Some Advice Please (Thank you so much )

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Hello Everyone

Are there any childminders who only care for 0-5's ?

Did you use to do the school run but decided to only do younger ones?

Why did you decided to do this?

How do you deal with the little ones who are getting ready to go to nursery or full time schooling? did you still care for these children but not take any new school children on?

What are the pros and cons in the decision you made to only care for little ones?

When does a childminders setting become a nursery?

I know I asking a lot of questions, but I am thinking ahead, as the needs of my family is changing and I would like to to make some changes to my cm business in the future.

My youngest is in the juniors still, going into year 6 in Sept. I have done the school run for years (will not complain). I would like to slow down the pace I am going at and not have to clock watch so much, throughout the day. Financially looking after under 5's is better.

I would also have a different routine with the little ones. I would like to attend more groups etc.

Thanks for your time and support with this

Wouldn't you still need to do school run for your Junior school aged child?

Wouldn't you be restricted in number of children, such as 3 under school age?

Childminders become a nursery I think when there are more than 3 adults. So you could co-childmind to increase the number of under 5s, plus have an assistant but not sure if you could have more than that. Expect it is in one of the Ofsted documents, are you in England?

Cindy34 thanks for responding.

I may consider letting him walk to school by himself (with a mobile phone) or perhaps think of making changes when he goes into year 7 in Sept 2015.

I am slowing letting go; allowing him to go to the shops etc by himself.

I am in England.

Its amazing I started cm when my youngest for in full time schooling. Sometimes you know its time for making changes.

My husband will be starting his own business this year so we will have more flexibility in what we can do for our children.

I have under 5s only in term time and school children in the holidays. Changed to this when DD started secondary school and sorted out her own bus journey.

HSMMaCM thanks. That's a good idea to consider !!!! I have a 5 year old on my books who uses my service only, sometimes, in the holiday time. Interesting....thanks again

At what stage of childminding did you do this change? in Sept when your daughter went into year 7 or earlier?

In September when she went to year 7, but it did happily coincide with a child starting school where there is a good before and after school club. It was also a fortunate time to stop pre school runs

How much notice did you give your parents?

Ooh. About 6 months to a year I think.

Thanks

Has anyone else done this move? love to hear from you on this

I now have 6 mindees aged 14 months to 4 (pre school nursery). Stopped doing school aged minding when dd was being bullied at school and home by a mindee. Now have 2 babies and an older one every day. Dc much happier as they love all the littlies, I'm much happier as my days are really busy but also fun and rewarding (sometimes I even get them to sleep at the same time and manage a bit if housework). The two older ones do lots of crafts which I love, but are only here half days so I have to keep things simple. I'm really lucky that the mindees gp do the nursery runs so I don't have to worry about getting all of them out at a certain time, just having the older ones ready to leave on time. Needed to buy an extra car seat and have a huge double buggy and 2 high chairs, and some days I feel like I'm constantly changing nappies but I'm much happier and healthier from being out & about pushing the huge double buggy!

thanks for that fivesacrowd much appreciated....

I'm interested in this too. I only work 3 days per week and only have after school children 2 days per week. I have just given notice to the after school children on one of those days as I find it all too crazy having had 3 little ones for the school day, to then have 6 children for tea. I am going to try it with the 3 little ones (one finishes at 3pm) plus my 2 (junior school age) and see if life is a bit calmer. Obviously I will still have to do the school run for my own children, but I'm hoping that 4 children rather than 6 will feel more straightforward.

thanks runoutofideas.

I am giving this some serious thought

My youngest is now walking a head of me and meeting up with his twin friends ; walking to school together.

I would like to have some more time to do something for myself. I have four kids of my own 9-18.