Advice Please...... Pro's and Con's....... I'm thinking of becoming a childminder........

[GoodGollyMissMolly]

Hi,
Would love to get advice from people who hvae had a career change and become a childminder.
What are the pro's and con's and does anyone wish they had never done it.

I'm thinking of becoming a childminder after I have had my LO (Due in November). I was thinking of having all my maternity leave then working from home as childminder.

I welcome any advice that anyone has to offer.

Thank you

Hi GGMM

I'm a Registered Childminder and although possibly not my first choice of career, it fits in beautifully with the rest of the family and my 4 yr old has coped fine with other children being around. The training courses can be done mostly on Saturdays if that fits in better with your life though there are a couple of obligatory evenings, including the final test paper. You will have an Ofsted Inspector comeround to tell you how many children you can have depending on space available and what safety measures you need to take to make your house suitable. Your LO will be included in the final amountyou're allowed so you won't be able to have any others under the age of 1. It's a good job, satisfying and you get to be at home. Pay is pretty crap but then that depends on how many kids you have and how often. Good luck with the baby and the new career.

Thanks Paddington64, TBH thats what I was looking for, something that would fit around me staying at home with LO and still being able to bring some money in and contribute.
I also think it will be a good way to help my LO socialise with other kids around.

The only other problem I have is that I have two dogs, who are excellent with kids, but having said that I wouldn't leave them unattended. I was thinking of having a dog run and shelter built in the garden so that they will not be in the house when I have other peoples children there.
Will I still be able to become registered if I have dogs, albeit segregated from the rest of the house.

Thanks you

I have a dog ofsted dont worry about it, and I always tell parents before they come to see me, he is kept out at mealtimes but otherwise he wonders about while mindees are here,

Thanks S88AHG, I'm glad that Ofsted wouldn't expect me to get rid of the dogs (Because I could'nt and wouldn't do that)
I am seriously thinking about getting this started now.

One more question ~ Where do I start????

Thank you

Hi there, I'm a cm too. You need to contact your local council's Early Years Team and they will tell you everything you need to know!

Thank you MaureenMLove