childminder query

[branflake81]

How many children does a childminder have at any one time? I would not like my DC to be the only one - I suppose Im looking for a more intimate version of nursey, ie a few kids running around to interact with. Is that what happens?

yes that is what happens, they usually have 3 children under five and possible a few older children (who are usually at school of course!)

normally a childminder can look after 6 children in total including their own. Of these 6 children only 3 can be under 5 and only one of those may be under 1. Bare in mind though that a childminder can currently look after as many over 8s as they want.

Normally 3 children under 5 & more after school & in holidays

The number of children could vary quite a bit between minders, plus different numbers of children on different days as some parents only require part-time care.
Visit some local childminders and find out from them about how many other children would be with your child during the day.
Also childminders may meet up with other childminders - I meet up with 2 local childminders and we all go for walks in Windsor Great Park, the children all know each other well now.

thats true nannynick
somedays i have 2 under 5's other days i have 3 under 5's
at the moment only one of my under 5's children do past 3.30pm so they do play with the older children after school
but the school children love the little ones