Becoming a childminder

[Gems83]

I am a stay at home mum with 2DS my eldest DS has just started big school and my youngest DS is missing him and is craving lots of attention basically he is missing someone to play and interact with (he's very close to his BB). With my DH being in the RAF it is difficult for me to get a 'proper' job and put DS in nursery so i was wondering if anyone can tell how i go about becoming a registered childminder.
Thanks for any advice I receive

Why do you want to become a childminder? I know you wrote some things, but those aren't filling me with confidence... you seem to want to be a childminder because you can't get any other job... that's not the case is it?

Most MOD bases I know of have childcare on-site or nearby. So not sure why you could not send your DS to a nursery, if you were to get a different job.

Being in the RAF, will mean that you get relocated every now and then... sometimes quite often, sometimes you may stay in one place for 2-3 years. This moving around will cause issues if you are a Childminder, as you will start from scratch every move.

To become a Registered Childminder, contact your local Children's Information Service. You can find their contact details at: www.childcarelink.gov.uk

Read as much as you can about registration and inspection... in England see www.ofsted.gov.uk

Read about EYFS

Thanks for replying so quickly!!
I dont want to be a childminder just because i cant get any other job!!
Before i had my children i was doing my BTEC national diploma in Early Years but for many reasons have to give up in my second year!!
I have always wanted to work with children but at the moment i am enjoying being at home with my youngest. We have just moved camps so hopefully will be posted here for many years!(fingers crossed)
I feel for everyone involved it would be easier and more practical to work from home than to apply for a job in a early years setting.
Thank you for the information you sent.

Is there demand on camp for childminders?
You may be able to find out via asking HIVE (if you have one on camp), Families Officer (if those still exist). Also so a search on ChildcareLink and Ofsted's website, as they will give you an idea as to how many childminders there are in the area.

There are many message threads on here about becoming a childminder, frequent problems encountered, about recent changes in Legislation, EYFS, etc. So you will find that this section of Mumsnet is full of useful information.

I don't mean to be negative, but people do think of becoming a childminder for the wrong reasons. Think hard about how being a childminder will affect your life... and that of your DS1, DS2 and DH.
Think about if you can cope with the paperwork... it has become more about paperwork recently and that in my view is making childminders leave. Think about how you would cope with caring for 3 under 5's at your home. Married Quarters are not always that suitable and there can be limits to what changes you are permitted to make. There are some childminders who post on here who do work from Married Quarters, so with luck they will spot this, and give you their views - plus perhaps suggestions on how to overcome any strange Military rules.

I am definately thinking about this very carefully and am trying not to rush into anything!!
Thanks again for your advice you have been very helpful.
I didnt realise how much paperwork and how many legislations and policies there are involved but as i have read through some of sites i am not yet put off.
I hope as you say some other childminders on military camps will see my post and offer some equally helpful advice.

Hello, I am on a Army Camp, and Childmind.
In my experience, There are never enough CM's on Camps. I have never had a space (says she who has one coming up)and find it very busy.

We are about to go into Civvie Street and will be giving up then, but have found Cming in Married Quarters great fun and very lucrative.

Thanks for that!!!
I am hoping to continue with the idea, i thnk i might find the whole thing a lot easier to understand if i could talk to someone about all the legislations and things like that so think i might try and contact someone at the childrens information service.

Which county are you in Gem? Not that it should actually make any difference, I think there is a CM on here who is at Cranwell, seem to think it is berryred, might be worth putting a bit in 'Forces Sweetheart'for her.

To be honest there is not any difference in CMing in Quarters or civvie Housing, apart from making sure you have permission from Welfare to CM in your Quarter.

We are in cambridgeshire(outskirts)!!
Might put a bit in 'forces sweethearts' see if i can pick up some more helpful advice.

Does your Station begin with a W ?

Get hold of your local Surestart and they will be able to inform you more and tell you when the next briefing will be.

Yes it does start with W!!!

I will definately get hold of local surestart and see what the next step is and what i have to do!!!

My brother was there with the Nimrods, is at Waddington now

We were based at Waddington before we moved here about 2 months ago!!!

OMG, DB has been there for years and got back from Afganistan a few months ago, the live off base tho, near Scampton.

DB is a Squadron Leader there.

we lived at scampton before we got quarters at waddo!!!
am going to post in forces sweethearts to see if i can get any more advice before i ring surestart!!!

Gems if you are at wittering I can see why you want to do it. I was based there 2000-2002 and 2004-2005. I was an RAF nurse and married a soldier and am now based in Dorset in quarters. I am a CM now. It is lucrative and very in demand, especially since they allowed women to stay in after having a family iyswim. There are only a handful on camp atm, I am currently on mat leave. Definately try the links given by nannynick.

Nannynick Just as the OPs tours may be short so may her clients be, so it doesn't matter. I have found being honest about length of time left useful. If there are no CMS when someone arrives it can make a difference, even for a short time. Also, many only want a CM until the child reaches 2/3yrs and want them to move on to nursery, so only stay for 18mths-2yrs anyway. This is especially the case since the Early Years funding came into play from 3yrs. It makes the nursery option cheaper sometimes.

Small World,

If you are at Waddington you tend to stay quite a long time depending on trade iyswim. My ex DH was there from 1992-1999 and then went back in 2000 and is still there now!

confusedone are you shoshe?

I am indeed, Confused, you will be

Tis all Flame and Psychos fault!

Yes! Definately get permission from the SWO! I nearly got into trouble because I didn't!

Not very undetectable LOL!!!!

Did you??? Most of teh time you sent it up there and never heard from them again! Especially when that woman was in charge.

I thought you had someone living in a parallel universe LOL!!

Hi, I am just waiting for my oftesd registration certificate now. Just a word of warning...I did my ICP course in January, when my DD was 2 weeks old because I wanted to get going asap. I have my inspection from Ofsted in April and I am STILL waiting to be fully registered and have been messed around a lot by ofsed and CRB.

If you look on Oftseds website, and contact your local family information service, you should get loads of info about how to get registered.

Goodluck

Are you alluding to my brainfog young lady!!!!