got job no childcare, please help!

[queenballerina]

OK so I just got the perfect part time job and am very excited to go back to work.... but i wasn't planning on getting the job that easily and now I have just 6 weeks to sort out childcare. I am lost! The few nurseries that were reccomended to me have long waiting lists...and I don't think I can afford a nanny.

What do I DO... Where do I start? how do you find good recommendations of childminders/nurseries and nanny shares?

I have also just moved and am first time mum. So I don't have any friends or family in the new area of London.

contact local council for list of registered child minders is a good starting point

Go to your local council site and somewhere under the childrens services section there will be a link to their searchable list of childminders search those with vacancies that fit the criteria.

start there and go round and see all possibles with a long list of questions...

Ask your neighbours, contacts, anyone you see at baby groups/health centre/library etc. for their personal recommendations. Go on the 'local' board of MN and post a message there?

Perhaps you could brave a few toddler groups/ rhyme time at a library and ask around there. Libraries are often a good source of info.

Any good CM should be able to give you contact no.'s of other parents for references.

There may be a CM group near you where one of them will know who has vacancies to cut down the amount of phoning around you have to do.