Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Do most childminders work mon to fri?

29 replies

MUM2BLESS · 28/05/2010 21:50

Hi just interested to know if you do this. I know some have to for financial reasons.

I do not have any little ones usually on a Friday. I just drop off and pick up from school only

This week I have worked Mon to Fri and noticed the difference.

When do most childminders do their paper work? Evening, weekend?

Sometimes I have to try to catch up during my time off.

Would love to hear your from you.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BoysAreLikeDogs · 28/05/2010 21:56

Mon to Thurs here

paperwork in the evenings/on Fridays

atworknotworking · 28/05/2010 21:58

Mon - Fri, 6.30 - 6.30ish and odd Saturdays.

Paperwork very late nights after cleaning, doing housework, essential mumsnettin household duties etc

HSMM · 28/05/2010 22:26

I work with my DH. He works with children Mon-Fri. I do Mon-Thu and paperwork on Fri, but I still end up playing with the children and get my paperwork done at other times!

Ripeberry · 28/05/2010 22:32

I work Tues-Fri as lots of other CMs around me take Friday off

Original poster

MUM2BLESS · 28/05/2010 22:56

Hi must be time for my bed just typed a reply and forgot to post message. Been a busy day...

How do you ensure you balance paper work with family time?

Anyone minding with very young children or three of more kids of their own? Got four.

Any good tips on clearing paperwork? I am quite thorough.

Good night enjoy your well deserved rest.

OP posts:

Millenium · 29/05/2010 07:31

Five days a week here, Monday to Friday. Paperwork is a weekend task in my house!

foureleven · 29/05/2010 07:34

Im suprised that so many only work 4 days a week. Dont most parents need 5 days?

Millenium · 29/05/2010 07:47

foureleven, I think quite a few Mums returning to work try to do so on a part-time basis so they have still got a bit of time at home.

There will also be those who work from home in a self-employed role themselves and may not therefore require F/T Monday to Friday care.

Also there will be parents who have their children minded but are not themselves out at work - I have two like that!

Having said all that, Friday is my quietest day with just one full-day mindee.

foureleven · 29/05/2010 07:48

Hmm ok, just seems to me a bit odd to be providing a service for working parents (in general although not for those who dont work but still use child care) but not work one of the working days of the week.

I f I called a childminder to enquire about employing her and she said I dont work fridays id be like,

littlestarschildminding · 29/05/2010 08:57

Most cms round here only work 4 days a week. Its just too hard to have up to 7 children 5 days a week + your own + keep up with the paperwork, cleaning, housework, husband, kids homework etc etc

I found when I was working 5 days. That I just couldn't manage to take the kids to docs appointments/ dentists appointments etc. Its not like working in a normal job where you can take the day off on paid leave...or a few hours off to pop out!! You just can't! You either have to take 3 children with you (which isn't ideal as parents obv don't like paying you to take your child to the doctor) or you have to take a day/ hour off at short notice and parents are miffed with you big time..and you lose pay.

Once I was working 4 days I knew I could plan things on that day rather than have to disrupt things during week. I could do paperwork, a big clean, the laundry, the food shopping and actually have a little time at the weekend to spend with my family.

Don't get me wrong I lOVE cming. But until you have actually done it and seen the toll 7 children 5 days a week has on your house, how much cleaning/ tidying/ food shopping/ the amount of paperwork/ the effect to family life etc it causes

I found it easy to find Mon-Thurs children. I think lots of parents like to do part time if they can. Of course I did have to turn away the odd family.

ayla99 · 29/05/2010 09:12

I work 5 days, but only have mindees 4 days! No-one ever wants full time care here. Most families want 2 or 3 days at most. Those that do work full time have p/t free childcare from grandparents so still don't need to pay for full time childcare. So my 5th day is now a study/paperwork/housework day.

HSMM · 29/05/2010 09:12

We had full time spaces and only managed to fill one of them. Filled the rest with part timers.

majafa · 29/05/2010 09:36

Ive been minding for just over 2 yrs now and in that time have only had an enquiry for 1 full timer, all the others have been part time!

