Need to find a new childminder - other than children's information services where can I look?

[IdrisTheDragon]

Found out today that our lovely childminder needs to give us four weeks' notice as the her sister is very ill and she needs to look after her.

I need to find another childminder for DS (4) and DD (2). I know I can look at the CIS website and phone them up for (hopefully) more people. DS is at school in the mornings and DD is going to start going to pre-school after Easter.

I will need three days a week and picking up of DS (and hopefully DD on the one day she will be at pre-school when I'm at work but I realise this may need to be put back a bit).

How difficult is it to find childcare for 2 children under 5. I know that ratios can make it difficult - at least from September DS will be at school full time.

Any advice is very welcome .

Say where you are and someone on here may be able to help you

Thank you .

We're on the Bedforshire/Hertfordshire border, in a village called Henlow.

Great I cant help you, sorry I am in ESSEX, but there are lots of cm s on here who may be able to or who may know someone who may have a place for you, good luck with it all

Idris, do you know of any childminders that pick up from your DS school? Might be worth asking around there, since you'll need one that can do pick ups from there. Sometimes cm's put notices up on notice boards in playgroups or newsagents etc too.

Would it be OK to post in the staff room about it? Or do a link to this thread?

I know there are childminders who pick up from DS's school, but he's only been there since January and I'm not altogether sure which people are childminders and which are parents . But as I don't work tomorrow I can try and find out more.

Thank you for advising as well Maureen .

You sure can! Not sure if anyone who uses the staff room is in your area though. Lots are SE, couple up north and one in Norfolk! Still worth doing though, I might have missed one! How about trying MN Local?

I'll link it first thing in the morning for you.

Thank you . She gave me a really nice letter saying how lovely DS and DD are, which was kind of her.

Poor thing It must have been a very hard decision for her. Is there any chance that she might come back to CMing?

Have looked at the CIS site and discovered a person I know through being on the PTA is a childminder (although currently has no vacancies). But can talk to her as she may know other people who might have spaces (trying hard to be optimistic ).

Hi I'm not near you unfortunately but hope you find someone lovely!

Idris, I have a strong relationship with other local CMs, we often pass enquiries to each other and I am sure that the PTA CM has contacts she can give to you.

Looking for advertising posters in Doctors' surgery/local library/church hall/toddler groups is also a good idea.

Good luck