CM Club-Are you getting many enquieries?

[jazee]

Hi everyone, I just wondered if you have been getting many enquieries.
I know from speaking to other childminders that this year has had a bit of a slow start.
I had about 6 enquieries in May - all within the space of a week, but not much else.
I am also aware that things have been quiet in my area from my local childminding group and also my area has many many childminders.
Have just lost a good job too as I was holding off as my present family weren't sure what hours they would need me in September. Found out this week that I could take on the new job but it has gone to someone else
Do you have any good tips for advertising. Have got a large ncma poster in town and some post cards.
Would love to hear from you - its all very fustrating.
Also have been offered work in the past week but too much as I have three kids and the middle one is autistic!! so it's such a balance between work/kids.

I put an advert on childcare.co.uk and have received 4 enquires in the past week, I have one full timer that I got from an advert I put on netmums and one enquiry from a gumtree advert.

EmMum06
Which area do you live in?
I am on childcare.co.uk, think i might try netmums - thanks

Really quiet for me as well, and i've just lost 2 of my main earners. But for me I only offer part time and term time only so it only suits a few.
I could do loads of after school and holiday but I just don't want it with 4 of my own children home.
I've got lots of babysitting so it all balances out.
I'm being patient and learning to say no to enquiries that don't fit in with me but its not easy.

The phone has been unusually busy here (village location in West Sussex) & I am advertising like mad, on childcare.co.uk, my web site, google, netmums you name it. But although I have had quite a few enquiries it seems because I do not drive, so can not do collections etc, I?m not what people want! Very frustrating. I?m very experienced, lovely setting, OS but can not do the running about. Wish mumsnet did a local childcare board [biscuit}

meant

i have had about 15 enquiries since i registered last nov but stiil not one contract i am on childcare.co.uk, netmums, mumsnet, own website as well as posters and word of mouth im in richmond surrey

I am in Woolwich SE london and do not have contract yet as I am waiting for my registration to be complete. the mum of the full time child is happy to wait until my registration is complete as he is currently being watched by friends of hers.

Could anyone posting on this thread please add where they are located, just out of interest.

its very quiet for me too, but 10 mins down the road are mega busy!?...i have one family who came last week coming back to me (at my request) when mums employer gives start dates/hours etc and have got a little girl and mum coming in an hour for holiday care..on the down side one of my after schoolys' father looks to be made redundant AGAIN ..so where i may get one for summer hols, this other mindee may go ..its really bad at the moment..it HAS to improve!

Since Easter it had been very quiet (northern West Sussex) but in the past three weeks I have had three enquiries.

One didn't really suit me but I have retained their details in case my situation changes.

The other two were both for full-day care (9 hours) which I prefer, for three days a week for Mums returning to work after maternity leave. One will end up going to nursery I think because they are cheaper and I will not drop my fees - not that the Mum has asked! I am quite hopeful about the other one and we have agreed that the parents must get back to me by 14th July to confirm whether or not they will be taking up the place to start in November.

I get my enquires via Yellow Pages, childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk and word-of-mouth.

I am in North East England and have only ever had around 20 enquirys (in 18 months)I have had some from childcare.co.uk and yellow pages. I find now that my own child is at school that I am becoming better known in the schoolyard, so expect that word of mouth will become my biggest refferal.

just been given notice from my kind of ONLY full timer..my bread and butter so to speak