Missus84 · 29/05/2010 11:17

I think the majority of parents don't use childcare full time - I work in a large nursery and we only have a handful of children there Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm (and Friday is by far the quietest day). Parents who have very long hours/demanding jobs are more likely to be nanny employers ime.

fiveweeksandcounting · 29/05/2010 11:23

My CM only works Mon - Wed and has a huge waiting list. People tend to supplement with grandparents.

xoxcherylxox · 29/05/2010 12:56

i only work monday to thursday. when i firtst started childminding i was intending to work 5 days but never had any children for a friday then i had my daughter, came back from maternity got an equiry for 5 days and just told them i only wrk monday to thursday, as i had got so use to not working theres no way i would. i ended up still getting those children and the mum sorted something else for a friday

shoshe · 29/05/2010 13:06

I work Mon-Fri with fulltimers and always have

7.30 - 5, paperwork done at weekends.

alibubbles · 29/05/2010 13:53

I have had 12 enquiries this week, all for 3 days, Tue Wed Thur or Mon Tue Thur, I can't remember the last time someone wanted full time, must be about 2 years!

foureleven · 29/05/2010 13:54

Ooh I stand corrected, I had no idea I was so unique to need full time child care..!

Original poster

MUM2BLESS · 29/05/2010 15:29

Wow thanks everyone.

I am amazed with the wonderful responses.

I think its necessary to remain balance with work and cm'ding.

I prefer to have at least one day without minding a full day , so that I can do my ..... after the school run then get ready for pickup.

I do not really want to be up very late doing paper work.

I am using some time today to do some. I delegate some of the house work things that need to doing to my children. (nothing heavy though). It helps them to become more independant and also helps mum and dad.

Its re assuring to know that I am not the only one who needs time to do my housework etc. I get lots of enquiires but I will not take anyone on if its not right for my family ie too early start etc.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

LisaD1 · 30/05/2010 19:25

I've just given up but throughout my time childminding (2.5yrs) I worked mon-thur with fridays for emergencies/parents overtime, only ever worked about 2 friday's. Paperwork done when little ones had nap/evenings/wkend, always used Friday as time for me and dd2 to have fun alone.

Original poster

MUM2BLESS · 30/05/2010 20:28

Have a lovely week everyone and thanks

OP posts:

hennipenni · 30/05/2010 22:34

Bit late into this but here goes: I have 3 DDs of my own. All my mindees are under18 months with the exception of one schooly who is nearly 6.

I work monday to friday, every 3rd weekend and also do overnight care twice a week. I can't do paperwork during babies naptimes as this is when I eat and clear up for lunch etc so consequently my paperwork is very very behind as after I've fitted in time with my family, done the housework etc I begrudge spending any time left on paperwork when I could be sleeping.

lollipopmother · 31/05/2010 09:48

I work Mon-Fri but I also have school-age children some weekends as I work for a mum that works shifts, I also look after next door neighbours 12m/o and my friend's 20m/o ad-hoc weekends just if I'm free.

At the moment I have 1 fulltime client 9-5 Mon-Fri - she's just turned 8m/o yesterday, I also have an 18m/o who comes Tues, Wed, Thurs for 6.5hrs a day. The rest of the children are before/after school. Since March I've been working until 9.30pm on Tues and Thurs and I'll normally have another two nights where I work until 10pm. Before school children start at 7am but don't come every morning.

Currently paperwork is severely lacking but I've just got all my accounts up to date and observations are on the way. Planning is also in the pipeline because I can do it retrospectively although I do hope to get something down on paper by the end of today (yeah right!) My policies are up to date and I'm slowly getting my risk assessments done. Basically I just do paperwork when I can at the moment.

I have had loads of enquiries, four or five have been for full time but I've had a huge amount for Tues,Wed,Thurs or for Mon-Fri for 4 hours each day. I chose to have 1 full time and 1 3-day because it's nice to have an easier start and finish to the week - I also look after DD who's 20m all day every day so even when I only have 1 mindee I still have 2 kids to look after.

Original poster

MUM2BLESS · 31/05/2010 10:30

Wow Lollipopmother you are busy. Excuse me asking do you get any time for what you want to do for yourself?

OP posts:

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread