Were you a CM, why did you give up?

[Shoshe]

With the numbers of CM's falling, it would be interesting to see if it is all because of the paper work.

So if you have given up since Ofsted took over or are going to in the near future, would you mind signing in.

Shoshe : going July 2009, Registered since 1980. Paperwork became to much, fed up of home having to look like a nursery. Ofsted Inspectors having different standards.

Not giving up yet. Have 2 pre school dd's of my own. The Care Commission are driving CM's out up here too. I can see me giving up when they are both older tho

The paperwork and training etc that i have to do on top of my "working hours" is shitty.

bump

I've only been working since August but I'm not sure if i will carry on when my dd starts school next year as the paperwork takes up all my spare time at the mo.Will wait and see if it'sall been worthwhile when i get my inspection next month. if i only just scrape through after all the hours and extra effort i've put in i will conclude it's not worth it for £2.75 an hour!

SammyK - leaving by sept 09 when ds starts school FT, would leave sooner if I didn't need to be supporting him (on autistic spectrum).
Leaving because even though my home is filled with toys, and lovely artwork on the walls,
even though my rooms are filled with laughter and animated chatter,
even though I do detailed planning and daily dairies,
even though I spend evey waking hour on my childminding (doing paperwork and training),
even though the children are enjoying and aceiving - Ofsted have only graded me 'satisfacytory'.

I charge £2.65 an hour, why bother??

nzshar was a cm from August 2005-May 2007.

Started childminding thinking that I could utilise my NNEB qualification yet have time for ds who was 14 months old when I started.

Boy was I wrong. Ofsted seems to want the same paperwork, regulations and environment as a nursery from childminders. Found I was working more and actually had less time for my family.

We also moved in May 2007 and just couldn't face making the new house look like a nursery again. Ds had outgrown the need for locks, stairgates etc and so had we!

Also found the lack of respect from some parents of children that I childminded for appalling and came very very close to being unprofessional at times to them, so thought that maybe it wasn't the job for me

i have two full time school aged children myself and 2 school aged mindees not giving up yet as they are over 5 years old and it seems to fit in at the moment.

looneytune - Registered in May 05, love the job itself but HATE the paperwork with a passion. Not leaving just yet but I do keep thinking I'd have more quality time with my family if I had a full time job, as I'd be able to spend time with them when I'm not in my working day. I spend a lot of weekends saying to ds1 'not now', 'sorry, mummy is busy' etc. and it breaks my heart that I don't have much time for him after school when I'm working and then can't even make up for it outside of those hours I constantly feel like I 'don't have time' to spend time with ds1, I need to make the most of the time I have to catch up with paperwork. Makes me VERY sad Soooo, if I could get a job which paid well enough to pay for childcare for my boys and leave me with what I need to live, I'd stop now (which would be a shame as I love the kids I have, love the families and love everything about the actual job). So I'll be carrying on for some years yet, and my kids will have to put up with a very stressed out mummy

Sorry You asked!!!

Hennipenni, been minding for the last 5 yrs. All 3 DDs at school, extremely fed up with paperwork, house looking like a nursery, amount of posters up(including no smoking FFS), amount of washing as change mindees flannels/towels etc daily.

Love, love the children and the happiness they bring and the fact that they enrich my life so much but with the increase pressures from Ofsted my own family are suffering far to much. However. I love being at home for my own children at the end of each day. Will probably give up next yr.

Hi All

Sadly I will be giving up, not sure how soon. Am investigating other forms of employment to see whether I could go back to office work. For me it is firstly my home, I so badly need it back and secondly the paperwork, I don't have the added worry about having to find childcare as mine are now adults. I was due an inspection this month but have postponed it for a short while until I have an exact date that I will resign. I think it will be January/February 09. I love childminding and adore the littlies that I have, I have dithered about this for months and months. I worry so much too about my current parents having to find alternative care and the effect it MAY have on their children. I just cannot see any other option for me...
Sorry can't ientify myself at the mo as don't want to worry parents (one or two come on here) at this stage.

Already Given up
nzshar

Giving up in 2009

Shoshe
SammyK
TheIronLady

Please add and cut and paste.

You forgot Mo!!

Childminder from Jun 96 to Dec 06.

Finished when the children from the two families I looked after all reached school age. Didn't want the hassle of finding new families/breaking them in(!)

Had got increasingly fed up with the amount of paperwork/record keeping. Also my children were now 12 and 18 so it was time to get my house back and I went back to nannying - no paperwork and the benefits that being an employee brings; paid holidays, sick pay, tax and ni taken care of.

Already Given up
nzshar
nbee84

Giving up in 2009

Shoshe
SammyK
TheIronLady

Please add and cut and paste.

Already Given up
nzshar
nbee84
Mo

Giving up in 2009

Shoshe
SammyK
TheIronLady

Same reasons as Shoshe really, although I always intended on giving up, when dd was a secondary school. I may have gone on for longer, had EYFS not arrived in September. (Registered since 1995, gave up April 2008)

I hadnt forgotten her , wanted her to say why herself

I didn't even notice! I read the OP and the latest thread and did as I was told!

Well I Should think so too woman, know your place

OH i do miss you in he Staff Room

I do look in, but I don't have much to say, other than 'hello'! I don't even recognise half the names anymore. I don't get on here until after 5 either, so you lot have all left for the dinner rush and hometime stuff.

When I finish we will have to start a 5 O'clock Club.

I am not going to give up

I thought I might have to & it really scared me; as did working for the council

Excellent idea! It'll be a kinda inbetweeny retired CM's club, but not too ancient to be in the 1 o'clock club!

Yep, and you can have wine instead of tea

I won't be giving up for a while, have 4 ds's and the youngest is 1, so should be around for a little longer (unless the day comes along that I can afford to be a sahm - dream on etc etc )

I won't be giving up for a while, have 4 ds's and the youngest is 1, so should be around for a little longer (unless the day comes along that I can afford to be a sahm - dream on etc etc )

I don't know why it posted twice - sorry. I know that I haven't had any sleep but I didn't press the button twice