we're full to capacity.

Hope you find a great childminder