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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

How much would this put you off?

71 replies

fjalladis · 18/04/2015 15:32

I'm looking at setting up as a childminder sometime next year. Have plenty of experience with kids although I'm currently working in social care. Dbs training ect not a problem have got all relevant info to book on courses ect but

I have six points on my driving licence from a stupid stupid error on my part in not checking my insurance had renued ( thought it was on auto renue) following a breakdown on dual carriageway (requiring police presence) it became apparent that I was not insured. Following later discussions with my insurers they did admit that they had made the mistake ( I had paperwork with renual info ect) but by this time I had had to accept the points and pay the fine. I cannot now appeal it to have points removed or find reimbursed .
Wondering what affect this could have on me wanting to childmind and whether it would put parents off?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Littlef00t · 18/04/2015 15:51

I never thought to ask about clean driving license so I wouldn't worry.

ragged · 18/04/2015 15:53

Most CMs work out of a specific school & usually walking distance so virtually never drive. Saves heaps of hassle about having right carseats or enough seats at all.

OutragedFromLeeds · 18/04/2015 16:01

It would put me off massively IF you were going to be driving my DCs. If I didn't need you to drive/you weren't going to drive it wouldn't concern me at all. I wouldn't even ask.

I know this isn't what you asked and maybe wouldn't bother a lot of people, but I would be put off using a childminder is if they couldn't spell 'renew' or 'etc'. Maybe get someone to spell check your ad before it goes up.

FlorenceMattell · 18/04/2015 17:24

A lot of highly creative and intelligent people can't spell Outraged.
But agree OP , get someone to check your ad.
Does your licence give the reason for the points?
I would advice being honest with parents for reason for points. And maybe advice show a copy of your insurance and MOT to parents.

pictish · 18/04/2015 17:27

Gosh outraged you're a tough nut to crack.
If that's how exacting pedantic you are, I'd not want the job anyway. There would be no pleasing you!

OutragedFromLeeds · 18/04/2015 17:41

I didn't say the OP wasn't creative or intelligent Florence, just that she couldn't spell.

pictish I am quite easily pleased in other areas, honest. Ability to help with homework is something I would look for in a childcarer (I'm a nanny myself) and if that isn't something you could provide we wouldn't be a good match. Nothing wrong with that though. It's all about finding the right person and there's no problem with you not wanting a job I'm not offering you . I don't want to be in goal for West Ham, luckily they've not asked me .

pictish · 18/04/2015 17:46

In a childminder I suppose I'd be looking for a cheerful disposition, a caring personality, a sense of humour. Someone down to earth, friendly and motivated.
I wouldn't check their spelling even if they were supervising homework.

OutragedFromLeeds · 18/04/2015 17:50

Fair enough, we want different things. Good job there are all sorts of childcarers out there! I'll take the cruel, miserable boffins and you can have the kind, cheerful, school drop-outs. Everyone is a winner .

pictish · 18/04/2015 17:51

Cruel miserable boffins.
Fair dos.

Original poster

fjalladis · 18/04/2015 18:21

Outraged I'm perfectly capable of spelling thanks!!!! I'm typing on a tiny phone following working a 17&1/2hr shift. I'm sorry but checking my spelling at the point of posting was not high on my to do list. I was asking for opinions on my situation not my spelling!!

OP posts:

OutragedFromLeeds · 18/04/2015 18:32

That's great! Although the exact same spelling mistake several times can't really be explained by a tiny phone. Be sure to type your childminder ad on a big screen after a full nights sleep.

Oly4 · 18/04/2015 19:39

It wouldn't put me off, I wouldn't even ask about your driving licence

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/04/2015 22:19

Sometimes my phone changes letters and I get a different word

If it was your insurance companies fault I would appeal the points. Seems
Unfair to me

You can still drive I assume with 6p on license so not sure what the problem is. Unless parents ask you if you have a clean license I wouldn't mention it - and even if they do ask it shouldn't make a diff to them

It was silly if you not to check but not as bad as getting points for speeding : dangerous driving etc

MistletoeBUTNOwine · 18/04/2015 22:24

I'm with you Outraged
It really boils my piss when someone can't spell (especially if they'd be helping with my dc's homework).

The license points I wouldn't worry about, these things happen, and it wasn't even your fault

DocHollywood · 18/04/2015 22:29

Licence

MistletoeBUTNOwine · 18/04/2015 22:31

I never knew that!
Thanks

DocHollywood · 18/04/2015 22:42

Passmethecrisps · 18/04/2015 22:49

I might want to know more about the context of the points but if you were comfoetable with my child and she liked you then that would be my immediate concern.

I would be presume that you had all the necessary insurance docs after this.

Caravanoflove · 18/04/2015 22:59

Would probably bother me I have to admit, as would the spelling. I know you didn't ask about that but it would make me form a judgement about you that would affect whether I used you or not.

HSMMaCM · 18/04/2015 23:26

I had3 points on my licence for a while, after doing 37 in a 30 limit. I told parents and they were fine about it.

DrownedGirl · 18/04/2015 23:30

The issue will be with the DBS check. I am not sure what the protocol is for a
CM but for a school employee, something like that would mean the DBS wasn't clear and a decidion would need to be made about whether to proceed with employment

thetroubleis · 18/04/2015 23:33

I don't think points type offences show up on DBS, do they?

pictish · 18/04/2015 23:38

Ohhh ha ha ha - love the poster there snooting about poor spelling as she misspells 'licence'. Boils my piss indeed.

How self important do you have to be, to imagine the childminder who made a spelling mistake isn't fit to tie your child's shoelaces?

HippyPottyMouth · 18/04/2015 23:43

It didn't occur to me to ask our childminder about her driving licence, and an issue such as yours wouldn't be a problem if I was made aware of it. I expect you're now red hot on life admin as a result. The spelling thing would be an issue if you'd be helping a primary school aged child to learn spellings/do homework, but for my baby, who has years to go before she learns to write, it wouldn't be relevant.

WastingMyYoungYears · 18/04/2015 23:45

ragged, I've used two CMs, both of whom have driven the minded children. Surely it's relatively common?

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