Childminder or Nursery after lockdown?

[Redstar2015]

I'm currently debating whether to stick with our lovely private nursery that is near my work, or move my 2.5 year old to a childminder that is 5 minutes walk from my house. I'm currently working remotely and probably will continue to do so until February, so home care will be a lot more convenient and I'm nervous about taking the metro into the city centre with my daughter. Thing is, I do love our nursery and hate to let go of her spot because it's a great community--she's made good friendships there and so have I. But realistically I don't know how quickly things will be 'normal' again and I know it'll be really inconvenient going back and forth to nursery with working from home. I can see pros and cons to each setting and am just having such a hard time deciding. For example, there are less children with a childminder, but for nursery the children won't go out and about like a childminder would (at least under normal circumstances). Is anyone else facing similar decisions? What are you doing to decide on the best childcare setting with COVID-19?

I would advise you to find a childminder before giving notice, lots of childminders are not re opening in June some are waiting until July or September to reopen and many are not taking on new clients in the current climate until things have calmed down

I am a childminder and I won't be taking the children out for the foreseeable future. If you have found one you like, ask their plans during the current times.

I'd be considering if your going to start using school nursery when shes 3....probably after Christmas if alls well....if so moving to a childminder now who does the school maybe less traumatic in the long run....shes only 2.5 so will make new friends but once at full time school having stable out of hours care will be good.
Most childminders wont be going out now anyway.

Personally the advantages of nursery larger groups are going to be lost .

I would also speak to childminder. I am only taking on baby of a family I already care for when Mum goes back to work .

I don’t want to increase risk currently

That said I have spent the whole day printing , planning resources to reduce risk once my families return.

The early years guidance only came out this afternoon