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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Childcare

going to meet a potential CM for my son today.....

9 replies

notsonervousmum · 30/10/2006 08:30

....what questions should i ask, anything else i should know etc? Thanks, NSNM x

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FioFio · 30/10/2006 08:32

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smeeinit · 30/10/2006 10:03

took this from another thread.........
Alibubbles famous list of questions to ask childminders

How long have you been working with children?

What training have you had? Any qualifications? Are you part of a network, achieved a quality assurance qualification, look at registration certificate, insurance details, business use for car. First aid must be no more than 3 years old, food hygiene certificate, Certificate in Childminding practice or NVQ 3, Contracts and record forms

Do you enjoy being with children and why?

Can I look around, see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside play space - how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?

Where will my child rest?

What kind of food and drink will you give? Can I see a menu?

What will my child do all day?

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will their timetable fit in with my child?

How will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?

What hours is she open?

How much does she charge?

What about when my child is sick, holidays, days off

What do you do in an emergency?

When was her last Ofsted, can you see the report?

Top 10 Quality Pointers

When you visit possible childcare options, look for these Quality Pointers:

Are the children calm, safe, happy and busy?

Do children play and talk together?

Is the childminder listening to the children and answering them carefully?

Is the childminder friendly and proud of her work?

Is she joining in joining in with what the children are doing?

Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these activities themselves?

Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?

Is the premises clean, well kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will the child go to parks and other places regularly)?

Do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?

If there are other things you want to know, don't be afraid to ask. Good childminders expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

Always take up references. You could ask for names of other parents to talk to about the service

Listen to your child and find out more if he/she is unhappy
Always trust your own feelings about your childcare - you know your child best

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smeeinit · 30/10/2006 10:04

i think most importantly go with your gut instinct!

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Rookiemum · 30/10/2006 10:05

See how she reacts with your child, I was very reassured when I first met our cm as she cuddled our DS and he seemed really comfortable with her.

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busybusymum · 30/10/2006 10:06

please try to remember that some childminders get nervous about meeting parents for the first time too.

Be friendly = a childminder needs to feel that should they take on your children that they can talk to you about all sorts of things (including abuse)

Hope you enjoy the visit!

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notsonervousmum · 30/10/2006 13:47

Thanks everyone! Just to let you know, the meeting went very well. My DS was really comfortable with her, as was i, and she definitely ticked all the boxes, so we're going back on Wednesday to sort out filling in the paperwork. Looks like i've found a childminder!

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snowfallinthesahara · 09/12/2006 15:39

hi i really need some advice re: a potential cm situation..

want to change ds who is 2(he's been at nursery since he was 7 months)to a cm and hv met a potential cm at the playgp we go to.
went to see her,she seems nice,ticks all the right boxes & good refs at the playgp.
has a sort of no-bones grandmotherly approach.
took ds for his first settling-in session,left him at the front door as per cm's request when i returned an hr later...apparently,he'd cried for 45 mins straight.
the cm seemed quite rattled and actually unsure if she wd take him on!
i Had expected tears,as he'd just been suddennly left with her,altho he had seen her 2 times before,but didnt expect her to seem so unsure all of a sudden,as she saidwell all i can say is,we hv got a months trial and that he wd be Hard work to settle in,as hes had nursery before!but she also said once he had settled down,he did chat with the other 2 yr old there and made an xmas card-but the visit left me Apologising for his 'behaviour'.
what i need advice on is,wdnt that be a normal reaction to expect of a child?he's normally a happy,cheerful boy altho he can be quite an attention-seeker.
and what shd i make of her response?this is my first experience ,so id really appreciate some advice...

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badgerhead · 09/12/2006 16:28

Yes he might have been at nursery, but he is used to that secure environoment. Changing to a childminder will be a different experience for him& as a childminder I would have expected some tears from him at first. I personally would have invited you in for a short time & then suggested you left without making a fuss, although I expect there would still have been tears even then. Would she be willing for another settling in visit prior to him starting 'properly' albeit with a months settling in period (that is fairly standard with childminders). It might be worth asking about, I would personally suggest 2 or 3 visits prior to starting if possible just so he can get used to the childminder & the minder to him. Also if he has a comforter that he uses make sure he has that with him.

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snowfallinthesahara · 09/12/2006 17:09

thanks badgerhead!yes,she has asked me to come in for another settling-in session for 2 hours next week..what im worried about is i quite like her but her reaction has me worried,ie seeming rattled and sortof unsure abt taking him on...i wdve thought that wd hv been his natural reaction...hes quite an agreeable baby really

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