Childrens information service list of childminders

[chloemegjess]

Hello. I am a new CM and I am having a problem. It might sound silly but it is actually really going to have an effect on my buissness I think.

I live right on the borders of 2 boroughs south bucks and hillindon. But I pay my council tax to south bucks so therefore had to register with them for CM. Now I am fully registered, I have been put on the vacancy list for Buckinghamshire. However, I am surrounded by hillingdon, and to be honest, I have no idea WHY my house classes as south bucks as which ever way you walk from here you are in hillingdon!!! And the school that I do is in hillingdon.

So basically, none of the parents looking for childcare here would even think of looking on the bucks site. I used to live 5 mins down the road and had no idea that this part classes as bucks and if it was me, I certainly wouldn't have thought to look. So Any children I look after are most likely to be in hillingdon.

But I have been told that I am not allowed to put my details on the hillingdon one because I live in bucks.

I am stuck as I really need to fill my places but finding it hard to get my name and details out there without being on the proper list?

It was bad enough I didn't get the start up grant because of living in bucks and now this. It is really annoying.

Anybody else been in the same situation?

It shouldn't make any difference to the internet listing as the childcarelink website is a national database so people will put search for area they want and you will come up regardless. Not sure about those who phone for a listing though but I would have thought someone looking for your area would phone up and maybe referred to other council anyway?

Sorry I don't know what you mean. I have just looked on the website and did a search and it isn't like that.

I first searched UB9 (my postcode) and then clicked in Denham, which is supposably where my house is and I come up on there. Then if I search UB8 which is Uxbridge, which my house pretty much is in and is a 5 min walk from the main centre of Uxbridge I don't come up. Because if I search my postcode, it comes up with vacancies under buckinghamshire children's information service, where as in Uxbridge it is hillingdons childrens information service.

And if people were phoning they would ring hilingdon I.S so surly they won't have my details as I am not registered with them?

Sorry to dissagree and I really hope you are right and i am doing it wrong!

ChildcareLink is being replaced next year, with luck new system will permit search by distance, but don't count on it.
Keep nagging the LA who are not listing you. Write to Head of FIS if necessary laying out clearly your reason for wanting them to list you.
We have similar situation where I am, one part of a road is in Surrey, other in Windsor Maidenhead. So your LA isn't the only one with this issue. Hope new system fixes it.

It is so silly, I could be a 2 min walk from somebody who is looking for childcare and I wouldn't be found! I really hope the new system does that nannynick. Do you know when next year? Can I ask what LA is? Sorry to sound thick!

Any other advertising tips for the meantime?

Sorry, I was thinking of when people click the actual area they want from the map i.e. putting in town and then all villages come up. I'm obviously missing something, does sound stupid.

I'll go and bump the advertising tips thread I started ages ago - that should help a bit

Even if they do that it doesn't work (just tried it). They come under different regions! Hillingdon comes under london, bucks doesn't

Thank you re the advertising thread, wil have a look and probably end up spending the evening on it!

I am also on the border of two boroughs - and advertised on both boroughs on netmums. Only 1 of my kids is actually from the borough I live in (am registered in).

LA = Local Authority.

Latest date for the new system going live is September 2009 (see FIS Development Project: Database procurement extension e-mail May08)

You may find S12 Guidance (PDF, filesize 1.93MB) a useful document. In particular Page 11:
~~ Begin Quote ~~
Arrangements across local authority boundaries
2.13 Information services are not expected to hold the full childcare information in respect of each of their neighbouring authorities. However, services should liaise with each other to ensure that parents can obtain the information they need about provision in other areas without having to travel to neighbouring authorities.
~~ End Quote ~~

So you could ask Hillindon how they are meeting the requirements of Section 12 of the Childcare Act 2006, with particular reference to S12 Final Guidance, section 2.13 with regard to data from neighbouring authorities.

Should you need reference to the Act itself, Childcare Act 2006 (c.21) - Section 12
~~ Begin Quote ~~
12(7) In exercising their functions under this section, a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.
~~ End Quote ~~

End of the day all you can do is keep nagging them, via e-mail to the FIS, and written letter to senior management, council officials etc. This may not result in you being listed on ChildcareLink though, as that system may not be able to list a provider in two different areas (not sure if it can, anyone know?) but it should encourage Hillindon to add you to their local records, so that when parents call them for information, your details can be given over the phone or by post.

Even if I were taken off south bucks and put on hillingdon, that would still me MUCH better than what I am at the mo. Obviously both will be ideal but I honestly can't see me minding anybody from Bucks.

Nannynick, thanks for that information, it is very helpful. I will keep onto them.

I do have my details on netmums, but I think childrens information list is quite a lot more effective? As anybody can put details on there, even when not registered etc.

I am going to go through the advertising tips on the other thread to help me.

By the time the childlink website changes, it will be a bit too late. I have a baby due in april. Ideally I would only take 2 weeks off but on 9 hours a week with 1 child, I would be much better off on maternity allowance . I have put in so much effort into this childminding and I really want to make a go of it but at the same time, don't want to pay to work.

Chloemegjess...I have a similar issue that I am in London and my house is in one 'area' and my pick up school is in another..not even a different borough just a different area. On the magazines which get sent to the school and lists given out to parents my details are sent to the area where my house is..but NOT to the area that my pick up school is in.
I am full up but ONLY as I have been so proactive with my advertising...I don't think I have had a single suitable call generated by the CIS.

And totally OT...I LOVE the carboot sale at Denham....come back spring!!!

I am looking forward to this new system, because I work right on the border of 2 towns as well.

littlestars - Are you near me then? I am walking distace from Denham bootsale! I do love it there, but now I have DD to bring round with me I never get round the whole lot! (And usually have too much to carry!!!) I got loads of baby stuff from there when I was expecting. Most of the baby clothes I got were 10p! Haven't got an awful lot of childminding stuff from there, as I am only really getting started and just have the basics. Will go in season though and get stuff suitable for my mindees.

I am looking fwd to the new system, but that is nearly a year away and need something sorted a lot sooner.

I spent all evening going through the advertising tips on the other thread. I was up till 1am doing it and only about half way through!!

I do Usborne books at home too so sell them when I am not childminding. I did have loads of buissness cards etc I would give out for CM when doing an Usborne stall. Need to get some new ones as my number has changed (annoying as those who already have cards have my old number now!).