Thinking of becoming a childminder, is it worth it?

[Nicadooby]

Hi there,

I'm seriously thinking of becoming a childminder, at the moment i am taking my DS who is 14 months old to work with me as a nanny (which i have been doing for 14 years) but i am hoping to have another child in the future.

I really don't think i will be able to take two children to work nannying which is why i am looking into childminding, but i am really conserned about the amount of paper work it envoles?

From looking at ratio's it also looks like i will only be able to care for one other child under 5 is that right? I only live in a two bedroomed house although we have a conserverty but no playroom will that make a difference?

I guess i'm just a bit worried that ofsted will think it isn't very big, we also have a dog do you think that would also be an issue?

Thanks in addvance Nic x

I agree with the comments, I m a recently cm and already see the pain in the ass! I basically have parents telling me to teach their kids the a,b,c and numbers! If I want to be a teacher I would study to became one, get holiday pay and time off for my kids! Parents are another thing , they want to pay £3 a hour for stay with a kid for 9 to 11 hours a day( a baby , who would take all my attention ) I refuse to work for less than £5 a hour and where I live so many childminders around and they all charge £3 a hour! I m looking for a permanent job, no way I would work with kids for 12 hours a day for less than minimum age and do my own tax and not get pay for holidays! Was thinking that around summer time my kids would love to have some company and I would make some money, but then come back to school and u don't have money getting in! No wonder so many cm quit, I even didn't started yet! Is really no a money make job!

Oh my god....... I read the post and thought "wow I could have written this" and was about to reply when I realised I did write it

Well UPDATE TIME: I did have a second child, I am a childminder and have been since 2011. I do think it invades your life but I do prefer it over nannying. I love being my own boss and earn more now than when I was nannying full time. But that didn't happen until both my children were in full time school.