Become a CM this year or get some 'work' experience first?

[twofishes]

Last year ummed and aaahed about becoming a CM..but decided to leave it until DS2 was older (he's 1 at moment, thinking when he is 2/walking) and DD was starting at pre school (poss September) ..
I work part time at moment in Retail and earn £80 a week, would to be earning between £60-£80 as CM per week...I have 3DC's 5.5, 2 and 1 yrs, ideally would like a 2-3yr old and an after-schooler, have 3 bed house with garden and a room I c ould use as a 'playroom'...
Anyway, there is a job advertised at the local day Nursery for an 'Assistant' am thinking that maybe I could go for that to get some 'experience' although it is different to CM's I know, or just stay in my current job and go thru' the process and register and then resign when I get some queries (2 weeks notice required)..
so to cut alooong story short do you think it is worthwhile trying to get some 'work experience' first or is it so different that I would be wasting my time?

Well, you've got all the experience you need for childminding, since you've got kids! The only stumbling block I can see, if that if you do take the assistant job, if any of your cm courses are during the day, it might make life difficult. Don't know if they are, but when I trained, they were. It was 12 years ago though! OTOH, the assistant job, could turn into something better, with on-the-job training and then you wouldn't need to mind at all. Tricky decision really, and only you have all the answers and know what you need from a job, but from a minding point of view, an Assistant Nursery job wouldn't make a whole load of difference. HTH.

Thanks for that...was thinking that having my 3 had given me enough experience !! although the security of regular ££ of a Nursery Job appeals to me I'd prefer to be a CM I think..suppose it all depends on your mindees and the parents though. oh what a decision!!!

It certainly does and there's no guarantee of work at the end of your course anyway. It can take a good couple of years to get a good bunch of parents and iron out any contract problems you might have. As I said, I've been doing it a long time and so with the experience of the business said of things, I rarely have problems anymore and I'm always full. You usually get business word of mouth after a while.