Wanting a career change! where do i start?

[Yorkshabird21x]

after much debating with myself about wether to be a sahm or go back to work, ive decided to work. im thinking about becoming a cm/nanny but have no idea where i start etc.
any advice would be greatly appreciated

Do you have qualifications in childcare? If not it's easier to get them as a CM than as a nanny because there's funding available. And assuming you'll want to take your child with you most people will want a really high-calibre candiate with quals and experience to compensate for the nanny-with-own-child disadvantage.

Plus as a CM you wouldn't have to worry about finding childcare if you can't get a job where you can bring your child.

Becoming a CM involves: doing the ICP and a 12 hour 1st aid cert and having a CRB check done (which you'd have to do to become a registered nanny too), anyone else over 16 in the house also needs a CRB check and your home will be inspected by OFSTED.

Talk to your early years team at the council about registering as a CM/training if you're not already qualified and good luck! Nannying is a really rewarding job, and I assume being a CM is similarly so!

What is your background, do you have childcare experience (other than being a mother) and training?

Do you want to work from your home, dictate your hours... or do you want to be at someone else's beck and call?

How old is your own child now?

Based on your profile detail, childminding rates in Wakefield area seem to be £2.50 to £4 per hour, per child.

There are 353 registered childminders within 5 miles of Wakefield Council's address. Population Stats for Wakefield (Census 2001) - 17,700 Under 5's at that time.

Gumtree Leeds (with search query: nanny wakefield), does not currently have any Nanny jobs listed, only nannies seeking work. Is there demand for nannies in the area?

What did you do before having a child? What you did previously may help in new work - for example, to be a childminder, you need sales and marketing skills along with many other skills both childcare and non-childcare related.

Wow so much info to take in.
i have no quals or exp. my dd is 16weeks so would like her with me (didnt think this was possible!)
i was a flt driver so that cant really help me.
think i will go and do some homework and see if it will be the right job for me.
thank you

Look at childminding, but note that there does appear to be quite a lot of childminders in Wakefield already (at least in a 5 mile radius of the council offices).

You will want to read:
Childminding National Standards
National Standards Addendum
EYFS Framework

Contact Wakefield Children's Information Service for details of how to register to be a Childminder.

Think about how you will manage having your own dd, plus two toddlers. Then also consider 5, 6, 7 year olds - can you cope with them?

Do you need the money to survive, or can you live off your partners income? Childminding does not pay that well, and income can be variable. Look through messages on this board about childminding, there is lots of information which can help you. You will find messages about being self-employed, what things are tax deductable when childminding, issues childminders have with parents and how they are resolved, tips for advertising, tips for getting through Ofsted Inspections etc.