What do you look for in childcare?

[LouiG123]

I have a previous post on naming

I have worked in childcare for 20+ years and have my own children at school, I'm therefore considering childminding.

I have visions but would love idea and positive things you love or things you dislike.

I have a large room in the house which I would childmind from.

They wouldn't be in the rest of the house so id make this a safe and exciting environment.

We have a back door off this room so this would be the entrance. We have plenty of parking.

I have plans for a book corner, crafts area, we have plenty of toys for babies right up to 6 but would buy other things for the older children if we have them. We'd have a television on the wall but mostly have radio on. Would consider a wii for older kids. Sensory tray. Some high chairs for babies/toddlers.

Any ideas welcome or no no's etc.

I've been a childminder for 15 years and will give my thoughts.

A playroom is great and always a bonus to keep your home tidy and organised, however I would rethink the 'they wouldn't be anywhere else in the house'. Many choose a childminder for the home experience, rather than cooped in one room like a nursery.

What about naps? Mealtimes? Outside play? Outings?

Sorry, I should have specified. Our home is a U shape so it would back onto the kitchen for food. I wanted the room to be like a living room playroom. Also part of the garden too, I guess like some childminders have a living room only.

Just out of curiosity when ofsted come do they look at the whole house or just the downstairs? If they wouldn't be going upstairs.

Thank you for your advice.

We are also surrounded by farm land so plenty for outside play.

This won't be for a while I'm just gathering thoughts.

Sorry for the questions. Do you have a room the little ones use for naps?

Ofsted can look at your whole house, it will be the individual inspector who will decide what they want to check. I know some minders with adult or teen children have found this very difficult to reconcile, wardrobes being checked etc. Personally aside from using my upstairs bathroom, they have always stayed downstairs with me.

Naps, I'm flexible to children’s needs. I have one in my bedroom in a travel cot, one in a buggy with radio on and 2 sleep on mats in my living room. I ask parents whats they do at home.

I wouldn't want the TV or radio on apart from specific periods for a bit of downtime. Constant background noise can impact speech development and concentration.

I'd want a carer who had some level of training in early education/childcare/child development, food hygiene certificate and paediatric first aid.

I'd want them to be out and about at least once a day to playgroups/park/forest/library etc.

I'd want snacks and meals provided, simple and reasonably healthy.

Someone who could offer some flexibility on days/hours would be fantastic, but realise this is hard to accommodate.

A mix of toys available and some messy play and arts/crafts, but wouldn't be looking for a huge range of resources as long as they were not spending all day everyday in the house.

I have recently finished childminding and found it took over my whole house even if only using living room and kitchen as man areas. It's all the storage if you don't want the toys and equipment out permanently. I enjoyed childminding while my own children were little but found it restrictive as be they grew and once they were in junior school they hate it. They wanted to just come home from school and relax which they could not do, my husband also got fed up coming home to a noisy house full of kids that were not his. What I am trying to say is don't forget the impact it will have on others in your household.

In France childminders often have a little dorm for naps. Kids go to school at 3 and have naps in dorms there too for at least the fist 2 years.

Otherwise a series of cots in different bedrooms.

One of ours had a sort of sick bed in the playroom too. And the most amazing loo with potty. The kids wanted to get on the loo ASAP because it was so inviting.

My kids are older now but I have used a mix of childminders and nurseries over the years.

I wouldn’t use a childminder where it was clear that she only wanted to do it so she could have an income while staying home with her own kids. My best childminder was the one who was clear that this was a proper job for her and she treated it as such.