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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Tweaking the childcare section

36 replies

KateyCuckoo · 03/09/2023 20:13

Please would you consider adding Settings or Providers or something to the end of the Childcare section title?

So many people just scroll down the alphabetical list to find the topic for their question and it's misunderstood and used it as a catch all for everything from breast feeding to medical questions.

Not only is it frustrating for those of us who follow the Childcare topic (getting notifications for threads that aren't right) it must be annoying for the posters who then don't get the answers they are looking for as their threads get overlooked.

I really feel tweaking it to be called Childcare Settings for example would clarify what the topic is for.

Please 🙏

OP posts:
jallopeno · 04/09/2023 07:12

Good idea

MNHQ
HebeMumsnet · 04/09/2023 11:38

Hi there @KateyCuckoo . That's an interesting point. Thanks for getting in touch. We'll definitely discuss this. In the meantime, what do others think of the suggestion? We'll keep reading here.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 04/09/2023 17:24

Thank you. It seems like a simple fix to help people find the most appropriate place to post and get the advice they need.

OP posts:
Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 18/11/2023 07:52

I know this thread hasn't got any replies but please could you take a look at the threads ending up there...

In the last 10ish we have pre teen problems, Co parenting dilemmas, benefits threads, feeding issues, residency problems...

It's confusing for people and they aren't getting the replies needed.

Conversely I see lots of threads about nurseries and 30 funded hours questions in parenting and similar.

I like things tidy. Plus I have notifications on for this section and and half are useless because they have nothing to do with childcare.

OP posts:
nannynick · 18/11/2023 08:22

It is getting ridiculous now. So many posts are not on topic. It was not like this 10 years ago, so could we go back to what we had before? Childminders, Nannies and Aupairs or something like that. Something more descriptive than simply Childcare.

Papillon23 · 18/11/2023 08:24

What about something like "Childcare (Providers and Settings)" or similar?

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 20/11/2023 11:28

Any thoughts MNHQ?

OP posts:
MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 20/11/2023 19:50

Hi OP

No updates here yet, but we're keen to see what other users think. We'll keep an eye on the thread.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 21/11/2023 20:39

LilyMumsnet · 20/11/2023 19:50

Hi OP

No updates here yet, but we're keen to see what other users think. We'll keep an eye on the thread.

I'll give up, you won't change it so there's no point. It's a bit odd to pretend your thinking about it. All sorts of strange posts end up there (the bedwetting one?) and not moved to more appropriate topics so it's obviously not bothering anyone else.

OP posts:
piglet81 · 21/11/2023 20:41

I think it’s a good idea to tweak the topic name.

nannynick · 22/11/2023 07:40

What is: "DLA wait times part 21" and all the other parts!
How is that about paid childcare?

YoullCatchYourDeathInTheFog · 22/11/2023 07:42

How about "Paid" or "Professional" Childcare as a topic name. Should be clear enough.

MidnightOnceMore · 22/11/2023 07:54

@HebeMumsnet @LilyMumsnet I'm not sure it'll be helpful to wait for others to contribute to a question on a thread they may never see.

There's no downside to changing the topic name to be more clear that I can see. So I'd support the change.

nannynick · 22/11/2023 07:58

The DLA thread seems to be about children with special needs, so should go on that board. I think the problem is that posts on special needs get deleted after a period of time... so maybe that needs changing as well.

"Childminders, Nannies and Au-Pairs" - I think was a name which was used for many years for the childcare board. Maybe a variation on that would work: "Childminders, Nannies, and other paid childcare." Then nurseries can be a subtopic.

GoodOldEmmaNess · 22/11/2023 08:03

YoullCatchYourDeathInTheFog · 22/11/2023 07:42

How about "Paid" or "Professional" Childcare as a topic name. Should be clear enough.

That sounds like a great solution.

Demonsandcupcakes · 22/11/2023 14:06

Definitely need a name change to make a distinction that this section is about childcare settings and early years professionals

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 22/11/2023 16:08

Hello

Just to confirm, we are having an ongoing discussion about this - we're not pretending to do that. A lot comes with changing topic titles and it's not always as straight-forward as it appears, so please do bear with us.

AutumnCrow · 22/11/2023 16:15

I agree it needs a name tweak, yes, for all the reasons stated by other posters.

It's pretty clear that a lot of posters start threads in 'Childcare' thinking it's the board for 'caring for and about children'. I see them flash up in Active (very) temporarily and then they fade away.

I like things to be tidy too, @KateyCuckoo.

Lunde · 22/11/2023 16:32

The childcare forum has been a total mess ever since MN removed the childminder, nanny, and au-pair sub forums. It has almost killed the forum where many just post general childcare queries and others post the actual paid childcare questions elsewhere as people don't understand what it's meant for

I do not understand why MN did not call the forum "Paid Childcare" rather than create such ambiguity

SMaCM · 22/11/2023 16:38

When it was called Childminders, Nannies and AuPairs (or whatever the previous name was) the posts were much more relevant to the section. Lots of random posts end up in there now.

MNHQ
BeckyAMumsnet · 27/11/2023 14:20

Hi all - thanks for your patience. Before we consider anything further, we've clarified the topic disclaimer to read: From childminders to au pairs, join the conversation for advice & shared experiences of paid childcare.

We'll keep an eye on whether this has any impact.

jannier · 27/11/2023 14:24

Definitely do something it's mad

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 27/11/2023 15:16

BeckyAMumsnet · 27/11/2023 14:20

Hi all - thanks for your patience. Before we consider anything further, we've clarified the topic disclaimer to read: From childminders to au pairs, join the conversation for advice & shared experiences of paid childcare.

We'll keep an eye on whether this has any impact.

But it's always said similar, people don't read it...

They scroll from the alphabetical drop down list after starting a new thread. And stop at childcare because they think it's for 'caring for a child'.

OP posts:
Demonsandcupcakes · 27/11/2023 18:10

Agree, title definitely needs changing!

notmorezoom · 27/11/2023 18:11

nannynick · 22/11/2023 07:58

The DLA thread seems to be about children with special needs, so should go on that board. I think the problem is that posts on special needs get deleted after a period of time... so maybe that needs changing as well.

"Childminders, Nannies and Au-Pairs" - I think was a name which was used for many years for the childcare board. Maybe a variation on that would work: "Childminders, Nannies, and other paid childcare." Then nurseries can be a subtopic.

This. The change was stupid, lots of people objected at the time, and it hasn't worked. Go back to several groups 1) nannies 2) nurseries 3) childminders 4) au pairs 5) other childcare issues

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