New childminder in need of some advice

[WeddingBelleJan10]

Hi Ladies,

I am in need of some advice! I have been registered for less than a month so very new to this - I have spent over a year getting registered (due to several mess ups with the council) and done it all around my current job, some days doing 15 hour days going straight from work to various courses.

I have wanted to be a childminder for such a long time and decided to take the leap in going into my own business.

I am looking for tips on the best way to get vacancies filled/advertising? I am really looking for at least one full time place and am open to some part timers - as I am still currently doing an office job in London I need to get at least a full timer so that I can afford to give up .

I have found a lovely family desperate to get me on board but I have probably lost out as its only part time and I have to be sensible about handing in my notice as I have bills to pay and cannot afford such a drop in money? Advice please?!

Also very frustrated as I have invested so much time and I am in direct competition with an unregistered minder across the road who always appears to have children coming and going - including my next door neibour!!

Well for a start report your neighbour for illegally childminding, also report to HMRC as they obviously will not be declaring income

I appreciate what you mean about needing a full timer but in my experience there are far far more pters than fters.

Thanks for the reply - can I ask how you best work around the pters, bit of a juggling act - I have only been registered for 4 to beggin with as when I had my first interview with ofsted the lady ask how many children I would aim for initially and then registered me for that number?

I would love to have 3 full time children, but I have 12 part time children. I never go over my registered numbers, but it is a juggling act when one of them wants to change their days/hours.

Can I just ask, I am registered for 4 children - does that mean 4 children at my home at a time or 4 children registered with me at any one time?

4 in your care at one time

4 at any one time - yes it is like juggling! but sometimes it has the advantage that you get fresh children in over the day which breaks it up and makes it new and challenging, rather than having the same 1 or 2 all week iyswim?

Get yourself a big wall planner and colour code it!!

4 under 8s, you can also have over 8s up to the number specified by your public liability insurers.

I've been childminding for nearly 8 years and NEVER had a full-timer. Got close with existing mindees changing contracts but parents couldn't afford it in the end. I have 11 mindees over 4 days at the moment.

Could you go part time in your current job or take a different job p/t to fit around the prospective family who's already keen? Once you get the first family, they may recommend you to friends/family & work colleagues. Also, once you are minding you'll be seen with mindees at toddler groups, doing school/preschool pick ups etc and you can sometimes get work that way. When parents visit you, some like to visit when you have mindees present and see references from past/current families - some can be a bit put off if you have no mindees when they visit.

And for me, a family who is "lovely" and p/t is much preferred than a full timer who's family is not so lovely iyswim.

Welcome to childminding!
You should definately report any unregistered childminders to Ofsted - they give the rest of us a bad name - especially when things go wrong. There are good reasons why we are registered!
Have you contacted your local authority Children's Information Service yet? They provide a vacancy information service for parents looking for childcare and will often be able to help you get started.
Have you considered joining a childminder network? The network co-ordinator may be able to help you fill your places.
Make sure you visit your local Children's Centre and let them know you are registered - may be able to advertise there too.
The days when we were able to stipulate full-time 8.30am to 5.30pm are all gone I'm afraid - you will have to learn to juggle and organise your day around part-timers.

You will be very much in demand if you are able to work flexible hours. I know a childminder who was able to offer hours to suit a shift worker - some weeks she minded a toddler early in the morning to mid afternoon, other weeks she minded him in the afternoon and took him to his own home and put him to bed in the evening - waiting till his mum finished work at 10pm. Invaluable service for this parent and worked well for the child, who was able to sleep in his own bed.
If you can advertise this kind of service, you will be snapped up immediately - let the personnel officer know at your nearest NHS hospital.
While you are waiting for children to start, why not contact 'Sitters' here -my daughter worked for them when she first started childminding and it helped to pay the bills until she was up and running with her childminding business.
Hope you get fixed up soon

Hi WeddingBelleJan10

I?m in same situation as you (working while registering not being able to afford anything other than a f/timer etc.) but all the inquiries I got were for p/timers so in the end decided to throw caution to the wind & take on the p/timer & if need be will take a small loan out to pay bills until I can fill all spaces whether p?time or f/time.

How much do you charge for pters? That is the other thing I worry about not making enough money as I am only registered for 4?

Thanks for all advice appreciated!!

I charge the same hourly rate whether p/time or f/time

You are better off with part timers as if one leaves you still have income from other PT - rather than loosing a big chunk of money in one go.

WBJan10 - you can make a very good living from childminding if you have all your spaces taken up and keep your outgoings low ( alhtough then obv get more taxed ) it's more the fickleness of the business, it's completely insecure.

I agree, most CM's have part timers, I am a exception to the rule as I live on a Army base, where both parents are Soldiers, so they all need full time care.

You said you work in London, do you actually live there?