Childminder or nursery.

[WanderingTrolley1]

DS, 17 months, started with a childminder last week for 2 days p/w.

A place has become available at a local nursery for him to begin settling in period in 2 weeks.

I don't know which will be best for him. Currently, the CM only has 1 other child, but 2 others will start sept/oct.

How do I decide which to go for?

TIA for any responses.

Is he very happy with the cm? What age are the other kids who will join? Is there a big price difference? Or a big difference in travel time?

Fwiw I'd prefer a good cm over a nursery, for some flexibility and slightly fewer bugs about, but it is SO dependent on the cm and on your situation, it's hard to tell without lots more detail!

I have worked in childcare for 15yrs both in a nursery and as a nanny. I chose a childminder for my son. Mainly because there was more one on one care plus if cm only has a few children they can get out and about eg parks and playgroups which nurseries can't do.
If he's happy and your happy I'd leave him where he is.

Personally I prefer a CM while they are little. Nothing against nurseries at all but I like the idea of a more homely environment and care while they are still so small. Does the CM go to playgroups so they he gets a chance to interact with other children?

I think nursery/pre-school is great for children, especially when they get a bit older, they are probably ready for more structure and challenges at that age and so getting them the free hours when they are 3 is good.

But if it isn't broke, is there any need to change it?

Hi, Custard.

This will be his 2nd full day.

They collect and drop off, whereas I'd have to get DS to the nursery myself - about a 10/15 min walk.

When they collect, he doesn't cry, but looks a little sad. They say he's fine once in the dad and good as gold while he's there. Her other minded is almost a year older, which is fine. Her 2 new starts will be under 1.

For DS to do 2 days with CM, it costs me £80. The nursery is £165 p/w, fully flexible, but I still want DS to do 2, maybe 3 days.

In the car, not the dad.

Her other mindee, not minder.

Please excuse poor spelling.

I'd choose a good nursery over a CM any day. Our nursery had an on site kitchen so I think the food is fat superior and more varied than anything a CM could provide. No problems with staff being off sick and more flexibility with holidays.

Our nursery has a vast range of toys and activities, a dedicated dark cot room for sleeping and a great key worker and buddy system. I'm more confident that DD's immediate needs are met as if one child is crying etc there are always more staff on hand. The rooms are dedicated to each age group so no worries about dangerous furniture etc. Our nursery also has large gardens off each room.

I've seen too many childminders ignoring charges at cafes to be confident in their care.

Not all nurseries are equal though - YMMV.

Fat = far!

I liked the idea of a CM, but was put off by the idea of having to either arrange holiday when the CM did (which because they often look after school age children will likely be in the school holidays when it's most expensive to go on holiday) or having to arrange alternative cover.

I was also worried about the CM being sick and having to arrange cover - although most CMs reassured me they hadn't been sick in the last X years.

For me, the idea of knowing the nursery could provide guaranteed care 52 weeks a year (if we wanted it) swung it for me. But there are pros and cons to both options - maybe DD's picked up more bugs as a result of being at nursery and been off nursery more than she would've if she'd been at a CM.

at 17 months I would go with the nursery if it can take him up to starting school.

Having been a nursery manager, and now childminder, I have seen how wonderful both environments are when managed the right way. I left the nursery, despite it being an outstanding nursery, because I couldn't put up with office gossip and politics. A couple of the parents left with me and I now childmind their children.

Things for you to bear in mind;

Nurseries
-high turn over of staff
-if staff member sick, your child may be with someone new

• won't be able to go out to the park/farm/shops that often

-limited flexibility when children are sick

Childminders
-if childminder sick can be hard to find emergency cover (I have CM friend as back up)
-what will you do when CM is on holiday? Your CM seems to run a fairly small operation, so this may be quite easy for you to arrange amongst yourselves
-what's her sick policy say?

Overall, for me, the quality of care I provide as a CM is ten times better than when I was at the nursery. My care is very child-led, as much as nurseries say they do that, they only do within reason. For example, I may plan to do some baking in the morning, but a child may come in with a magnifying glass they got at the weekend, so instead we take buckets to the park and search for mini beasts (that happened this morning). A nursery would never ever have the resources to do that!

Also for a pre 24month old, there is so much value being in the home environment. It isn't loud, and noisy, and artificial. In my 8yrs in childcare, I've never known and cared for children in the same way that I have looking after my mindees now.

