Nursery or child minder?

[Frida9]

Hi, I am expecting my first child in February so won't be looking for childcare until the start of 2024 but am looking for advice on whether to go with a childminder or a nursery? What are other people's experiences?

I did initially think just nursery but there's only one in my area and on contacting them their fees are significantly higher than advertised on their website so a bit put off the idea. It would only be two full days a week.

We had a really positive experience using a nursery. DD’s learnt sharing and tidying and got into routines. The lunches were very good and varied and they were never fussy eaters. Visiting the nursery we really liked the atmosphere and the staff and we couldn’t replicate the facilities: staff would babysit for us. After we moved out of the area, they would invite our DDs to special events they held. This was years ago now, but both DDs are independent and confident now. Never regretted going the nursery route.

Erm how would you even know at all what goes on in childminder's house behind closed doors, since there are possibly no witnesses whatsoever that can talk, and also how would you know who potentially gets access to your kids, particularly so if the kids are babies or pre-verbal toddlers? There is much more transparency with nurseries.
Childminding was initially introduced to regularise friends and family and to stop them from providing poor quality childcare and unfortunately, as it's often much cheaper (everywhere I've lived it has been) it has become an alternative to nurseries.
Multiple kids, very often 7 or 8 (can you look after that many effectively while meeting their needs?), different ages, full reliance that a person with a conflict of interest would tell you of accidents, no other pair of eyes, etc . How do parents even consider it, unless no other options.
To those who mention crimes in the news, how would you even know if that were to happen in someone's house behind closed doors? Childminders won't hand themselves in, will they? Kids usually plonked in front of TV, babies restrained and immobilised, appeasing kids with squash and cartoons etc

Are you for real?
I'm an ofsted registered childminder and we do NOT restrain children, plonk them in front of the tv, or mistreat them in any way.
We are regulated by ofsted just like nurseries are, and follow the same stringent guidelines that nurseries do.
We are regulated by the amount of children we can care for regarding their ages, and are inspected by ofsted regularly to ensure we follow all guidelines.
In addition to this, every childminder I know, loves and cares for the children we care for, and we foster very close relations with the parents too...otherwise why would the parents leave their children with us?
Your comments are extremely offensive to childminders, I don't know what experiences you have had, but they are NOT indicative of childminders generally!

You’re really trying to discredit CM’s here aren’t you. This is an awful post and I fear it reflects more about you than hard working and amazing childminders, mine included.

So many parents rely on their CM and are very happy with their service, my CM is friends with families she cared for many years ago and has kept in touch with them throughout the years which is what attracted me to her services in the first place.

Your suspicious and paranoid post reflects what goes on in your mind, not reality.

Walking to and from school they may have that many....so an hour in the morning and a couple in the evening max....some may will be going as soon as they get in. The remaing 6 hours a day would be 3 of them. Then there's the ones you don't see who don't do school runs so have 3 all day.

Wow you really don't know anything about modern childminding do you? Numbers of under 8s are restricted. Numbers of reschool are restricted....so that's 6 in total with half being in school. My tv is never on, I have a dedicated play room, messy play areas, parents get photos of activities done in the day....children are good at demonstrating who they like and feel comfortable with. Unlike a nursery where a room is often left with only one staff member (I'm an assessor so been in many seeing awful things as well as the good) where children can be plonked in front of TV while staff do other things your childminder will be a consistent presence and always with the 3 children not one of several left alone with 8.
Do you know how many deaths, serious accidents, escaped children and abuse cases have happened in nurseries? I have a friend who was asked to cover up the events that happened in one by saying she had been there and witnessed it Numbers don't mean saftey.

Wow, your level of ignorance astounds me.

Agencies back on the cards and, bang on cue, a poster pops up to post rubbish about childminders.

as night follows day… 🙄

I don't have experience with a child minder and I've been VERY lucky with the nursery my LO goes to. He started at 15 months and has absolutely thrived.

There are 8 children in the room with 4 staff.

The room he has just moved into after 4 months in his first one (which was also gorgeous) has a library corner with lots of books and bean bags, cushions etc. An area with a whole kitchen area that has so many things to explore and play with. An office corner filled with a brilliant pretend work space. A soft play corner and plenty of other brilliant areas. The garden is huge with an undercover area. We are constantly updated with new projects the children are working on along with plans for the week etc. they are taken out into the small town and to the play parks too.

The food is amazing and full of a healthy but yummy menu that changes every day and then month by month.

I personally cannot imagine a child minder ever being able to compete with the nursery my LO is in, so personally IF you can find something like this I would 100% go with a nursery.

As I said, my LO has thrived!

Nothing you've listed can't be found in my home.
As an assessor I see it in all nurseries obviously varying newness but becouse they have it be aware not all use it. One very exclusive £20k nursery don't even let the children hold the books unless supervised. Parents are often swayed by looks what counts is the staff

Agree with Jannier, all these things can be found with a childminder too.

