Childminder v's Day Nursery

trinnylilac

Thank you so much everyone for getting back to me. You have been very reassuring. I am just going to have to look round all available places in the area and see what I think....
One minute I think a childminder will be best and then I change my mind.

Does anyone one know what the price differences are between them.... ( not that you can out a price on your childs happiness but just out of curiosity )

Spendless

Depends where you are in country I pay £25 a day for nursery,(8-5.30). I was paying more £28 a day but had to change nurseries (due to location, no other reason) a childminder I approached recently said she charges £3 an hour. I don't know how she compares with other childminders in area. Take a look here

http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp

bumpybecky

we've used bith nursery and childminder for dd1 & 2..

dd1 was in nursery part time from 5 months until nearly 2 when I went back to finish my PhD

dd2 was with a child minder for a year aged 3-4 before she started school when I went to work

both were good - pros and cons as discussed already. With dd1 there was no choice as there were no child minders within walking distance of home. With dd2 nursery was too expensive and the child minder came recommended by several other Mums I knew and trusted.

In our experience nursery was much more expensive. However there is the funded places thing which should pay towards 5x 2.5hr sessions from the term after she's 3. That might seem a long way off now, but worth factoring in. If she's in nursery you should be able to get this, if she's with a childminder I doubt it (although willing to be corrected).

Good luck and I hope your daughter is happy with her carer

Bun

I am really sorry that I can't provide links, our internet is extremely tetchy tonight (although as long as mse works, fine with me), but you can find out exactly what is provided in the area via your local council site, or Surestart site.

Try something like cis@your town.gov.uk

CIS is Childrens' Information Service

They should list all providers, together with the activities each provides, costs and timings and also you can check the ofsted reports. Childminders have these too if they have been going long enough (don't know if it is compulsory though, I'm sure somebody else will be able to confirm).

Personally I use a nursery for my son - he adores it. He is an extremely energetic 2 year old, and I feel that he will do better in school if he stays with nursery where he has to fit in with more than just one or two children. It depends on the personality of your child too. Personally, from a selfish point of view, I didn't want him to go to a childminder and become close to one other woman, I was happier that he would have two or three carers, and as he was very clingy, this has worked well for him too.

stardoman

I used a registered childminder with my son when I went back to work. He was 8 months old. I was returning full time and could not get my head around the fact that at nursery he would be in the same place all day, everyday, for years. I go a bit nuts if I have a day or 2 in the house on my own, so I couldn't see how my baby would cope with being in the same environment day in, day out.

I loved the fact that my childminder took my son to the park, shops, post office, beach, toddler groups, soft play etc. All the things I would have loved to have done with him he got to do. Also the child to adult ratio is much lower with a childminder - 1 childminder to 3 under 5 year olds. Therefore, they get much more one to one attention and will have adult stimulation for much more of the time that they can get at nursery. She took him to toddler groups and other places where he could mix with children. Again, I think this type of mixing is more varied, as at nursery he will be with the same children, not a mixture. Some nurseries put children with their own age group, so toddlers don't mix with babies etc. Personally, I think mixing with different ages is good for children.

Good luck with your search.

HTH. Mandy.

Savvy_Sue

I'm with Lillibet's childminder ... see what's available, ask lots of questions, and then go with your gut instinct!

After all, if we were all to say "Nursery!", and then you found you couldn't get a nursery place for the hours you needed, you'd feel let down. Or if we all said "Childminder!" and then the only one you met left you feeling uncomfortable, what would you do then?

It depends on the child, and it depends on the childcare setting, and it depends on what you need. And let's face it, it also depends what's available in your area.

Bun

I have an extremely good nursery which does mix ages, and takes them to the park, beach, garden etc, but I do think this is the exception rather than the rule. I think it depends on the minder - some let children just chill and play after school for example, when they really don't need more structured stuff, and some do as my friend does, groups etc. As long as you are happy with any driving etc that has to be done then it could work out really well having a minder. That thought was one that I had with my son, and I have been lucky.

Spendless

i have experience of 2 different nurseries. One was attached to a school and was very educational but not enough play. I've only realised this since i changed nurseries to one that does day trips, easter egg hunts and gets the paddling pool out. So if looking for a nursey I'd suggest asking what extra activities they do. In both cases the nurseries were very large, one part of a school the other a converted large house.
I know some people see a nursery as just 'one' room but check how much available space is at a childminders. I'm aware of someone who makes all upstairs out of bounds as well as kitchen for obvious reasons(unless they are doing something baking) and another who childminds whilst her husband works permanent nights:eek: . In both cases my daughters main nursery room is far bigger than the childminders.

If you are wanting a childminder who takes you child out on visits etc I'd also check how tied they are to the school run, especially if they have or are looking after school nursery children, where they are only there a couple of hours. Again I'm aware of childminders who have children they look after in both am and pm sessions, making it impossible to go very far with the other children.

Good Luck.

saver_sam

I sent my little lass to a nursery and like Bun they took her to the park, for walks in pushchairs, and they had a large garden which they could go in twice a day. they also started following the national circumulem from the age of 2 which i felt would give her a head start for school as well as get used to mixing with other children early on.

For me i just visited one nursery and saw that it was perfect, nice people, lovely room, nappies and food included in the price (about £32.50 per day but she could go between 8am - 6pm so per hour was good value).

Now i no longer work, she goes to the school nursery for 2.5 hours a day, and think that she was able to settle in easily with lots of children as she had already been in a similar situation. the school nursery take them on trips to the library and they mix with the reception classes so they are ready for the experience and teachers in September

Addicted2Chocolate

sorry have i misssed something, what is wrong with a CM who childmids whilst husband is on permanent nights?

Spendless wrote:

i have experience of 2 different nurseries. One was attached to a school and was very educational but not enough play. I've only realised this since i changed nurseries to one that does day trips, easter egg hunts and gets the paddling pool out. So if looking for a nursey I'd suggest asking what extra activities they do. In both cases the nurseries were very large, one part of a school the other a converted large house.
I know some people see a nursery as just 'one' room but check how much available space is at a childminders. I'm aware of someone who makes all upstairs out of bounds as well as kitchen for obvious reasons(unless they are doing something baking) and another who childminds whilst her husband works permanent nights:eek: . In both cases my daughters main nursery room is far bigger than the childminders.

If you are wanting a childminder who takes you child out on visits etc I'd also check how tied they are to the school run, especially if they have or are looking after school nursery children, where they are only there a couple of hours. Again I'm aware of childminders who have children they look after in both am and pm sessions, making it impossible to go very far with the other children.

Good Luck.