CM Club: Accredited childminders

[KatyMac]

I am currently going through the process for accreditation. If I pass it, I will be able to provide the 12.5 hour free education for 3yos.

How do childminders deal with the funding issue?

It is less than my hourly rate & I am being asked to do just the 12.5 hrs (5x2.5hr sessions) - this blocks a place, so I am a bit about it all

How do others do this? & deal with it? Are there any benefits?

Should I only accept it from children who use me for full day care? (seems a bit mean)

hi Katy paperwork very easy to fill in, i get mine sent just after half term for the following term, payment paid straight into my bank.

i only take full timers so it has never been a problem for me plus grant rate is the same as my hourly rat.

But to be honest I don't find any benefit in it, most of my children still go on to preschool at 3 as parents want them to have a more peer oriented structure by then.

the only child I had that stayed totally with me, i found, had less social skills than the ones that have done some time at preschools, although that could be that she just was the sort of child that found going into Reception difficult anyway.

Well because of my numbers (we can have 9 under 5) that isn't too much of an issue

But I resent being paid a lower rate for more work & I need to decide under what terms I can do it

If I refuse to do the sessions the child won't get any funded sessions as the parents don't drive

I had two under 18 months the a 4 year old which made it more difficult, and as that is the norm for me (i have a 14,15 and 26 month old now, so again it would be difficult)

is the child in more than the funded sessions?

No

i have been accredited for 5 years and have actually only used my accreditation with 3 children in all that time, to be honest i cant really see much difference with what I had to do for them and what we now do with EYFS, and feel all CM's should be able to draw down the grant if they so wish.

It is wrong that we cannot ask for the parents to make up the difference between our hourly rate and what the Grant pays.

Must admit, I wouldnt offer it now, if the rate was lower than my rate, but then here we are never short of children and have waiting lists for the places when children go on to preschool.

It will effectively block a F/T space (& I feel I am unlikely to fill a morning spot)

If I had 3 funded children then I would employ someone to come in to do it

But it would be a very uncertain job

& I can't give up midterm

Katy thank you for raising this thread -I am in the process of becoming accredited and reading yours and Shoshe's comments I am very seriously considering pulling out of accreditation.

Can anyone come on and give BENEFITS to accreditation as opposed to just negatives? Because right now I am failing to see the benefits to me doing the accreditation...

Has anyone any other comments on this one?

I must admit that when I chose my childminder I was attracted by the fact that she is accredited so I will be able to claim the vouchers with her when the time comes. I imagine that DD2 will go to pre-school for a few sessions, but is unlikely to go for the whole 5. What's the hourly rate the govt pay for the voucher sessions?

It is different for different councils - but mine is £3.32 an hour - I charge £3.50

katy I charge 3.50 as well and I know the govn vouchers are less than that - thing is I would have to increase my over 8s after school to make up for the drop in income - else I'd be making a loss - I barely make profit as it is...and that wouldn't be in the best interests of the under 5s I have - its such a tough decision

bramshott - thank you for your input - it is always very valuable to get parent perspective

The benefits

The child - consistency of care, plenty of 1:1 education, a broader curriculum than can be offered at nursery/preschool (they cant do trips daily), a truly individual education plan (lets face it a nursery cant concentrate on 26 different children's favourite topics at once), shy children can be themselves instead of worrying about the crowd ....etc

The parents - the ease of dropping off at the same place as always, have an educator that they are not afraid to talk to, its hassle free....etc

Society - complies with the Governments comittment to offer parents choice, it ensures preschoolers do have access to education, can be the right choice for children with additional needs...etc

Childminders - you can put it on your cv....................no etcs

Could you charge for snacks/lunch to make up the difference as funding stipulates it does not cover those.

just a question, please dontshoot me down, could you possibly say to the that you will do funded sessions, however they would still need to pay x amount as the vouchers wont cover the full amount of sending the child to you?
or does that compleatly defeate the point of funded sessions?

Leo, we are not allowed to charge a 'top up' on th funded hours.

ahh i see.

Can I do 2 x 6.25hr sessions, do you think?

That would be more economical for me

maggi like the idea of charging for snacks and meals.......I could say charge £2.50 per day for snacks and lunch as that would then bring vouchers up to the level of what I already earn.....

next question then - if I go part time (3 or 4 days per week) can I still become accredited?....

In my area if a child is only coming for the funded hours we are allowed to dictate when. So we could say 3-5.30pm and then you could still have a daytime space iyswim. In my area we're piloting the 15hr pw grant and the hourly rate at the mo is £4.10.

katieskids that is really interesting

OK it has been confirmed I can only provide 2 sessions a day

So much for that idea

meant to say with the flexible 15hr funding the max number a parent can claim in 1 day is 10hrs! The parent must either provide lunch or the childminder has to charge for it as the education unit will not have their funding used for meals. This will be rolled out to other authorities in 2010 (if the government still has the money!!)

it is really tricky to 'afford' this child

I looked into becoming accredited... and quickly knocked it on the head. I am very happy where I am right now.