Twinklemegan, I am a long standing childminder, and I understand where you are coming from. 17 years ago when I had my first son I had no intention of leaving a very well paid Director's Secretary's job. I put my child into a nursery very close to my office. I would never have chosen a childminder at the time. I didn't know any personally and I felt having more than one adult around would mean it would be safer for my child. My sister put her child in the same nursery for the same reason at the same time. Both boys were the same age.
I had a terrible experience at the nursery which ended up in my having to resign from my job and not wanting to trust my child to anyone - even family members. My sister on the other hand was happy with the care her child was receiving and would to this day praise the nursery. I was not as experienced as I am now and didn't take the matter further.
I still didn't think of leaving my child with a childminder at the time and had no choice but to stay at home. That was when I decided to become a childminder myself. I was desparate and couldn't think of any other job where I could make money to live and at the same time stay at home with my child.
I now have a network of childminder friends and am sure if i needed to leave my younger child now I would know enough really caring, professional minders to feel secure in the knowledge that my child would be happy and safe.
It is hard for new minders to gain the trust of parents. For us 'oldies' it is easy. If the children are not happy and well cared for word gets round so fast. We are always under the watchful eye of friends of our parents in the school yard, library, supermarket, butchers etc. Whenever we leave the setting someone somewhere sees us and knows how the children are behaving, whether they look happy, warm and safe. In the setting we have other minders dropping in and out, parents coming at all times to pick up, photographic evidence on the walls, kids pictures and most of all the children themselves who bear witness to our strengths and weaknesses.
Ofsted are just a tiny judge of our competence. They only come once every 3 years. We know when they are coming and are well prepared paperwise, but childwise we cannot possibly get a 2 year old to perform on the day if they don't naturally do things all year round. We can't get parents to say how wonderful we are or be enthusiastic if the inspector happens to be there at pick up if the parents are disatisfied with our service.
I would certainly know what to look for in a childminder's home and I would know instinctively what to look for in a childminder.
I would also find it reassuring that the childminder will not change. Where although I know there are some fantastic nurseries, you cannot guarantee the staff you love will be the same staff who will always be in contact with your child as turnover may dictate someone new is in charge of their babyroom, toddlers etc. This happened to one of my mums, she loved the nursery she was with until the staffing changed and her child became withdrawn and unhappy. I now look after the child and she is now confident and happy again.
I never take it personally when someone says "I would never use a childminder" I felt that way once. I just hope that somewhere down the line that person has some occasion to come into contact with a minder, either in a playgroup situation where the minder is interacting with the children, or in a library when the children are sitting listening to her tell a story, or in a shop when the mindees are picking the fruit for snacks, and thinks wow, she's good with the children and recognises that the children are not hers but mindees, perhaps by their differing looks or ages etc.