CM Club ; Any CMs in Newport (S Wales) area?

[mogs0]

I've just moved and wondering if there are any local cms here? Or mum's come to think of it. I just wondered what drop-ins there are. TIA

I live in cwmbran.
There are a few in Malpas and I have seen one in a funky minin bus in the St Julians area.
Which part of Newport are you?
Why have you moved here??!!

I'm in Bassaleg. I have family here and in Cardiff which is why we moved here. Ds is already picking up a newport accent!!

I have to go to a briefing session on Tues so I'm sure I'll pick up a bit of info on the local area. Hoefully, it won't take too long to re-register.

Are there lots of chil-related things going on in Cwmbran?

Totally off topic but Bassaleg comp has a very good reputation

Thanks, my Aunt is always raving about it!! Ds is only 5 so I have a while yet before the stress of High School!!

Helloooooo, i went to the briefing on tues as well, read the app when i got home and thought OMG!!! think i will go ahead tho as it will give me more scope for earning money. I'm in Beechwood/St Julians area of Newport. Read your 'nanny' post as well hows it going?? x

Hi Claremummy! What a coincidence about the briefing session! When I went to pick ds up from school I noticed another lady from the session picking up her dd from my ds' class! As we've only been at the school 3 weeks I don't know anyone so hadn't recognised her at the briefing session! I've heard of St julians but not Beechwood and not even that sure of where St J is!! Is it near the tunnels? Do you have children of your own?

I will go ahead with the registration too although I'm trying to think up alternative career moves. I used to be a nanny before I had ds but it was much more practical to cm once he'd arrived. Now that he's at full time school it'd be easier for me to do a nanny job again.

Yep got 3 girls 2 1/2, 4 and 9 - eldest 2 go to school but little one goes to playgroup 4 mornings. My friend registered as a childminder a couple of years ago and suggested i give it a go - i work pt in the evenings but its a bit of a struggle getting homeworks done so i decided to look into it. Would give me more flexibility i hope... I've got one of my friends wanting me to pick up her 2 girls from st j's infants already!!St Julians is sort of central Newport as is Beechwood (near Beechwood Park). Don't understand all the abbreviations yet on this site what's dd/ds??(trying not to feel stupid!)x

DD/DS is darling daughter/son. There's a list of abbrevs near the top of the page!! Don't feel stupid, I was too chicken to ask and it took me ages to find the list!!!

I'd definately go for it, especially if you've got children lined up already!! If you know any out this way please send them in my direction!!!!

Certainly will - where were u sat in the briefing? Have you done the online diagnostic and phoned to book the course yet? When i phoned she said the Feb Newport one was full but there's one in Cwmbran starting March 8th, so i've received and sent the booking confirmation back. Prob see you on that one?

I was on the left of the room. My sister was sitting next to me (long story!!) asking lots of questions, if that makes it easier to picture!!! I've done the ICP in England so I only have to do 2 hours of the course. I've done the diagnostic thing, what a load of nonsense!! The questions and answers were far too general for them to get a proper idea of what help is needed. I've been whinging about that for days now!!!!!

I'm in Caerleon, Newport SS have a website that offers childminder details (how I found mine, she's fab but probably too far from yur school)

haven't found many drop ins here, there's a toddler group and another on the chepstow road- but we usually go to Eeezeeplay in rogerstone if the kids need a bit of a burn off.

Where in Rogerstone? I live just on the edge of Rogerstone but the opposite edge is too far to walk (iyswim!!)!!

here you go!

Hi Mogs and Peachy! I was last but one on the left hand side of the table. Yeah i thought the diagnostic was far too general as well - kept answering questions and thinking what has this got to do with me - i'm not planning world domination with my 'business'!!Oh well if it gets me funding and a free course i'll do it! another stupid question coming up - what's a drop-in??

A drop-in is a playgroup or similar that you don't have to pre-book, you just turn up on the day.

I think I would have been about 2 seats away from you!!

Ha ha! at world domination!!!!!

Peachy - Is it near Focus? I got excited then when I saw £40 membership on their webpage, I had visions of taking ds every weekend to burn off the excess energy, until I realised £40 is only for 3 months membership! I only used to pay this to be a member of Kew Gardens for the whole year!!

Claremummy - just re-read your last post and actually I think I was sitting next to you!!! How bizarre!!!

Not sure about Focus (we're relatviely recent here- 3 years)

i think it costs about a tenner to tkae my lot for a morning, not great but well, better than a lot of places.

I scanned through the directions and could follow it up until the last roundabout then got a bit confused! (easily done!) I lived here about 5 years ago and used to take ds for long walks in the pram and walked up that way a couple of times, lovely stroll along the dual carriageway!!

Do you get a fixed amount of time? I forgot to look at that. Might try it out tomorrow if it's dry, don't think I could walk all that way in the rain!!

Mogs i had a beigey v neck jumper and short blonde hair which stuck up at the back. I did ask a few questions as well... There is a new playbarn type thing in Newport as well called Chaos - i haven't been yet but my friends say it's really good and a bit more laid back than Eeezeeplay. They do cooking on Thurs mornings!! It's by the Royal Mail sorting office - Queenway Meadows.

Is that behind the train station?

Naa it's the one not far from Spytty Retail Park near Motorpoint on Meadows Road. Try this link www.chaosforkids.co.uk for directions. It's the far side of Newport.

Goodness, that's over our side- yet we never heard of it! Not been that well publicised has it?

If I had toddlers I'm not sure i'd be happy paying that much for an 18 month old, for my older kids I woudln't mind though- and at least the baby will be free until a year old!

Still comes to almost £17 for a morning out though....... .......

Yep it opened at the end of last year i think and unless someone tells you about it or you see a flyer you think ????? whats/wheres that???? Another friend of mine who's a childminder goes on a Thurs and her 2 year old loves doing the cooking!! they 'made' pizzas the other week!! Not much difference in price to Ezeeplay tho' and nearer to us as well!

Our CM uses the wacky warehouse toddler mornings at alngstone, you have to be able to use a car BUT theya re much, much cheaper 9and they do ahev a nice playa rea, just refurbed)

That's quite good as well. Only trouble i had was my 4 year old wants to go in the 'big' bit and they've stopped under 5's from going in which meant i would have problems. The 9 year old would be bored by herself and the 4 year old would strop 'cause she couldn't go in... it's not until u think about it that you realise why you don't/can't go to certain places!! When/if i do start childminding tho' it would be an option for littlies