CM CLUB - Why don't people respect Childminder's?

[LoveMyGirls]

Why?

I have my own business, i'm a business woman i deserve a bit of respect, I'm currently being treated as someone who would otherwise be at home, so it doesn't matter if people mess me about because i'd be here with my kids anyway - No i wouldn't I'd have to work because I have to earn a living, my dp is not on enough to afford for me to be a sahm and i don't get help with childcare costs from wftc.

Why is this such an unrecognised job?
It's hard, it's not like looking after your own children, it's much more responsibility, paperwork, planning etc etc

Will this ever change?

I'm doing a Level 5 Foundation Degree in Sept! I had a letter on Friday saying I have had the whole grant paid for and I canot wait to start, Monday is a non-child day (parents don't need me on this day) so its my 5 yr old who needs to be picked up from school at 3. I'm hoping that my eldest son will be able to pick his brother up but I will ask childminder friends to see if I can get one to look after him as there is no after-school club at his school (at the moment).

If there is anyone on here who lives in Tameside, Greater manchester and can pick up my 5 yr old up from St Stephens CE Primary, Audenshaw on a Monday in September/Oct time do let me know! I will pay the whole 5 days after school if I have to!

Thanks

Helen

I have sadly givin notice to mindees on Friday just gone. I think Child care in general is a thankless task and no matter how brilliantly we think we are doing...or how much fun we DO have....someone will always pipe up and make you feel like crap over nothing.....

I'm doing the DHC course and it has highlighted some of the reasons why childminders are seen as second rate people.
The History of childcare is littered with horror stories. As late as the 1970's, most childminders were not registered and therefore not following legislation. it is only in very recent years that the government has decided to do something about the change in lifestyles (ie working mothers being the norm) by introducing a big bag of money for the development of childcare choices at "affordable" rates. This country is lagging behind. In Germany in 1990, parents could take 3 years paid leave (either mother or father) and have a guarenteed job at teh end of it. However other countries are still promoting that mothers should stay at home to raise children.
The horror stories in the past have included the hospital which took in unwanted babies and instead of feeding them milk, it feed them flour and water (well it was white and you could make it the same consistency). I cant locate where I saw this but something like 99.5% died. Even in the "good" hospitals something like 40% died.
Then during the early regulation of child carers, there was the lady who contested her numbers and won - she was contesting the restriction of only being allowed 15 children under the age of 1!
Then you can add to these histories the fact that most child abuse is by people who know the child and this has included childcarers.

Most of the work done to professionalise childminding has been in extremely recent years. A lot of the legislation is under 11 years old. So bear in mind that the industry will lag behind the legislation, it is only now that we are telling ourselves that we are professionals. We have yet to prove to the world that we are.

If any one slags you off in future, point them to the Ofsted survey of childcare which has graded childminders as the top providers. We have the most "outstanding" gardings and the most "good" gradings and the least "unsatisfactory" gradings.
survey can be seen at live.ofsted.gov.uk/safeandsound/02_theheadlines/01-key-findings.htm