Am I going to be able to find a childminder to look after an 11 year old?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I am not allowed to leave dd at home alone (I'm her foster parent) and I have two courses I want to go to after school hours.

1. My options are leaving her in the library till dh picks her up at 6.

1. An after school activity followed by a childminder/waiting in the library.

1. A childminder - she has no special needs and loves helping with younger ones/cooking - she is fab.

But is it too old to get a childminder?

Can't have an aupair - no room.

Are there any other options I haven't considered?

Help me, please

I'm just about to go on maternity leave having looked after a 10 year old after school. Admittedly I never had her during school holidays - they always made other arrangements.

But she was lovely - nice to have someone vaguely grown-up to talk to - helpful with the younger ones and a breath of fresh air. And because of her age she didn't interfere with my ratios.

So yes, I think lots of cms would jump at the chance!

I don't think it is too old to get a childminder. My childminder does afterschool care for an 11yr old and 2 12 yr olds. Depends how responsible she is leaving her in the library but she might get a bit bored there every night.

I would maybe go for a combination of after school clubs and a childminer.

Ooops, should say childminder. I am not suggesting you send your child down the pits to while away the time

I wouldn't need her for school holidays, just term-time.

Trying to plan for September after being told last week I couldn't give her a key and her come home on her own - when she's extremely sensible

Great to know others would be ok with that, thanks for replying.

I've never done this before - any chance you live in the South-east and can give me an idea of costs?

Sorry, I live in the NOrth. FWIW my childminder charges £3.50 per hour. I suspect you might need to add £1 or so to that for the South because I know mine is cheap even around here. I would think somewhere around £50-60 a week.

I would happily have an 11yr old. Would prob charge around £10 for after school session for one that age and Im in London.

HTH

I charge a minimum of 3 hours at £4.25 an hour. But I only charge term-time.

I have looked after older children when I childminded, they were fab! If she loves littlies then the cm will probably find her good company, and probably won't want her to go home!

My childminder looked after Ds1 when he was 11 and in yr 6 but I know she carried on minding some of the others when they moved on into yr 7 as well.

We are in the south west and she charges per session rather than per hour, so we pay £10 per after school session.

I don't see why a childminder wouldn't have her - less trouble than a toddler! (As long as your dd doesn't think it would be too babyish)

Maybe look for one who specialises in after-school hours (there is one near our school who only does before and after school) - will be more likely to have older children.

Alternatively, if your courses are not every day could you do a swop with another family where both parents work?

And like Grapfruit says our childminder only does after school care, so I don't think she is particularly bothered by age!

Thanks for all the ideas about costs, I'm definitely getting the idea its not too weird.

Unfortunately she is going up to secondary school and we know noone yet to do a swop with (she went to primary 6 miles away). Nor do we know what days her after school activities are.

I hate being this unprepared.

my yr 6 mindee is moving up to yr 7 in september and i have been asked to have him an extra yr which is fine.
were lucky as my boys will be in yr 8 and 9 in september so mindee will walk home with my boys

i would say ask around a cm may live nr to the high school she is going to and as your dd wont affect cm numbers once your dd is settled into school and have activities to do your cm may not charge you for the days youu dont use as i am doing

Hi, I had similar problem last year with my 10 year old. I was given contact list from Local Council of Childminders who looked after that age group (I also had to find someone who would be able to look after her until 7.30-8 pm, which was incredibly difficult). However, the first lady I contacted was excellent, Hollie was very well looked after and I have no hesitation in recommending the lovely Jo.

Have you considered an after school nanny maybe with own child?

Also all schools should provided extended services so something should be available from 8am-6pm whether at the school she will be attending or another local school - some club together to provide this service, however usually the high school being the larger school in an area would provide this.

Maybe book a childminder til xmas then re-assess the situation maybe she would have made some friends she can play round at, with a mix of after school clubs etc.

or alterntively contact the school (someone will be working in hols!!) and ask about after school care know in our area there are plenty around that take children aged 4yrs upto 13yrs.

I have looked after a year 7 child in the past (CM)

I am a cm and I wouldn't have a problem minding a child of that age.
Perhaps try finding a minder with a child of similar age.
I am in Surrey and for after school care I charge £5 hour for infant or primary school age and £4 for secondary school.
Try your local council for a list of local cm. You still have time to sort something out.
Good luck.