CM CLUB: Oh No, Competition 8-(

[StrawberrySnowflakes]

just overheard two women at school, one mum and thought other was aunty of child in dd's class, trns out shes just trainind to beocme a cm and onyl lives one road away from me, shes already minding 3 sisters, two before and after school and one after nursery and am a bit worried and annoyed..i was the ONLY cm round here and although that wasnt go to stay that way, i still wanted a couple more mindees on, now cis will ring her too..plus.she IS getting paid for having these girls and has been doing so since way before xmas, which is why i thought she was an aunty

Don't panic!!

There are still lots of children out there. Just offer the best possible service and you WILL manage to fill spaces. If you get too worried about what other people are doing, you'll start to lose confidence and it will show when dealing with other people.

You didn't say where you lived? is it a village/rural? I live in a city and there are 45 other childminders within a mile of my house. It is not a problem, everyone takes time (a year even) to become full unless they have family/friends who had already arranged to use them.

i live in a large area near to town, i was surprised i was only cm, but it was to my advantage.

i have one full timer and two partimers(one day a week each)so do need / want a couple more children.
i have 'promises' for care in july, but nothing solid yet, one of my parttimers may be leaving in summer as it was not specified how long after mums course finished i would keep her LO.

i dont mind if i have 15 all over the place part time or two full timers, jsut as long as im full and still enjoying it..plus mindee one will be going to nursery sept and depending on hermums hours i may lose her from full to part time

Strawbs there was 8 CM's on the camp we live on, we have just run out of spaces!! Two phone calls in the last 2 days and nowhere and I mean nowhere not even a full time nursery space for either child at the mo. All full time spaces, as we now have woman soldiers

i know but i got used to being the 'only cm in the village'..cushy i know!..cant any of you get your ratios upped if there is so much demand?

I live in a city and on my road and adjacent road alone there are 5 of us, we are all full (although it has taken me three years but it was my choice) plus on the five minute walk to school we pass a further 3.

!..guess i have been lucky!
there are more in next part of town, but just not here.
thing is tho i dont get an awful lot of enquiries..so they may half again when she becomes reg?..or parents may come to both and chose me cos im fab anyway

Cant fit anymore in the car to do the school run now as I have to go to a different school, they have done before had 4 under 5's but had only 2 5-8

wait till she sees the paperwork that needs doing she will be soon off

i'm the only cm in this village be off with you ("quote from ss")

I have recently had competition too, I know how you feel it gives you an unsettled feeling doesn't it? Think you just have to stay positive, keep advertising etc. Hang in there, I think the more registered and trained child minders there are that that is advertising in itself for us a valid childcare option.

I am the only c/m in the village and still not full. I think I would be gutted if someone else game in too. Sorry, SS.

Try to be as positive as possible, use the situation to your advantage. Now there is something to compare you against, so find out as much as you can about them and the service they provide, and then tailor your service so that it is better.

Sounds like the new minder is only working for one family at the moment... are they advertising to fill remaining places?

You could approach the minder directly and introduce yourself - and thus find out as much as possible about what they are providing. Or you could be sneaky and get a friend to make enquiries (I know some people on here don't like that approach ).

Given that you say you live near a town, I am surprised you were the only childminder. It couldn't last, so try to make the most of the competition by being able to show prospective parents why you are better than the competition.

Don't Panic! I was a bit concerned when someone opened up almost directly opposite me. But there is a positive side. Honest. I got to know her and we can refer parents to each other during holidays etc. Now I can say to prospective parents that there is a back up option if I am closed for holiday, sickness, funeral etc and its only over the road!

Also, in my emergency procedures I've been able to put in that if I need to leave mindies (eg so I can accompany a mindie to hospital or if I am taken to hospital myself) they would be left with a Registered Childminder until they can get there rather than some neighbour they don't know. Peace of mind for parent and Ofsted commented that this procedure was quite thorough

I offered to give out her phone number if I get an enquiry I can't take on and asked her to return the favour. For example, one child started with another cm but after a couple of days found she was allergic to their cat so now is with me.

Start making a list of anything that's different about your service. Without bad-mouthing anyone else, you can focus on what makes your service better than the others during interview. Maybe you provide meals & she doesn't or something like that. I know other cms who leave children unattended in vehicles so I make a point of telling parents I don't EVER do that. And I always abide by the Ofsted child ratios etc.

thanks everyone..i said to mutual friend t let her know i will help ere possible, but tbh, i wouldnt know what to say as she may use it to her advantage? ie my fees etc?

nick, she is working for one family of three girls at minute and has no more because shes not actually registered, she has only just finished her course and not had inspection yet..dp said its not so bad either....but

argh!..this soon to be cm came up to me today asking all sorts of questions and me being me was like oh yes, i can help you there and give you those details etc, when all i wanted to say was FECK OFF, OFF MY TURF..she IS working now without being reg and getting paid