Improving Reputation of Childminding: what can be done?

[BerkshireBella]

Childminding can often seem to have a bad reputation, with lots of reports in the news etc. I am just starting out and am wondering your opinion on what could be done to help raise the profile of childminding.

I know this is controversial, but does anyone else think that charging too little brings everyone down by "cheapening" the service offered? The pay is so far below minimum wage.... what does this say about this type of work?

Also, I've recently met a CM with 6 mindees who was proud of the fact that they NEVER went on outings beyond the garden; is that even LEGAL???!

A change in title might help. For example, 'nursery nurse' or 'nanny' has pretty good associations, but 'childminder' really doesn't and the title probably does not reflect the difficult job being done. Childminder suggests 'babysitting', whereas it's far more than that.

Whilst the hourly rate per child is below minimum wage if you have 3 childen you are well over the minimum wage

I wasn't aware of any bad ref tbh - my CM is wonderful and I'd take her to Oz with us if we could.

Sorry, but not all of us can have 3 at a time. I never did - and once I have my baby I have one spot. I know this is a choice, but please don't assume that all c/m have their full quotas or can even have their full quotas. Or for that matter, want to! I know of several who don't want a full house.

I think you build your own reputation by doing what you do well and by having satisfied customers.

I judge myself harshly but to my own standards.

I don't care at all about the image of 'childminding' or 'childminders' as a group.

If I were to charge more - which I could easily do, as could every other self-employed childcarer - then I would probably lose the good customers I have. It would be uneconomical for them to work as they probably don't earn much more than me themselves.

I am also registered, with an assistant, for 6 under fives and we don't go out either.

We have a regular, relaxed daily routine with a big, sunny garden that the children can access freely at any time of day.

The logistics of taking 6 under fives out would be stressful and counter productive for everyone.

The children get out and about with their families on days off/weekends/holidays and enjoy the freedom and benefits of a safe, secure environment when with me.

We are like a small, cosy nursery or 'family group' with low ratios of staff/children.

It works well.

"The rate we pay seems fair. Presumably if you only have one child to mind, this is not really your 'career' or main source of income? Seems to me that would be like me working only one day a week and complaining that my take home was low!"

Therein lies the problem IMO - a career where your salary is considered to be part of the "pin money" of the bad old days, and not a proper career that we have spent HOURS and HOURS training for in the evenings and weekends! If a baby has a spinal injury and is unconscious, I know what to do... or if a child got a bad burn, I know what to do and have proper burn equipment in my first aid box. I spend alot of time planning appropriate activities and meals. Isn't this a career then? Because it seems harder than any work I ever did in an office!!!

I completely agree Janni; "nanny" has wonderful Mary Poppins-like images, "nursery nurse" sounds like a kind and helpful person, but childminder - it just doesn't have the same ring to it.

And I think that if pay was slightly higher, then less people might take on 6 children which could be a good thing - more time for each child, more attention, less glares in public when a minder has 2 little ones in a buggy and a handful more on reins? Sorry if I am being offensive as obviosly lots of people presumably need the money and can't afford to not fill all spaces, but it just seems like too much for 1 person to take on!

I agree that this career as a chidminder is harder than any work I did in a office. There was a just an employee along with the hundreds of other people in the office (I worked for a large company!)whereas now I have the responsibility to take care of other peoples most precious children.
I personally do not think the pay is bad. I knew the situation before I went into it as did we all, surely. We knew that the hourly rate per child might not be great, but if we have more than 1 then it can be ok and if we have more then all the better.
For those who are unable to fill the spaces then I understand that things might be hard.
If you choice however to only have few children then I can not see how you can complain.

BerkshireBella, when I first started childminding I had a 2yr old of my own and three older teenagers.

I was an experienced mum but I too could no way imagine being able to cope with 6 under fives.

I have built up my experience and routines and now find caring for 6 under fives a pleasure and an enjoyable challenge.

It's not to do with money. Now that I have a wage to pay to my assistant there are quiet days when she earns more than I do!

With two adults and no school runs each child has heaps of attention and love and they all love coming here.

I don't find you offensive. Just inexperienced.

I'm also able to have my full "quota" of children, as my own are now adult. I go out somewhere most mornings as I work on my own all day, and need the occasional grown-up conversation! That is my choice; other minders choose to stay home, and I have no problem with that.

I think it is harder to project yourself as having childminding as a career if you have your own small children, but is is certainly possible - being on a network, attending courses and training, being accredited etc. all help.

It is very hard work having lots of little ones (I currently have a variation to have 4 on a couple of days), but I certainly wouldn't do it if I wasn't capable of it - and the parents would soon complain if I didn't live up to the standards I told them I offer! I guess that if parents wanted sole one-to-one care, then they wouldn't choose me as their childminder in the first place. I will take on children if I have the space as I need to earn money like every other working mum!

We have a lot of fun, and there is always time for individual cuddles and play. I also have older ones after school and, as with gooseegg, there is a wonderful "family" feel to the house.

