Looking to become a childminder.

[ElleGrace]

Hi everyone,
Just recently I have decided that I'd really like to leave my day job to become a childminder. I've always loved children yet have never worked with any before (I'm 18!) This isn't an issue for me because I grew up with younger siblings and was a childminding assistant for several years, alongside living in a home where my own mum was a childminder!
I've looked around for the most affordable way to go about getting the qualifications needed to become a childminder, and everyone seems to be in mutual agreement that PACEY is the best way to go. From the looks of things, it will cost me approximately £600 to complete all the essential training. I have a whole load of questions I'd love to be answered by you all. Any help at all is greatly appreciated.
My main question is whether I can become a fully qualified childminder before I move into my home. I am currently renting an apartment that would be totally unsuitable to childmind in, but I plan on moving into my new home in the beginning of November. The home will require minimum work upon moving in, so I hope to have my business up and running within a few months.
Another thing I am worried may be an issue is that the house I am buying does not have a downstairs toilet. From what I can understand, I will not be insured to take the children upstairs (I will have no other need to!) and obviously cannot leave toddlers downstairs alone. (I plan on doing all the training to be able to childmind children of all ages). Can anyone please tell me whether or not this is an issue?
Another concern of mine is my first aid training. I haven't done anything training wise since I was in primary school, so assume nothing is valid now. I was hoping some of you could recommend a somewhat affordable first aid training course in the area of Chester. I understand the courses are around £100. Ideally, I'd like to do as much of my training online as possible, so that I don't have to leave my current job (very irregular hours, so difficult to book an actual course).
One other issue (that may or may not be an issue!) is that I do have a dog. Said dog is only a few months old at the moment, but is already showing a terrific nature, has been very well socialised with children and is used to people coming in and out of my home on a regular basis. I am very experienced with dogs, so him being out of control is not going to be an issue. He is a samoyed dog, very well known for their kind and gentle nature, particularly towards children. Obviously I would never leave him unattended with the children, but will this put a lot of prospective parents off?
Thank you so much for your time, I know this is a real pain to read!
Any info would be hugely appreciated.
Elle x

Hi, I'm a cm so will have a go at answering some of your questions.

The dog, yes it will put some families off. I have two families with me at the moment and neither of them would have even considered you once they knew you had a dog, but obviously some families don't mind dogs, lots of people have dogs as pets, so wouldn't mind. You would have to be able to show ofsted/parents how you keep the children safe around the dog, ie keep them apart and how you would organise your time with regard exercising your dog (it would be very difficult to walk the dog with three children in tow.

I have no idea about registering, when I started childminding, they paid me to register and I got grants/free stuff/free courses etc, but I know there is no funding for anything now.
First aid training will need to be a 12 hour paediatric first aid course I thinks that is ofsted approved. I don't think you can do it online, it is a face to face course.

The toilet, I've childminded in a house with only an upstairs bathroom, it was a pain, especially if one is toilet training, but it's doable. You can not leave a child downstairs to take another to the loo so you end up carting them all up and down a lot, but it is doable. You just make it work to your own circumstances.
Have you ever worked with children in your own right? Not just with your mum who was a childminder? Some parents like to see that you have child care qualifications (NVQ type ones) or lots of experience with working with children, so might be out of if you don't havethis. Would you be able to do some work experience/voluntary work with children to bulk out yone portfolio a bit?

You don't have to take all the children upstairs with you every time one needs the loo.

Thank you very much for your reply- I found it quite useful
I'm glad to hear I can make the toilet situation work, there is always a possibility of us installing a toilet downstairs too, as we do have the space.
I have baby sat for literally hundreds of children since I was as young as 13, many of whom I still babysit for and who have said they would be happy to write me a reference for a portfolio of some kind. I'm not sure if that's enough experience though.
Another issue is obviously my age... would people actually want an 18 year old looking after their children? I've never struggled to get work in terms of babysitting, but I'm not sure if childminding will be different.

Nicknacks, how do you watch a toddler who is downstairs if you are upstairs? I don't have the ability to see through floorboards, despite the eyes in the back of my head.

