Thinking of becoming a childminder

[monkeytoad35]

I am a primary school teacher who is thinking of becoming a childminder. I have a son who is 3 and will be starting school next year. I currently work 3 days a week.

I've had enough of the pressures that come with being a teacher, and I love working with children and want to do something that means I can also pick my son up from school and still do a job that involves children in some capacity. I thought being a childminder could work!

What I was wondering is, how long did it take you to start up from the initial thinking stage to when you started looking after the first child? Also how long did it take to build up your childminding business, so you had enough children and working the maximum hours you wanted to work to earn the money you want to earn?

Thank you!

It’s a long time since I registered, but I think one of the newly registered minders I know was told to allow a year to get sorted, although I don’t know if it actually took that long In reality.

With regards to building a profitable business, I think it depends what the demand for childminders is in your area and how well known you are to start with. Can you get in touch with some local minders and ask what demand is in your area. I never mind speaking to new minders. (I do not see them as a threat to my business, but as others promoting childminding as a valid childcare option and the more people using minders, the more free advertising childminders have).

There at least four ex teachers at my childminding group (out of maybe 20) so definitely something that teachers do next.