We have used both for my now almost 4yr old he started at 9mths 3 days a week with a cm n then at 13mths added in 1 day of nursery.

At 19mths we changed this to 2 days of each as changed cm due to other going off on mat leave and he has been with new cm since then and 2 days of each works well he is happy it varied and particularly now with being in a busy pre school room I think he likes the more chilled cm days for some quiet.

I have worked as a nanny, teacher and senior nursery teacher and I would recommend a childminder if you can find a good one- or if you're happy with the one you have. Mainly for the reasons childminder88 stated, but also because your child will develop more secure attachments and this is so important in the early years.

veryfunny I've never come across a childminder yet who doesn't have an onsite kitchen!!!
FWIW I think the food is of a far superior quality when prepared small scale as you would at home rather than mass catered. I also don't see how it is less varied with a CM? ( or maybe I'm just a bloody good cook!)

Verypunny. I'm afraid I'm going to laugh at the suggestion that all nurseries with on site kitchens provide better food than I can as a cm. do you not know a great deal about childminders? We work on domestic premises, so will have a kitchen in our homes. The children I look after are given a proper cooked dinner every day, unless like yesterday we go for a picnic. As an example, last week, they had roast lamb dinner, home made chicken nuggets, with jacket pots and veg, home made turkey meatballs with pasta and sausages, pasta and veg. I think that is a very good menu for a child. The nursery I worked for provided absolutely dire food, the cheapest of everything, very little meat/protein, lots of fillers and cheap carbohydrates, lack of fruit and veg, lots of biscuits.

I also don't think the best environment for a child is in a group of children of the same age. Children learn by example, so I believe they are better in a mixed age group environment. Little ones copy the older ones, the older ones often enjoy playing with (therefore teaching) the little ones.

I'm also not sure what furniture is dangerous in my home. I have the same kind of furniture as many other mums netter. A sofa, a table, chairs, a bookshelf, etc,etc. my house is probably safer than the children's own home, because it is a business premises and I have to is assess it for risk all the time.

young children are better of with a good childminder who will get to know them, be flexible to the children in their care and offers good quality activities and outings to suit each day, but also think that for the year before school, a couple of hours a day in a preschool type setting so the child gets used to a bit of structure and being part of a larger group is a good thing. op, at 17 months, your child will be getting all the socialisation and stimulation they need from a good childminder.

Does anyone know what formal qualifications (not OFSTED registering) CMs or nursery staff need? Do both need some sort of Early Years learning qualification or is that only for pre-school staff?

I read something in the paper yesterday that said all nursery staff need a formal qualification but no CMs do. That can't be right can it?
I think there are changes afoot requiring nursery staff to have grades C in maths and english but surely that's meant to apply to all childcare providers, whatever the setting?

The only childcare professional who doesn't need relevant qualifications(unless registered) are nanny's. Nursery staff will have trainees but the will not be left in charge. Room managers need at least a level 3 and deputy's a 2 I think. Childminders also need a separate childminding qualification I think.

Also I've worked in a nursery for several years and although the food was good and nutritious it was cheap and bought in bulk. Cm's food is by far better imo.

Childminders need at least level 2 in early years, some speculation everyone will have to be level 3 or higher soon. We also have to do child protection and first aid. Childminders are also required to do a course called CYPOP5.
So no, we are very qualified!!

I am also intrigued as to what sort of set up verypunny thinks childminders have!

Thanks donkir and others - the Evening Standard needs to get its facts straight clearly!

I once cooked a pheasant that a father brought us - he'd been on a shoot. Does that win for "superior" and "varied"? I've got loads more recipes I can put forward (this could be fun!). I cook them in my onsite oven ;)

As for "dangerous furniture"

How dangerous? And what particular item did you have in mind, verypunny?

I'm afraid I'm a bit sceptical when I hear stories about the childminders in the cafe/soft play/park etc.. You do know SAHMS, nannies, grandparents, illegal minders, parents with days off all meet up with each other, don't you?
Bet it was the NCT lot, myself ;)

Tanith, you win. I've never cooked pheasant in my life!

I wouldn't normally get involved in a nursery vs cm debate as it's very much personal opinion & most of us have some sort of bias (ie I'm a cm so naturally think cm is best but if you're child is in a nursery you're unlikely to feel they would be happier elsewhere) BUT I honestly do think of all the arguments for a nursery vs cm, better quality food is most definitely misguided unless you are assuming all cm offer jam sandwiches & turkey twizzlers .