I agree that children need to be within sight and/or hearing at all times, but the sight/hearing is age dependant and I couldn't leave the two one year olds I look after alone downstairs, while I go upstairs to take the two year old to the toilet. It just doesn't wouldnt work.
I think childminding might be different to babysitting. Do you live in an area with lots of childminders? In our town nurseries are used predominantly and there are only 5 childminders and since the schools went back, non of us are full. I think the difficulty is finding the first child, once you start going to toddler/music/gym classes with children it can be easier to find more children as people know to approach you, but it can take a while to find that first child.

Remember that that being young doesn't mean you are inexperienced, I know 50 year olds who have never changed a nappy, no way would I want them to look after my dc.

Are you able to do more training? Maybe do an NVQ in child care for a year or so while working in a childcare setting, therefore gaining experience and a qualification that would put you a step ahead and give parents something positive to look at in your folder?
Good luck whatever you decide to do though.

My previous house only had an upstairs loo and when my 2 year old needed the loo I would put the one year olds somewhere safe: one I would strap into a pram I kept in the hallway and one I would plonk in the travel cot. Far easier and safer than keeping three toddlers safe on the stairs and in the bathroom.

I don't think your age would necessarily put people off...there's no need to advertise it, I certainly wouldn't advertise my age! So once they come and see you and your age becomes obvious so should the fact that you have a nice setting, are sensible and qualified etc etc etc.

I found lots of my business online - I advertised on here, on netmums and on Facebook.

I agree about not necessarily taking all the children to the toilet. I have a downstairs toilet and I have to say it is much easier than going up and down stairs would be. When I'm taking a child to the toilet, the other children are in the play room. If there is a child who is likely to get up to mischief, then I take them with me, or put them somewhere safe. Just like I would if they were my own children.

I certainly don't advertise my age , but some people will definitely be looking for experience. I agree about it being easier once you have already started. My first mindee was a friends child, who I only cared for in the mornings, but I took her to toddler groups and got to know people there and that's where most of my early work came from.

It won't be easy and won't be instant income, but good luck.

Well for a start i dont take every child to the toilet, it's age/stage dependant and i get them going on their own as quickly as possible. My house is fairly well laid out to be able to leave even a one year old alone for 2/3 minutes within hearing distance. It's all about risk assessment and taking 3 children upstairs isn't always safer.

Have you thought of nannying? This would give you some more useful experience and is sometimes better paid than childminding. The other issue is whether you can drive and have a big enough car - doesn't matter though if you live in a place where everything can be reached on foot x

You can be a qualified childminder before you start working. I qualified while still in my previous job, and only left when I had a finite start date for my first mindees. You may, however, find it difficult to get your first clients if they can't see where their child will spend their time.

St John's and the Red Cross both do the 12hr paediatric first aid certificate, you could see if they have any courses near you. Also try local childminding associations and any local colleges. It must be face to face though, you cannot do it online as your trainer will need to observe you to make sure you are doing it correctly. (My local childminding assoc runs training in the evenings and weekends, on the enlightened understanding that most childminders cannot just take a day off to do a course!)

Some parents will be put off by the dogs, but many others won't. I have a great hairy shambling beast of a dog (who has a lovely nature and adores children), but I advertise this fact well, which means I haven't yet had to deal with people who don't want a childminder with a dog. In fact, some of my mindees have come to me specifically because although the parents don't like dogs, but they don't want their child to be afraid of them.

Not sure on the downstairs loo thing, but I suspect Ofsted will want you to register the whole house, because otherwise your facilities will be inadequate. Toilet facilities are pretty crucial. If your whole house is registered, why would you not be insured to take children upstairs, provided the others are secure? Toddlers are usually pretty adept at climbing stairs, so take them with you? (I've had to do this on the rare occasions I've needed to give a mindee a bath because sick/literally plastered in mud/etc) You are unlikely to have many at one time, due to number ratios. Alternatively, get a video baby monitor so you can still see them while you are upstairs. Also, yy to pps saying you don't have to take every child, if they can do it on their own.

Good luck!