Childminders - advice and opinions needed please

[popsycal]

Hi,

I currently work full time and DS is at a childminders for 3 days out of 5 - wed to fri.

Soon after xmas, I will be going on maternity leave with bump number 2 and hope to go part time when I go back to work in sept 2005 (hopefully days off will be thurs and fri although we havent got as far as specifying days off yet...)

My question is this: I currently pay for one child for 3 days and hopefully after maternity want to send the kids to the childminder for only one day (either wed or fri depending on my days off - hopefully wed)

How would you feel about it? The childminder currently has one set of kids mon and tues then ds and another child wed-fri.

I said i would hopefully be going part time when i told her i was pregnant and therefore reducing my hours.

However, some people I speak to are dubious about whether a childminder would take 2 kids for one day per week (she is still get almost the same money as she gets now for 3 days...) and I figured if she had them on a wed, then she had thurs and fri 'free' to care for other children.....

DOes that make sense?
Any opinions gratefully receieved!

i would say it is purely a persanl prefernec thing. some CMs prefer only fulltimers, ojhters prefer only part-timers, some like to have complete days off. i's sound her out sooner rather than later tbh. gives her a chance to fill her vacancies or you to have a rethink if necessary.

not much help, sorry

thanks

she is really flexible - has some part timers and one full timer at the moment.

The new arrnagment wouldnt be until sept 2005....

I do plan to chat to her probably next week about it...thought i would get the wisdom on MN first

If she already has a child on a Wed- Fri then she might not have 'space' for 2 children. Has she any of her own children? You are only allowed 3 under 5 in total

I was aware of the 3 under 5 rule.....

she had ds and another 2 year old on a wed....so that should be fine

if the day were to be a friday though that would be a problem - as she already has 3 under 5.....
so even if i worked full time, i dont thik she could have bump on a friday anyway.....