Childminders - please tell me if this is feasible

[mummytummy]

I am going for an interview for an evening post (I posted a thread earlier) and I'll need childcare for DD1 aged 2.6 and DD2 aged 7 months from 4.00 until somewhere between 6.30 and 7.00 for two evenings per week. Do childminders work these sort of hours, and if so, would they provide tea (if so, how much extra would this be), or do I bring something for them with me? Also, how much do childminders/nannies etc cost?

depends on area etc for price. personally i wouldnt have aprob working those hours and would charge normal rate (for me thats £2ph) and an extra £2.50 for tea! im in leiceter areas

just an idea but do you have a friend you trust who'd apreciate a little extra cash?

If it were me - I would do it and provide their tea - cos I feel strongly that the children should sit down together with the adults. I'd probably give them thier bath and put them in PJ's for you (to make it easy)

But I'd charge £18 per evening.....and I wouldn't work Friday....Unfortunatley I'm well out your area

Seriously a C/M would be your bets bet - I did read your other thread but everyone had already said anything I could

Thanks bonkerz. FD, I have been racking my brains, and all of my SAHM friends have all just had their second babies too, so its unlikely anyone would take on my two as well.

BEST bet (even)

Thanks KatieMac. How do you go about finding a good c/m? Is it best to go with someone that already has children of their own?

Contact your local Childcare Information Service
(through your council) - it's prob on the net.

Alibubbles put a really good list of Q's to ask on another thread - i'll see if I can find it

sorry i was no help - but best of luck with the interview.

Try this

Hi mummytummy,
Some certainly do - I do for example and I would charge £2.50 per hour or per part-hour per child with an extra £2.50 per meal per child for a home-cooked two-course dinner.
So my total charge to include dinner would be £40 per week, or £30 per week if you were to provide their own food. I imagine it would be easier to provide the baby's food yourself as I do not reduce my meal fees for younger children even though they may not eat as much. But I am nowhere near London and I imagine London prices would be a lot more than mine.
All minders are different and some will charge a minimum fee or an enhanced part-time or unsociable hour's fee, or charge less for 'part-hours'.
Some may give a discount for siblings or not offer food. Some may include food in their hourly charges.
The best thing to do is to ring around and then go to visit as many as you can.
A childminder can only normally have 3 under threes so a lot depends on how many other children (including their own children) they may be caring for at these hours and how they can manage to transport all the children in their care if they have school runs to fit in.

Thanks everyone. Sorry, stupid question, and I know you are all going to say something obvious, but how do you know where I come from - do I type with a South East accent?!!!

no - but no-one on Mumsnet has admitted to being from Norfolk (round our bit)
And a vast number of Mumsnetters are from SE

Can I ask you something, Goosey, can a Hubby/wife team have more children together than a person on their own.

I would really appreciate this answer.

Also do all of their assistants need to go through the checks ie:police checks etc.

Wiltshire - if both husband and wife are registered as childminders (so have gone through the same inspection process), or if the husband is registered as the childminder's 'assistant'(childminder's can employ assistants but they have to comply with the requirement for an enhanced police check, be responsible for their training and always supervise their work), then the numbrs of children they can care for can be increased up to double.
The total numbers and ages of children authorised to be cared for should be stated on the registration certificate which childminders must either display or keep available for parents/carers to inspect.
The total number of children will depend on 3 factors:

• Whether the childminder works with an assistant or with another registered minder.

• The ages and number of the childminder's own children.

• The total floor space in metres square available for children's use (there are set amounts allowed for each age group of children)

Hope this helps.