After school and hoilday childminding

[CarrotGirl]

I am thinking of giving notice to my mini mindees and just minding after school and school holidays.

TBH I've had enough of babies,nappies, buggies, cleaning food of the floor, toddler tantrums, EYFS paperwork, etc, etc. I've started to suffer from stress related IBS and it's time to make a change.

There's a very competitively priced after school and holiday club at the dcs school. Although I am an ex teacher, so can offer more than the club can, especially during the holls, but will also charge alot more (£5ph?). I would offer fresh home cooked food, learning through play (supporting what they're learning at school) and educational activities during the school holls.

It would mean I'd earn less than I am at the moment, but hopefully it'll be less stressful and alot more fun.

Does anyone just do after school and holidays? Slightly concerned about competing with school club, will there be enough work? Any advice would be really be appreciated.

I work to full capacity as have no choice but I think filling up with just school children would probably not be a problem if I wanted to do this. But that is only because the after school club is getting a really bad reputation and people are pulling children out or choosing childminders instead. I'm more expensive that the club but that doesn't seem to bother parents now.

HOWEVER, it wasn't always like this! I never used to get lots of enquiries for after school as I think money was more important and the club didn't have this bad rep at the time.

So I guess the best thing is to find out what your local club is like, check out how many childminders pickup from your school etc. I'd definitely market the food and edu-care thing, I reckon parents of the younger children would prefer a cm to the busy after school club? Also, our after school club only provides snacks so the parents then have to think of food when they pickup. You doing a lovely meal would be such a help for parents I'm sure

Good luck with it, no more EYFS/daily diaries etc etc. sounds bliss

HI
I am a childminder have gradually reduced the babies and toddlers and replaced with before and after school and school hols.
Like yourself The local after/before school club was very competatively priced and thus caused me concern as to if there was "enough kids to go round"
I have however discovered there are indeeed enough to go round, find out what time they open/close and add half an hour or so onto your hours, our local club closes at 5.45 and if the children are late collected they charge and extra £5 per 5 mins. I found by staying open till six and charges £5 per 15 mins late worked well as parents often travelling on public transport cannot control being a little late even if they are only a few mins late occasionaly you can look at not charging and mention this when you interview because trust me the after school clubs always charge.
I hope this helps

Looneytune There are other minders at school who seem to have quite a few after school children. I'll ask around about it's rep. I might do afternoons/nursery pick-ups aswell to help with cash flow.

Just googled the after school club ... it is "outstanding"!

Good idea ddgm, if I stay open later that'll help and I'm never usually too fussed about slight lateness (although I havn't had a regularly late parent yet!)

Why not supplement your income with hotel babysitting/holiday cottages, have you got an upmarket one near you. I advertise the fact that I'm a registered childminder/nanny and you can charge £10 per hour easily. Also plenty of agencies now do creche work on saturdays at weddings, I can make as much on a saturday as I do in 3 days cminding, and its more fun working with others and not doing eyfs paperwork.

Creche work at weddings sounds fun, how much do you get for that roughly(if you don't mind me asking)?

How would you get into hotel babysitting and crèche work at weddings? X

After a bit of a drought on equiries I have had a few before and after school enquiries. Do you charge a set rate for these?

and what do you offer?

I have all the usual, games, books, nice garden, puzzles playdough etc, but am also cooking dinner during this period, so don't focus on adult lead activities as much, does this matter?