Can't decide which childminder to go for ... looking to MN wisdom! please help me choose!

[greenday]

I'm starting work and this is the first time I am seeking childcare and its for one day a week. I have a 4yr old DD and 8mth DS. DD goes to school 9-11.30am and then reception in Sept.

My basic criteria is (apart from meals) - pick up DCs from mine, drop DD off to school, pick DD up, drop them off back home at end of day.

So far, I've met 2 childminders and here are their advantages and vice-versa :

Childminder A :
Lives further away but drives.
Only have my DCs to look after along with her own 2yr old DD.
Can pick DCs up and drop them off end of day.
Very small flat and not very conducive.
Not registered but has minded other children for the last 2 years. Has worked with children as part of her career training.
Quiet type of personality. Can't get a feel of how she's like as a person.
Charges an affordable rate for looking after 2 DCs.

Overall, more flexible and can accommodate to my requirements.

Childminder B :
Lives nearer.
Looks after several other children.
Registered.
Doesn't drive - walks and takes buses.
Flat is more conducive for children.
Definitely more experienced and confident. I know people who know her and think highly of her.
I can only afford to have DS for childminding under her (but can arrange for DD to go to friend's on that day).
I'll have to drop DCs off and pick them up at end of day.

OVerall, more professional but not flexible due to constraints with other children but more experienced and competent. Can work around dropping off / picking up and arranging for DD to go to friend's on that day, but is it worthwhile the inconvenience?

Also, considering that I haven't worked for a few years now and am eager to prove myself, ideally, it would be nice for that day to go smoothly without too much of the everyday hassle that comes with children.

Any thoughts, insights, advice, etc ... please do share!! Thanks!!!

bump ... sorry for the long post.
But a mono-syllabic answer from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

I'd say that the not being registered part would worry me a bit. I do understand how the cost of it makes a difference though.

the more experienced I am afraid, not worth taking any risks.

What if the less experience gave references? Would that be of any value?

(Its quite a rhetorical question ... but I'm bumping it up as well.)

nope no value

I'm not sure of the ins and outs of it, but I'd be uncertain of the liability postion of an unregistered childminder, if there were an accident.

The fact that the first one's house doesn't seem conducive to looking after children would also worry me - remember that your DS will be getting bigger and more (if not already) mobile and if the flat seems small now, it will seem smaller as he gets bigger.

No registration = you have no recourse to complain if things go wrong. What kind of insurance could she have? No way would I use CMA.

Is Childminder A going to become registered shortly? If not then remember that she won't be covered by insurance or anything like that, and you wouldn't have the backup of her having been CRB checked, her house checked out by Ofsted, etc. Plus she could be found out and end up being prosecuted.

If she is registering then it can take several months from start to finish with the delays on CRBs/Ofsted visits, and she wouldn't be able to start charging you for any care she provided until her registration is complete.

I would not even consider using the CM that is not registered. She should not even be doing childminding without being registered.

Have you tried looking on the Childrens Information Service (CIS) website to look for more CM's in your area.

If you use someone that's registered you may even be able to claim some childcare costs back from the Goverment.

Also remember you wont be able to get any help with fee's if you're using unregistered childminder.
Using the registered one means you may qualify for help, and therefor let he look after both children.

Oh dear, in many ways, I was hoping that perhaps Childminder A could be okay as it would be 1 day a week only and her rates are so affordable.

But there are so many important factors to consider, as you all have rightly pointed out, with safety, insurance and all.

S42 - I don't think she is planning to be registered.

IrisDragon - Both flats are actually pretty small. But B's flat is better equipped as she has other children to mind. A's flat, as she has a DD, is child-friendly too but not as 'exciting', IYKWIM.

Social services can decide to prosecute parents who leave their children with unregistered care. it is unlikely but it has happened, apparently it is neglect.

Do be careful

Her rates are so affordable because she probably doesn't bother declaring her earnings!!!!

As a professional childminder myself, that attends training sessions, has regular 1st aid training, pays taxes, and has the 3 year horror of an Ofsted visit, it makes me soooo mad when people are childminding unregistered.

Ask A if she is willing to register.

I wouldn't use anyone who isn't. Like someone has said they wouldn't necessarily have the right insurance, first aid training etc.

Plus I would worry that there was a reason for her not registering which would mean she would not be approved (eg previous convictions or other people living in the property) especially if she has been doing the job for some time.

Thanks everyone for your response!

3725H - I can see where you're coming from. It wouldn't have crossed my mind previously, which is why I started this thread as I'm completely new to looking for carers. There are so many more factors to consider.

I don't have much time as I am starting work next week. Would any of you suggest seeking out more carers in the next few days or do you think that Childminder B is pretty much what I would get generally?

Yes, CM B sounds fine. Ask her when her last ofsted report was, and if you can take a look at it. That will give you a good idea of her strenghs and weakness's etc.

Good luck.

From my experience I went to visit 3 before choosing my childminder.

She charges me £3.75 per hour (Midlands) lives in a bungalow with a garden, has a separate playroom and takes her mindees to music class on Monday, a playgroup on a Thursday and Art club on a Friday (the clubs are all included in the price). She has a car and takes them to local parks etc depending on the weather. She had scrapbooks available with photos of the children doing various activities and showed real imagination with regard to the activities they do. As a general rule she always stays in in the afternoon so they can have some rest/quiet time if needed and the babies can nap.

The other two weren't a patch on her.

OMG, willmouse!!! Sounds like you found yourself a gem! Rates around where I live (London) are min £6 an hour with London-sized flats and all. My own earnings from my new job will not cover much more than that, so in many respect, I cannot afford to be choosy.

I do wonder sometimes (ranting away now ...), why bother going back to work! Might as well continue to be a SAHM ... seems easier that way, but in many other ways too, I've reached a point where going to work and having another form of outlet will preserve my sanity!

Thank you 3725H for the advice!

Yes Greenday, I know what you mean about childcare costs (I can imagine that London prices must be really high).

I am registering as a childminder myself now (have you thought about it as an option?) as at least I can spend time with DS's and earn some money at the same time. I think you have to be quite a high earner to make it worth going back tbh.

Why not post your general location here..lots of lovely childminders on this forum. Might just by chance hit a local one with space

(sorry not a childminder so will butt out!!)

Go for Childminder B, for all reasons stated already and your summary of Childminder A - 'Can't get a feel of how she's like as a person' - rang warning bells for me.

WonderingT - in some ways, I feel I've misrepresented Childminder A. She's nice, pleasant and polite. But I can't get a feel of how she deals with things, IYKWIM. Whereas for B, I can tell that she is stern yet warm. I got a sense of how she is with children, I guess, because she had other children with her.

Helpwithnanny - good idea. I will look within MN. Why didn't I think of it?

£6 PH is expensive. In my area the max is £4.50 with most charging about £4. I suppose London is just more pricy all round.

Good luck with the search, hope it all works out.

As a registered CM, I would say that going with an unregistered one is a very bad idea. You have no protection whatsoever using her. The reason we HAVE to be registered is because it protects the children within our care aswell as ourselves.

Where I am (not London) the average hourly rate is between £4 - £4.50 so it doesn't suprise me that in London you are looking at more.

If CM has looked after other children before she should be aware of the need to be registered, so why isnt she registered? Sounds a bit iffy to me.

The rule used to be that it was illegal to mind children for more than 2 hours a day without being registered if you were receiving a reward (ie £) for doing so. It may have changed recently.

FWIW I would go with the registered one.