How did you find your childminder?

[firsttimepregnanthelp]

My baby was born earlier this month and I have been looking for a childminder for when I go back to work. I can only seem to find Childminders listed on a website called childcare.co.uk - it is not possible to message some of them without a subscription and the ones I have messaged haven't replied so I wonder if they even use it. Is there anywhere else they are listed?

On a related note, does anyone know when I should submit a flexible working request to my employer? My laptop has been shut down so I can't do it through the HR portal; i am guessing i would need to email them but with what - a letter requesting it and saying what?

I found ours on OFSTED. For the flexible work request, I used the proforma from gov.uk 🥰

@the2026oneoh amazing thank you! When did you submit your flexible working request? Baby is only 3 weeks old but I need to know how many days I'll need a childminder for!

Your local council will keep a full list of all local, registered childminders and their contact details. So Google the names of your council and early year/childcare or similar and you should find a link.

There should be a directory somewhere on your local authority website.

I did get a subscription to childcare.co.uk for a month or so. I also asked for local word if mouth.

I found my childminder on the floor next to me at a baby group. We got chatting and it turned out she is a childminder. It was another 2 years before she became MY childminder due to various other factors, but that’s where I found her!

The council can give you a list of all the registered childminders in your area - try looking for the Early Years department or Family Information Service, or just searching Childcare on the local authority website.

I'm a childminder and most of my families find me through asking for recommendations on facebook, the Childcare website, word of mouth or toddler groups/classes.

I looked at the local council list of approved child minders, and arranged for me and 2yo ds to visit each of them.

The first four we visited, ds didn't let go of my hand. At the 5th, he toddled in, sat down and started playing with the others. He was right too. The childminder was lovely. She had 25 years experience, used to be the local Ofsted supervisor of childminders, and became a family friend.

When I got stuck in London behind a terror attack, I rang the childminder and she gave ds supper, put him to bed at hers. She was an authority on potty training too. It would have been much harder without her.