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.

@Tillsforthrills

👌🏼 good chat.

@CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark summed up PERFECTLY

I can't speak for the PP but my son's (local authority children's centre) had four members of staff to 9 children in the baby room (12-24mo). Three nursery nurses (level 3 qualified (actually one was a qualified and experienced nursery teacher in Poland), on decent salaries) and a (level 2 qualified) centre assistant. Having that extra person, and retaining the same excellent staff for many years, made a huge difference.

It was the school/LA decision to resource the nursery properly, rather than merely meeting minimum legal requirements or trying to turn a profit as private nurseries need to. The fees were no higher than other private/maintained nurseries offering similar hours, and not that much higher than typical childminder prices locally.

I agree that early years needs hugely more funding, but it frustrates me when the sector is universally characterised as low wages, only in it for the love of it, blah blah. Some local authorities have been able to continue offering the sort of salaries, ratios, settings and quality which all children and families should be able to access.

Genuine question cos I see this a lot, why? To me being in the pram getting half an hour fresh air is a good thing? It's not like they're in there for hours or anything? Young babies love to look at all the new sights on the way and then have the big kids fuss over them. It's the same 4 walls usually in nurseries and on the rare occasions they get taken out I've not seen them have much fun. One of the local nurseries takes them all trudging about on reins thru the town centre and another one I've seen take them to the park, take one quick photo and back in the pushchair.

It's possibly only in the morning when all children aren't there. I would bet money all staff aren't in there all day. Most nurseries are financially on their knees at the moment and having to operate on basic ratios

I have to agree with you there @Looneytune253 . I do nursery supply work and every nursery I go to is chronically understaffed (obviously because I am there) and they are so desperate for staff that they allow flexible hours so basically, whatever anyone can do. I know a few workers who just do term time hours up until 2PM. Those who work just 1 or 2 days, or come in just to cover the lunch period. Very few work full-time Monday-Friday all day.
I've also heard cases where they have had to shut down rooms for the day as they are unable to staff it. Unfortunately this seems to be happening more and more. There's a huge crisis in childcare recruitment right now.

I agree with @Looneytune253
I work with many, many Nurseries, and they are almost all really struggling to employ staff. No Nursery I know is working over ratio.

I also agree about Childminders and taking "the big boys" to school. I LOVED the fact my dc went out every day with my CM, and weren't stuck in the same 4 walls for 9.5 hours every day. That was one of the real bonuses of a CMer over a Nursery for me.