I want to become a childminder

[alrightdoll]

So I have wanted to do something with children since I was in school. I have qualifications in Heath and Social care and have two young children of my own (4+1).

I would love to become a childminder. Is there any childminders about who can give me some information first hand before I look into the procedures etc?

I am a single parent, 4yo in state nursery 9-12 mon-Friday. We live in a two bedroom house with a good size front room and kitchen and a smaller room off the kitchen which is currently used as storage but could very easily be made into a playroom, crafts room, small dining room etc.

We have two nice sized secure gardens, rear garden has swing, trampoline etc. We have a small dog. Would this be an issue if I was to become a childminder?

How much does it roughly cost to become a childminder? I am about to pass my driving test so would wait until after this to get the ball rolling as I feel like being able to drive would be a plus.
I am in a NE town so not sure if that affects prices in comparison to a city.

I would be mainly doing it because I love children, I don't have any childcare for my children (apart from state nursery) so this would allow me to bring up my own children and to help with other people's.
The plus would be that it'd be an income also.

Does my living situation sound ok or is it just to small of a house? Thanks for any help or advice you can give me, it's obviously early days but I've been thinking of this for a while so think it's about time I started getting serious. Thank you.

Shameless bump. Anyone?

The biggest 'issue' you'd have is your ratios, with a 4 and 1 year old you could only have one other child under 5. This would limit your income - Easily topped up with before and after schoolers though if you wanted to provide that.

Set up cost wise I spent a hell of a lot, if I added it up and didn't forget the littler purchases I think 2k easy was spent ( you may have a lot of resources and toys already but I didn't my youngest was 5 at the time so I needed things for the younger ones). I also had an additional cost of getting a 7 seater as I couldn't fit my 3 under 5s plus my own two in my original car.

Your dog wouldn't be a problem there are many childminders with pets however it may put a few parents off ( for some parents it may even be a plus)

I can't comment personally on house size as I have quite a large open area downstairs but people choose childminders because it's a home from home setting and many people will live in smaller houses then yourself so I can't imagine it being an issue.

I costed setup as £800, not including additional toys, memberships etc.

Sorry formatting has gone weird but this was my costing spreadsheet, most of the info was from Pacey as you can see but courses are available elsewhere too:

Is childminding right for me? Online short briefing from PACEY (optional)£5.00
PACEY's recommended pre-registration training course, Level 3 Award in Home-based Childcare (HBCA).£250.00 plus VAT
Paediatric first aid training courseFrom £85, depending on provider.
Disclosure and Barring Service checkFrom £52.10 (includes admin fees) plus optional annual renewal fee (currently £13)
Health declaration checkFrom £35.00, depending on your doctor's fees
Registration on Ofsted Early Years Register (if you're caring only for children under 5)£35.00*
Registration on Ofsted Childcare Register (if you're only caring for children aged 5-7)£104.00*
Full childminder membership of PACEYFrom £59.50
Childminder public liability insurance from PACEY - only available to members£28.90
Registration with Information Commissioner's Office£40
*If you join both registers, you'll pay the lower fee.

Yep ratios will be your biggest issue. You can only take on one full timer (although you could take on twins through coc) so you'd rather less than minimum wage during school hours. You would have to take on before and after school care as well to earn a decent amount. Numbers are limited to no more than 6 under 8 yr olds ( so you could have four as well as your own two) plus as many over 8s as you can fit and be insured for (most insurance covers you for twelve children max)

Cost wise it varies by area but you need to do a childminding course, a first aid course and safeguarding ( usually covered in the childminding course). Then there are things like DBs, Ofsted registration, pacey membership, insurance...

Msjuniper off the top of my head - first aid kit, fire blanket, car seats if you drive ( and premiums will probably be higher) increased home insurance premiums, advertising ( childcare.co.uk , Facebook adverts, car advert or even just flyers still cost money)
Pushchairs, sleepmats or travel cots.

I'd count all of the above as necessities. Then little things like several sets of bedding/ blankets as it can't be shared between children - easily overlooked things that easily bump costs up

Start up and running costs are far lower for CMing than for most businesses, but your earnings will be far lower too. The average CM earns well below minimum wage when you consider total hours worked, because they work a lot of unpaid hours and hours below capacity.

Allow for the fact it will probably take some time to build up your numbers and therefore your earnings. Remember your income will go up and down over time, and it’s always a bit of a 'fragile' business, subject to things you have no control over: I know some very good CMs who’ve faced severe setbacks and had to build up again from scratch following malicious complaints or erroneous inspections.

Avoid the temptation to buy absolutely everything before you start and know the ages and interests of children you may have. You can easily spend £100s on resources that will never be touched.

Do make sure you can use the house. ie, If you rent, you must make sure your landlord will allow it.

Ofsted can give you the space-per-child requirements, but they’ve always said no house is too small. Apparently there have even been CMs working in caravans.

As mentioned by PPs, your numbers of minded children are limited (details can be found in the EYFS regulations) and must include your own children. If your own 4yo is on funded hours it might pay to leave them in nursery so you can take on a fee-paying child (although Ofsted have from time to time been a bit unclear about whether or not this too is allowed.)

Don’t worry about the ratio meaning that at the moment you could only have one extra child because of your own two small children. By the time your registration comes through, your eldest will (I assume) be ready to start school (I guess they will go in September?), so then you would be able to have two children. And you will open up a new base of clients when you start being seen at school and hopefully will attract new before and after school children. My youngest is now 8 and it’s only in the past three years or so that I’ve started making proper money from childminding, but you have to remember that whilst you aren’t earning because your child is taking up a space, you aren’t paying anyone to look after them while you are working in a shop/office/wherever.

I see the ratios point but by the time OP passes her driving test and gets through the registration process with Ofsted I imagine it will be September at least and her eldest will be in school.