I do question something though, how can they possibly afford to stay open with one staff member to every 2 children?
I can't see how a business would stay afloat considering staff wages, building costs and all the other expenses that a business has to pay for unless they charge astronomical prices for each child.

I would always go nursery. It gives me more comfort personally knowing there are lots of staff about. My child loves other children and has a great time. We got loads of updates and they do lots of different activities. Have made a few friends with other parents at drop off and pick up. I really rate it.

I sent my ds to nursery but then became a childminder for a decade..

Personally for a baby i would send them to a cminder but trust your gut instinct. I think matching parenting style is important.

I have definitely been able to follow and work with childrens intrests more than a nursery. They developed close friendships.

Its over a year since i gave up but still in touch with many of my families.

Your lack of experience with childminders shows. It sounds like you place more importance on the property and resources which is fine and all you’ve mentioned (minus the covered area of the garden) my CM has. The DC at my CM go out to lovely classes each week too.

Your nursery doesn’t reflect the usual child to adult ratios of nurseries at all, how can they afford 4 adults to two children?

So you are lucky but shouldn’t make general comparisons on your unique and limited experience let alone try to undermine Childminders.

Apologies I meant how does your nursery afford 1 adult to 2 children in a room of just 8.

The ratio for a childminder is one to 3 under school age normally at this level they generally earn minimum wage after costs. The ratio in nursery is higher and applies to the building often staff are out of rooms. The issue is overheads and very low funding

@jannier

My CM has taken on an assistant. I know for sure that after feeding these very hungry DC who are also obsessed with snacks and paying an assistant along with all other costs and overheads involved, I wonder how on earth she stays afloat!

My 2 ( 3 & 18 months). Have both been at nursery from around 12/13 months. Not full time. 3-4 days a week. Hours have changed over the years to suit what we need. Both love the nursery. Both absolutely thriving. Care there is outstanding. They have a great bond with the ladies that work there. Honestly I believe the money has been well spent.

Not my kids. But I know of 3 parents who've sent their kids to childminders that have had awful experiences. Kids coming back with lunch not opened or touched. Nappy not changed all day. Drinks not given. Lots of lies been given to the parents. These parents all took steps to make sure what they believed to be happening was true. (Colour in a spot on nappy to prove child was coming home in the same nappy etc).

It is really difficult employing an assistant is a minefield ....pension, NI, sick and maternity pay nobody is in childcare for the money unless they set up a big chain years ago. Most are struggling. Employing apprentices is popular especially in nurseries becouse the wage is so low and they get a grant but as soon as they qualify the get minimum wage....hence the high staff turnover and difficulty in finding a school leaver interested in the work not just doing it rather than 6th form. Reliability of students can be an issue. Trying to find motivated 17 year olds can be hit and miss. I've some students who I wouldnt leave a child with.

My son did private nursery as a baby then once he was 3 he went to a school nursery mornings and childminder afternoons. Childminder was the best thing I ever did. He wasn’t just looked after, he was loved. She’s like another grandparent to him and his relationship with the other kids was really special. No amount of resources could match the care, help and advice she gave. A good childminder is worth their weight in gold but it’s finding one that’s tricky.

@jannier I’m guessing it’s an apprentice as she’s young and I can’t imagine she’d be able to pay her a lot.

EY certainly needs more government investment,

Don't forget a high percentage of the 17 year olds in many nurseries are doing it becouse they have to be in education until they are 18 and playing with children all day sounds easy. They have nothing to loose and are often out of childcare in a couple of years....and yes often rules are broken and they are on their own with children due to staffing issues with senior staff caught up in other tasks. A childminder willbe suspended pending investigation loosing all income with knock ons to housing etc. And potentially their own children....so generally aremuch more invested in your child.
All thd activities and socialisation as well as updates are exactly the same. A childminder can also work with 4 adults on the same premises. They are inspected to the same standards. Safegaurding wise if any adult in the house has any police envolvement ofsted are immediately notified by the police ....this includes if they are called in about their own child's behaviour. A nursery relies on the staff reporting that an adult they live with has done something.

Agree about the feeling loved part, my DC see it as their extended home and know they’re loved, they’ve formed sibling like relationships with their peers. I too feel very lucky!

I did a childminder fro 9 months to 2.5 years, then switched to a nursery. The childminder was fantastic with babies but clearly wasn't keen on toddlers!

At DT’s nursery the ratio of staff to children was 1:2. None of the staff were teenagers - most were much older than me. One of the reasons we chose it was due to a very low staff turnover. DT’s are now 23 and no longer living in the UK but both still send a Christmas card to their key worker - they had the same key worker from starting at six months until they left to start school. Two of the nursery staff were our babysitters.