Any childminders who foster?

[KaySamuels]

Hi all I am a childminder with a 2yr old son and me and my partner have been talking about fostering, wondering if any other childminders out there do this? We have both agreed we would only foster school aged children. Any insights, experiences welcome just want a real persons view of it iyswim.!

No, but my Mum did> short term and long term fostering, home from home schemes and childminding. While having four children ( the fourth is a product of fostering )

we want to foster also but i am waiting till my own sons leave home as i dont seem to have enough time with them as it is (they are 9 and 10)
i know the foster child has to have a room of its own (which we dont have yet)

good luck KaySamuels

Maybe they have different rules in different areas but a friend of mine who childminds wasn't allowed to childmind and foster at the same time. Maybe you had better check this out with your local fostering team.

Message withdrawn

I gained one of my mindees cos their childminder was giving up childminding to foster, she too was not allowed to do both (this was earlier this year).

yes I have heard a lot of different rules myself, I would still be childminding and foster child would share a room with my son. Am speaking to someone from the fostering team tomorrow so hopefully he will answer some of my questions too, thanks for all your replies!

Had a quick browse of the net, and it seems as though being a Foster Parent and Childminder at the same time is rather the exception rather than the norm.

Sunderland - Fostering Your Questions Answered
"Q Can I foster if I am already a childminder?
A If you have a child you are caring for you can continue to childmind until this particular commitment has finished. However, you are then unable to foster and childmind at the same time."

Sunderland's questions answered site has other Q and A's which may help as well, such as "Can A Child Share A Bedroom?"

Expect each Local Authority has it's own specific rules regarding if you are able to continue childminding existing children, or if you have to give up completely. So best to contact your local Social Services Fostering department.