Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

Childminder for older children?

7 replies

ILoveMooShu · 05/12/2023 14:47

I have a friend who's been childminding for about a decade now, she made this career move a bit later in life and she now thinks she no longer has the energy to be on her feet all day with little ones.

Now she's wondering if there would be a market for a childminding service for, say, kids between 9-14 who would come to hers after school to do their homework and lounge about? I know many children loathe after school clubs for various reasons, and I was thinking this could potentially work although I'm aware childminders are for kids under 8. She would be willing to pick the kids up from school. What do people think?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mondaytosunday · 05/12/2023 14:56

No need for a child in secondary school to have a minder surely? Might work for younger kids.

thelonemommabear · 05/12/2023 15:07

To be honest I rely on before/after school childminders as a single parent but I certainly don't want to be paying childcare bills when they are at secondary and post other parents I know agree that they won't use childcare after age 11 when kids can walk to/from school on own, catch bus etc

Strawberryfieldsforeverrr · 05/12/2023 15:34

I think 8 to 11 may be more reasonable, no 14 year old (disability aside) needs minding. She will have to be prepared to put on a good spread as they eat like horses at that age.

NuffSaidSam · 05/12/2023 15:37

I think there is definitely a market for the 8-11 age range (older primary), but little to no market for kids much beyond that. I can't see any 14 year old being happy to go to a childminder or any parent of a 14 year old being happy to pay for one.

OneOffQuestions · 05/12/2023 15:37

I imagine secondary school kids would be embarrassed to be picked up by a childminder. But up to year 6 might work. My year 6 child makes his own way home but I imagine parents who work out of the home might use the service.

Worth a try I'd say although would she continue to have younger children? Might be hard to balance the competing needs.

Looneytune253 · 05/12/2023 15:43

Regular childminders offer this service anyway but I could imagine most parents would be desperate to stop their childcare costs way before this age so I wonder if there would be any take up for this service

jannier · 05/12/2023 16:16

She's brave to take on that age group if they are not children she already knows. They will not be used to her ways and can go wild.
As she's not registered she won't be able to attract clients using any money saving schemes like tax free or UC and many school clubs are around £5 to £6 a session so pretty low paid

Flip