About to phone CM for first time..

[ilovefoxes]

Phoning CM to see if she has vacancies for dd.
What should I ask on the intial call?

BUMP BUMP BUMP

Im assuming you know she is registered.

Ask how many children she has already?

Hourly rate?

You can ask the most indepth questions when you visit.

If it's a first call, it's just to find out if she has a space, and then you need to go and see her if she does. So I guess the crucial ones are to find out what other children she cares for and when; what she charges; whether she has dogs if that's a deal-breaker for you; whether she can be flexible at all if you need that; when she could start.

IME there are not many childminders with spaces (not round here anyway), so your initial call should just be to establish if she has a space for your DD when you need it, then make a shortlist, and carry on from there.

Good luck!! The first call is daunting! But you'll be fine once you make a few!

There have been many threads on this topic so if you have time to look back through them you'll find all the info you need (plus more besides)

Just one thing though - check what hols she already has booked as that may be a problem for you as Bramshott says we are usually booked up months (in my case years) in advance and there may not be another childminder who can cover the hols

good luck, let us know how you get on

Can anyone tell me if this would influence their choice of CM?
If you only had the choice of 2 CMs in your area who had spaces and were newly registered, would you A)Go with the one who has their own children or B)Go with the one who is fresh out of college but no real hands-on experience?
Just would like to know if it would make a difference at all to you.
Thank you

I would meet them both and then decide, but having children is a positive, unless the children are woefully neglected of course.

I would go with the one who has her own children every time - empathetic childcare IMO cannot be learned at college, it comes with experience

Very true mindingmum.

There is no subsitute for experience

Thank you, as i was worried that not having loads of qualifications made me "less able" somehow .
Practical experience with your own child prepares you for other people's children as you understand how PRECIOUS and individual each child is....there i go spouting EYFS!
My reprograming is almost complete ...beep!

LOL Ripeberry

Keep spouting - spouting is all that will be going on in my house regarding the EYFS.....

Until inspection time that is