Childminder with no car

[TuTu]

I currently have my 2 DS in creche, and they both are really unhappy there (having previously been with wonderful childminder). I have opportunity now of moving them to a childminder, who comes highly recommended, but she doesnt drive.
She will have to do school run for my eldest who is 4,her DD who is 9, along with minding my youngest who is 2 and another mindee who is 3.
School run will involve bus down in morning, and getting back to house by double buggie - walk of 0.7 miles.
Just wondering what advice/experience you have on this sort of situation. Thanks.

My old cm couldn't drive, she walked to school, not as far as 0.7 miles though. But day trips etc were all on local buses. She didn't have a problem with it and nor did I.

well i dont drive,have 3 children and often more that i look after(im not a cm just seem to gather friends children?!)and cope fine.if she thinks she can do it thats great.

Oh thanks for the encouragement! Am so keen to get boys moved, but just want to make sure this will be a move that works out for the long term, and was a little afraid she might take them on, and then say later on its not working out. Am going to meet her tomorrow to talk it all through

Oh thanks for the encouragement! Am so keen to get boys moved, but just want to make sure this will be a move that works out for the long term, and was a little afraid she might take them on, and then say later on its not working out. Am going to meet her tomorrow to talk it all through

I walk my 4 to school (10, 4, 3 & 1) which is nearly a mile one way - much easier than driving there tbh. My 4yo is at school and the 3 year hitches a ride on the back of my pushchair. I know some Mum's who walk further. Lots of the children use scooters - makes them quicker!

My cm does drive but often takes the out on trips by bus/train because they absolutely love it!

Will talk through tomorrow with her, but think probably the few hills along the way will be part of it.
Do you think that a taxi would be an option in the bad weather, if I offered to pay for it?

Cargirl - is is not hard going when its wet/cold?

Well if you go by car you have to load 4 kids into the car getting wet & cold, then get out, get the pushchair out, load the kids out of the car etc!!!!!!!!! It's about 10 mins quicker and you still get wet!

If it's very heavy rain I will drive so they don't have to sit in wet clothes at school, but only because dh will stay at home with the rest until I get back!

i'm a childminder and i do drive but dont use the car during the day as i cant fit all my mindees in the car (have 10 b4 school and 10 after school) think its nice to walk and you can chat and look at things you wouldnt in a car

10 kids? crikey dmo you've collected even more!

I mind 3 boys after school, and have my two (both under 5) during the day. The school they go to is now apparently 1.2 miles away by car (I'm sure it's less walking as we cut across a field/alley ways). I walk there with my ds on a buggyboard, and dd in the buggy, and the three boys walk back with me. I don't drive, don't have much interest in it either. Sometimes the boys have a tiny bit of a whinge but mostly they're happy

We do all outings walking/bus/train. I prefer it anyways.

I think it's good for children not to be driven everywhere, we have a car but often leave it at home and walk or go on public transport, dh is a bus driver so we get free travel, so it works out cheaper than taking the car.

I've been a CM for over 6 years and don't drive. it's never stopped me. I walk to school, admitedly not 0.7 miles

this is all good to hear. cant wait to meet her this afternoon

i drive but dont use the car as ive found it more hassle than its worth, kids getting wet getting them in and out when they could hae been in nice warm dry buggy/ewt weather clothes all along!, only one who gets wet is me and thats ok!
we walk miles every day to parks, groups, soft play(younger mindees in double buggy) but older one and my dd both walk.we have fun, they are sensible crossing /walking along roads.
i actually had option of having my own car(we bought a nice one between us instead), but after 2 days of having ours as test run i was begging him to take it back!

our school is 15 mins walk away(not sure in miles..we do it 4 times a day(there and back twice), we then usually walk on to park which is another 20 mins walk, or into town, 30 mins walk or bus ride if not using double buggy, sometimes supermarket/library 40 min walk away..dd usually walks with me as we always have and mindee either walks or gos in buggy when tired...i have not had a problem!and dd gets merits from school as were prob the only ones who walk everywhere

My cm doesn't drive - tbh, I think I'm happier that way (I don't drive myself). I don't see that it's a problem if your cm doesn't think it is.

I don't use my car during the day either. Like others have said, by the time you've got everyone in the car, strapped in and buggies in the boot, you may as well have walked. The only problem I can foresee is if the bus is delayed for any reason and your dc is late for school. I think that would bother me.

Am I weird 0.7 miles doesn't seem that far to me ?

If she's happy to take it on the kids will get lots of exercise and it sounds positive to me as lots of others have said.

MrsWho, I didn't think it was far either. Can't understand why the cm would want to get the bus either, with double buggy etc.

I don't drive and we wander down the back alleys and lanes, fighting off pirates and dragons on the way.
We do a weather chart and talk and read about all the wildlife.
I was only thinking yesterday that's it's one part of being a CM that I really love.

thanks for all the posts. met childminder today and am going to start my 2 boys with her on monday! she is intending only to use bus if really wet or if my eldest DS doesnt seem up to the walk. but as i now realise, the walk and fresh air is actually a plus point - he will just need to build up stamina to do it. realising now how lazy having a car makes you and your little ones !!

I am also a childminder who does not drive and it is a nightmare getting work through agencies because of this. I work through recommendations and am lucky as I have excellent references ranging over 13 years. I looked after two wonderful children for two years and started work at 8.00 in the morning, would get the bus into town, walk 25 minutes to the school after this to drop the eldest child off. Would return home to care for the little one until 13.00ish when I would do the same to collect the older child again, back home.....cook dinner etc till the parents came home. They were very septical at first but the kids enjoyed going on the bus and found it strangely exciting plus I got my figure back with all the walking which was great. If she is good, they will be fine, hope this helps!