Childminders can't win really - only have one mindee and you are seen as earning "pin money", or have your full quota and are seen as "money-grabbing."

i have worked out my hourly rate
i earn £4.03 per hour - i work 31.75 hours per week. it is hard work and yes i don't have to pay for childcare BUT i have to "take" my child to work with me.

I definitely think it's time for a change of title! Childminder conjures up images of 'minding' the child while the parents go out and do 'real' work. It's such an important job and deserves more. (Btw I'm not a childminder and have never had to use childcare but think you're great)

The trouble is I can't think of any satisfying title. Child Carer, Child Technician, Child Manager, they don't encompass all aspects of the role. Childrens' Aide, Childrens' Supervisor.....

It is wrong to think that the "hourly rate for childminding is below the minimum wage." The rate is per child; if a CM minds a full quota of children her total hourly income will be well above the minimum wage.

I don't think CMs have a particularly bad reputation. I know a CM in a personal capacity and she is fantastic.

I chose a CM over a nursery because I knew people who had great relationships with their CMs and I wanted the same for my child. A lot is down to choice: I deliberately chose a CM who did lots of outside activities and was heavily involved in the local network, as DS has bags of energy and I wanted him to have the chance to socialise with other kids. Most of the time, DS is the only young child she looks after and he is really happy there.

I think a lot is due to expectations and experience: if everyone else sends gtheir children to nursery and make shocked noises at the idea of using a CM then you're less likely to do so. Plus nurseries can be better if both parents work full-time, as you don't have to worry about holidays or your CM being ill. I also wonder if there is a class issue here: nurseries or nannies seem to be the 'accepted' option in the (v middle class) area I live in. Perhaps seeing CMs as the cheaper option?

I don't think the wages are an issue: nursery staff are rarely paid above the minimum wage (another reason I'm a little dubious about nurseries).

Definitely need a change of title, it has alwys been pet hate of mine.

We are often seen as babysitters, rather than professional childcarers, people seem to think we are not a regulated as a nusery, (if anything if the CM is on a Network, they are often visited by the Network Supervisor, much more than a nursery is visited by Ofsted)

A 'Proper' Title that reflects our professionalism would help.

So, Vintage (sorry not picking on you, really) using your figures, if you filled 5 places (couldn't do 6 as you have your own child) at 4.03ph then that's 20.15ph which is above the minimum wage. Times by 31hr week (which is less than a lot of people work) that's around £624 ppw potentially. That doesn't seem too bad to me. Plus you don't have to pay around £124 pw for your own child while you work so save that. That doesn't seem underpaid to me.
I would think that by opting to not take your maximum (unless of course it's not an option due to not being able to fill places)then that is on a par with others choosing part-time.
I also don't think that changing the title would make much difference. As gooseegg says it's more down to each childminder to build a good reputation. I know some great childminders who have really got it together and do a great job. They have no problems filling their places even at times when others do.

gooseegg - your setup sounds lovely.

I don't think CMs necessarily ought to take children out and about much. I used to go to a Mother & Baby group run by a CM who and she took her charges along and that was fine. She had a small house but lived right next to the village playground and the children spent a lot of time there (no roads to cross to get there). But I also think it is fine when children have the roam of much of a CM's house/garden and stay there all day.

It is quite stimulating for small children just to be away from their own home in the company of other adults and children. I'm not sure there's much point in going beyond gardens and playgrounds.

juuule I fill 3 spaces full time 8-5 and three after school 3-5 at £3.40 per hour, well over the minumumwage?

So how come once I have taken out all my expenses (food, equipment, petrol, outings, everything else that I use for the children, I have none at home of my own, so all expenses are for the mindees) I dont earn enough to pay tax!

WhatDidIComeUpHereFor - if you do outings, shouldn't you be charging them to parents separately?

CM fees are for minding, not for outings.

Whatdid.. I've no idea why you have nothing left, maybe you need to look closer at your expenses. CM near me applied for grants for equipment. One I know has just installed all kinds of play equipment from the latest grant. I know that some cm do buy bits and pieces for her mindees but that's because they want to not because they have to. They also charge for extra outings.

No if I charge for Outings I have to declare it as income, so that means that I will pay tax on it so what it the point, I charge a all inclusive fee, and put everything down as expenses.

I have also been doing this job for thirty years and have always charged this way, If you get grants you have to declare them as income, so either you charge for everything on top of your fee and have to declare it as income and then pay tax on it or, like me absorb it into your expenses and dont pay tax, either way you dont make alot of money.

I don't understand.

Say you charge parents £3.50 an hour including meals and drinks but excluding outings.

Surely you expense food and drinks against income?

If you charge separately for outings at cost, surely you can just expense them against the marginal income?

No everything you charge for the children becomes income, so by not charging for the outings I can bring my expenses to the level I dont pay tax.

If I charged for outings, they would take me over the tax limit so I would pay tax.