Childminding Idea?

[KatieMac]

Hiya - I've been childminding for about 18 months and will soon get my NVQ and (hopefully) be accredited for Nursery Care.

I'm thinking of expanding and offering Nursery(type) facilities within a childminding environment. This would involve maybe taking on other childminders (or people who would childmind - but don't want to work full time or from their own home) and getting extra space.

The most economical way of doing this would be to buy a 'Portakabin' (13ft by 38ft). It would be properly kitted out with kitchen, WC, quiet room and wet area etc. and in my back garden.

Is there an intrinsic problem with being a childminder in a 'Portakabin' or would it put parents off?

Can anyone think of any problems or difficulties?

The nursery that my Dd attends has always been in two poracabins and they have always been fine.
It would be what the nursery offered that would be more important to me personally.

How many kids would you have ?? That is probably the only prob with them. Dd's had about 15 kids in one and tables, chairs e.t.c. and it was cramped.

They are moving to a newly built nursery in sept, but dd is starting scvhool so she'll miss it.

I'm thinking about 10 or 12 children and the play area would be about 30 ft x 13 ft which is more than double what I have now and I mind 6 (under 5's) at the moment

I'm curious how is this childminding and not a small nursery though? I always thought that whole point of childminding was the small home-based environment and single carer.

One problem I can think of is your neighbours - I would be horrified if mine put a portakabin in their back garden.

Yes I'm a little conerned - but it would be behind a 10 foot leylandi (sp) which is his(!).

I will also offer to put in a fence of what ever height they want - (I have already offered a 6 foot fence - but they said no)

I think that as it is on my property although I will need planning permission - there should be no objection.

I have spoken to the Highways agency and the noise abatement people and they have said that any objection re increased traffic or noise would not be considered, as traffic is only drop off & collection and noise is between 7.30 & 6 and only children playing in the garden.

But I also keep the children in between 12 & 2 so that lunchtimes can be in peace for the neighbours

Wouldnt appeal to me as i chose a childm,inder for home atmospere. Portakabin sounds a bit depressing tbh.
I have to say if i were your neighbour i'd be horrified as well.

I childminded with another reg.childminder(my mum!) providing small nursery style care. in most authorities you need planning permission to chilmind together in one property. It doesn't count if you have an assistant but then you can't have as many children as they are not registered.

I know of people who were refused permission for a caravan in their very large garden so PP may be an issue. I certainly wouldn't want a portacabin next door to me and I think it's unfair on the neighbours - 10 or 12 children make a heck of a lot more noise than just two or three!! I can clearly hear the 28 children from dd's school even though we are about 300yds away! It might affect house saleability and/or values, too.

Well I currently have 8 children so it's not that many more - hopefully the potakabin won't be depressing -but planning permission may stop me.

There is a place like this a couple of villages away but they are a nursery

And it would only be visible from upstairs windows of the neighbours not at ground level. The nearest house would be over 75 ft away

Well I'm going to put in Outline Planning Permission and see....
It's not a Portakabin tho' its a purpose built prefabricated Nursery Unit

And if its less than 30 sqm and more than 5m away from the house I won't need planning permission for the structure......but I will for more children

My portacabin has turned into a log cain/summer house - well insulated of course