When is the best time to start looking for a CM

[Wilsybear]

As the subject states and a few extra questions:

I am supposed to be going back to work in early June when my DD is 6mths. Is it too soon (or even too late)to start looking now?

Also, might it be better to leave it until Sept (assuming I can eek out the mat pay) on the basis that some mindees will be leaving their CM to start school, so there might be more vacancies then?

Finally, I would ideally like to do 4 days a week. How difficult would it be to find someone to do this? As far as I can tell most people either do either a couple of days or a full week.

I know that I should probably just get out there and ask a few CMs in my area, but I thought I would just take some advice first as I don't want to sound like the completely indecisive newbie parent I am .

wilysbear I am a CMer in Bristol - I think 12 weeks prior to start date is a good time but I suppose it depends on how high demand in your area is?

I think most woud work 4 days and get another child to fill the 5th day.

It is never too early to look, the earlier the better. This will give you time to look around and see what Childminders are available.

Some childminders are more flexible than others. I have one child for two days a week and another will becoming three days per week. Some childminders may prefer four days and have one day off.

Take your time and you will know when you meet the right one.

All the best in your searching!!!!

MJ

I'm a cm and have already started advertising places for Sept/ Oct. I don't think it's too soon for you to start asking around and getting an idea of what you do and don't want and also an idea of how much they charge etc. It's a very personal thing imo.

I think the only downside for looking really early is that should you find a CM that you like you may have to pay a retaining fee for many months, where as if you leave it til later the fee will be less. Personally I charge a holding fee but reduce it to make it realistic.

That's what I was thinking, I completely understand why CMs have to charge retainers (and if I want a good CM I will have to pay one) but it is not something that we can readily afford with me on maternity leave.

My thinking behind possibly starting in Sept was that there may be a place that has only just been vacated and therefore my DD would simply be taking over from another mindee. In that case I imagine we would only have to pay a holding fee or deposit rather than pay full, or half, fee for a vacant place for weeks or months. Assuming that it actually works like that?

Wilsy it depends on the individual cm as to what they will charge for. Personally my dd2 goes to school in September so I will be looking to fill the place from October if someone happens to want the space from October I will just take a deposit of about £30 because if it turns out they cancel for some reason I can at least cover the cost of the paperwork and advertising again. If it happened they wanted the place from December then I would require more to keep the place say £50 deposit and £30 per week retainer or something like that but each cm is different and will charge as they wish, some may not charge at all.

Personally I would see a few in a few months time be honest about not needing the space for quite a while and don't set your heart on any that you meet but the ones that you like contact them again nearer to the time or ask them to call you if a place comes up. You can see cm's who are full as they may have a place when you need one.

Its perfectly fine to be putting feelers out now as there might be CMs who have forthcoming vacancies, not yet advertised who could let you know or, friends/family can let you know of ( as many vacacnices get filled by word of mouth before advertised) at least then you will get some idea of avaerage rates of pay and terms of service for your area.

By the way, if you are waiting for September do search earlier as many children starting in septemebr might leave before then as parents could take summer holidays off or visiting C