CM Club: CM numbers fall for 7th successive quarter

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And this time by another 700 (it was 340 last quarter). The total fall since the peak in June, 2004 is now 9,100 or just over 12.5%.

Is anyone really surprised?

These figures were collated before the EYFS was implemented so it should be interesting to see what next quarter's figures reveal.

i am hopefully on track to pack it in by Sept 2009.....

and at nearly 8pm after having started childminding at 7am, I am bashing away on the keyboard updating my policies and doing a draft SEF (while popping in to MN every now and then )

where did you get this info ? i could really do with this info for an assignment i will be writing in the near future.
tia

Im planning to stop when my youngest starts school full time so hopefully in a couple of years...

I am not surprised the numbers are falling , I am quite frankly appalled at the intense work that childminders have to do and for so little recompense not to mention little thanks.
I take my hat off to anyone who does it, they are angels.

They're official Ofsted figures and have only been published today, although that did make them 2 weeks late. I wonder why?

You can find them here

It's the NCMA conference at the weekend and Beverley Hughes will be speaking on Saturday. Anyone going who fancies asking some embarassing questions?

cmx2 - Childminder Stats for England - a previous message thread that may be of interest to you... includes a link to a chart for number of registered childminders Years 1990-2000.

They actually had radio adverts on GWR (Bristol) this week, trying to recruit childminders as there seems to be a shortage of them in some parts of the city.
Even around my way, there are 10 less childminders since September, but then at least 5 new ones!

yes, I have met lots of new ones lately too. They don't seem to be that phased by all the eyfs stuff, but I suppose if you dont have to change the way you have been working for several years, and can start off doing it from the beginning, it wouldn't seem so bad...?

Which embarassing questions would you ask? If you're going to do this I suggest you make a list and go well prepared.

My wife isn't a member so she can't go (she became very disillusioned with the NCMA some years ago).

For the last 3 quarters, Liz Bayram of the NCMA has tried to describe it as the traditional 'ebb and flow' of childminder numbers that always happens. Now 5, then 6 and now 7 successive drops can't really be called 'ebb and flow', can they? I would have thought that the NCMA would be concerned about falling numbers because it must directly affect their revenues and, eventually, the salaries of the people at the top.

I consider myself to be a well-educated, articulate and competent person (admittedly one that can't spell & has a shaky understanding of correct grammar)

However, I really struggle with the information that needs to be recorded as a childminder. The SEF has me at a standstill.

The sheer quantity of records is astounding

God, am terrified at thought of SEF and havent tackled it or even looked at it yet....

Me neither, I daren't look!!

I have looked & written notes but it is easily more work than my level 3 (in mgmt)

I know I can just put anything in it - but I take pride in my work & I want it to be as good as it can be

I do not see it finished this side of Christmas

I am still up, preparing for the Ofsted insepctor.

I am happy with what I am doing, and so are the children and their parents, just making sure I have dotted all my I's and crossed all my T's.

I too will be leaving the CM arena in sept 09. When I started I thought I would do this forever, but I am fed up of my DS crying or looking sad because I have no time for him. I was updating policies early and he said 'but what about me mummy?'

I never get any family time.

Something I have just noticed about the latest report is that it only covers 2 months instead of the usual 3. The previous report covered April, May and June, but the latest report only covers July and August. The equivalent report for 2007 covers the full 3 months.

We don't know the real reason why, but I think we can all assume it is because September, when the EYFS became law, would have shown an even bigger fall than the 700 that the 2 months show.

I know what you mean SammyK, I frequently put the childminding first too, from manically runnging round clearing stuff up and setting out activities on the two mornings when the my kids get me to themselves,to just now, where I have put my 3 year old to bed for a nap so I can get some observations typed up and put in a report for the parents. He and I would really much rather have spent some time together playing but I felt I should get on with the eyfs stuff instead....so really must get on with it rather than being on here...

The thing is you cant win, if you do more family stuff you get the nagging feeling you will be "marked down for it" when you get your inspection as you wont have done enough paper work, if you do all the paper work (I never do it ALL, i wonder if it's humanly possible...) then you know you've short chnged your kids.

I know what you mean Katymac, I have a degree and I am totally mind boggled by most of the stuff we now have to do (especially mind boggling is simply how we are supposed to get it all done...). I met a qualified teacher-turned-childminder on a course the other day who felt she didn't know how to tackle the eyfs

I totally understand why the number of childminders are falling.

The total amount of paper work that we are expected to do is mammouth. I have two degrees, 5 A levels etc, held a very paper orientated city job, yet I struggle!

I am giving up this time next year

Just want to ask something, if the parents are happy and the kids are happy, then why not just be happy with satisfactory?
It seems to give more pressure having a good or outstanding as if you don't keep it up then you feel like you've failed, but the care of the children has not changed.
I think parents are mainly looking for good friendly childminders and don't even look to see the gradings (sorry but they are more interested in your hours of opening and the prices).
Not trying to put anyone down, but YOU know how good you are and the parents know how good you are.
Why make your familly life suffer for that extra grading?

Yes, Cat64, just how i feel. I'm registering as a CM and would love to do all of what you mentioned but then i would be thinking how do i plan for the next stage of learning? Must take a photo of that.
You just do things with kids as a mother anyway, writting it all down and proving it is being done is just getting in the way.
Even at my pre-reg inspection they were more bothered about EYFS than checking out the house and garden properly and seing the kind of equipment i had .

great post cat64.

As most of the CM's know, I had my Ofsted today.
The Inspector took 5 mins to look around my house, the rest of the time was spent looking at my paperwork.
I have spent a lot of time about 20 hours a week on top of the 60 hours I do with the children to get my paperwork to the Outstanding I got for it today.

I am giving up in July.

i am also giving up in June/july next year, I can not be doing with all the extra stuff. I am at home 4 days a week on my own as dh works away so by the time i finish tidy/cooking/bathing/bed/homwork etc i just go to bed ashave to be ready for work at 7am the next morning. Have not even looked at my EYFS stuff yet