What questions should I ask a childminder?

[ppwonar]

Just that really. I have met a childminder who can take my child for care once she starts school. She'll only be going a couple of times a week for first year as I'll be on mat leave but will increase once I'm back to work. I've never used a childminder before so wanted to make sure I was asking the right things.

TIA.

Depends what you’d like to know really?

Meals , activities, holidays, inset days, sickness, etc

Georgie is right. Whilst you’ll get a lot of standard replies about what to ask, the only questions that matter are the ones that really matter to you. So think about what matters to you.

Don’t be embarrassed about asking something that might seem like a silly question. There are no silly questions. Or rather, the only silly question is the one you don’t ask, which later comes back to bite you on the bum because you didn’t ask it iyswim.

If anyone tells you to "go with your gut" you should smile politely and ignore them for the fool they are. Your gut does an excellent job of telling you when you need to eat, poo, or throw up: that’s what it’s good at. Guts are terrible at making childcare decisions. Such an important decision requires a parent to make a mature, informed decision with their brain, using as much information as they can get. So try to see through the appearances, 'personal chemistry', 'magic', rainbows, etc.

It’s worth remembering that most childcare arrangements that break down, do so over money, contract disputes, and divergent expectations. These are all things which can and should be agreed in advance. 90%+ of the disputes I encounter between parents and childcare providers involve a family complaining about something they actually agreed to in the contract. Only a very small proportion break down over standards of care. It is very important to give proper consideration to the childminder's contract, policies and procedures. Be clear on what you expect from your childminder, and what s/he will expect from you.

Don’t forget your child. They may have questions they want to ask. A good childminder will find this input very helpful too.

Thanks. I should maybe have been more specific. We use private and school nursery just now so stuff like snacks, activities etc are obvious ones. I was thinking more about - will she have insurance documents I should ask to see (genuinely no idea?), anything else formal like her registration certificate? I can see she's registered online.

Her registration document should be on display somewhere. She needs insurance, first aid, DBS check, to be registered, but you can ask her about them if you like.

Then as previously stated, ask what's important to you. Make sure you're clear about when you pay and when you don't for holidays and sickness. Is any food provided or should you send some.

The key documents are:

Registration certificate
Public liability insurance
Vehicle insurance, if she drives the children at all
Paediatric first aid certificate
CRB/DBS declaration (note, she may not have this if she carried over an old social services registration from pre-Ofsted days. This is relatively rare.)

You can view her Ofsted inspection reports on the Ofsted website. Also use this to verify her registration. There has been a very small number of people using faked/copied certificates or de-registered childminders trying to operate on their old certificates.

She should have certificates to prove any additional training courses completed. You could also ask about her food business registration and reports from Environmental Health Officer inspections.

Many childminders have written policies and procedures, although this is not a statutory requirement as such.

You should ask to take a copy of the proposed contract home to read carefully before signing. But don’t sign it at home; sign it in the childminder's presence.

The f@ct that you’re asking this is a very good sign. IME almost no families ever ask to see even the most basic documents. Most parents I’ve met would gladly leave their child with someone who says they’re an Ofsted-registered childcare provider without ever verifying that claim..... which is a pretty scary state of affairs.

I didn’t ask our about her policy when a child is unwell.
Her idea of an unwell child was not my idea so we hit a snag here. Ie she refused to have my child when his tonsils were inflamed which was often but he was well, no temperature, no pain, eating and drinking well. He did not even require any calpol/medication.
Had I not mentioned to her that hey were up, she would not have known but she refused point blank to have him. It was every month or so.
This was her policy.

Also numbers, how many other kids will she have as well as your child, mine struggled getting out and about with babies and toddlers. Keeping them all together and safe seemed to be the issue.
Ours provided a daily diary, what he ate, what activities they did, any other info. This was really good.
Do the fees cover outings or will you need to pay extra for them?
How much notice needs to be given? Does this work both ways? If she thinks things are not working out, how much notice does she give?

Ask what other adults/teens will be at the house.
Ask who covers her in an emergency.
Like if she's ill, has she got back up arrangements with another minder? Who is that?
Does she charge to keep the placement open? So are you expected to pay when you're not needing her? Bank Holidays? School holidays? Do you have to pay for HER annual leave?
Do you have to pay her when YOU take holidays (retainer fee).
Dogs? Other pets?
First aid trained? Decent food?
I only used one for 3 weeks, 3 days after school only. Thank God.

I partly disagree with itsaboojum as I do think chemistry is hugely important. BUT... the best chemistry in the world doesn't sort out issues around the practicalities and making assumptions is a huge mistake. Childminders, unlike schools or nurseries, can have fairly varied rules or policies that aren't always clear so you need to clarify these and be sure you're comfortable with her approach to situations like her being sick, the child being sick, other children being sick, screen time, holidays, changing requirements/last minute requests (eg will she attempt to accommodate change or does she require 6 months notice in writing etc), how and when payment is expected etc.

These are the things that seem to cause the problems. Usually because the parent and the childminder both think their approach is "obvious" and are then shocked when the other one is surprised it's being done a certain way.

Also, think about things that are specific to you. eg does your child like to sleep and therefore do you prefer to drop him/her off in pjs without having eaten - is she okay with that? Or if your child is the type who NEEDS exercise, does she have a policy of trips out every day (I Have a nanny friend who has this written into her contract as the twins she looks after are crazy if they don't get exercised like a dog. She doesn't mind and agrees completely, but if she was a different nanny, having it written into the contract would have been important).

PS I haven't confirmed with my friend what this contract looks like as assume there must be some wriggle room, but I know it's part of the formal agreement between her and the parents.

The CRB/DBS check is a private document and there's no need to request it. The Registration certificate is enough: OFSTED will have checked the CRB/DBS as part of the registration process.