childminding part time - how feasible?

Jet

I've had a bud of an idea and would like some advice.

I currently work part time with a couple of full days and 2 shorter days. My childminder has just announced that she's moving out of the area.
:rolleyes:

So, I'm back to looking for childcare yet again.

My childminder suggested that I should become a childminder. Initially I dismissed it, but now I've had a little think about it, I'm weighing it up.

How feasible would it be to only offer before and after school childcare? This would mean that if I could juggle my hours and only work school hours and then childmind before and after school giving my son a playmate or two as well as much needed income for me (a single parent). Or only offer after school childcare 3 days per week and before school 5 days per week. Although that would mean I would still have to find childcare for my son 2 days after school.

The only problem would be the school holidays. Obviously I wouldn't be able to offer all day care, would that put most people off? And I would have to find registered childcare for my son when I'm at work (holiay club perhaps?).

I have no idea how much time and money it costs to set up and if it would be worth doing seeing as I would be offering quite a restricted service.

I wouldn't want to give up my employment and I wouldn't really want to look after under school age children.

I know there are a few childminders on this board, so it would be helpful if someone could give me their opinion.

Counting_Pennies_2

My sister has done this for several years.

There are obvious benefits of extra money, but there are also the downsides.

Needing to qualify for childminding, getting your house safe enough to pass ofsted inspections. Offering the range of childcare Ofsted require, such as activities laid on for the kids and politically correct toys etc.

Also my sister has to be up at the crack of dawn gets the kids dropped off at 7am ish and has them with her until she takes all the kids to school. The same after school, which has led to quite a bit of disruption in terms of getting her kids to do their homework and having any kind of a family life.

You also have to expect that some kids whose parents drop them off at 7am and collect at 6pm ish don't have much family interaction, and some of the children my sister looks after are short of manners etc.

In terms of school holidays my sister has the kids the same as in school time and instead of dropping them off to school, she drops them off to holiday club run by the school.

I don't think there would be a shortage of people interested, as people work different patterns and there is bound to be someone working one that would fit in with what you have to offer.

Hth

Spendless

Hi

Well anyone who works within a school might be interested as not all childminders offer term-time only and charge a retainer to hold the place. Anyone going to college/uni to study might be interested if their place of study follows the same hols as the school.

I can see a potential problem when it comes to things like teacher training days, school shut for elections, unless you either make some agreement with the parent or are prepared to use some of your holidays up.

Last winter on my way to school I was told school was shut problem with heating, but ring up see if it's working at lunchtime if it is we'll open PM. Luckily I only worked at lunchtime (school dinner lady) and had relatives who could help out. What would you do in those circs?

Savvy_Sue

I think it is feasible, there are often real difficulties finding after school childcare if you haven't had a childminder before. But you'd need to set your boundaries from the start, explain why you can't be flexible.

It's a few years since I've used childminders (!) but when I did, some of them used to work together, giving cover if one was sick or on holiday. They were allowed to have more than their usual number for short-term situations like that, don't know if that would still be allowed.

mehefin

Jet - go for it but bear in mind what OP says about setting your parameters. My son went through about 8 minders in 5years (only because they were all service personnel families and kept getting posted!) but as a parent I can sincerely say that it has brought out as a more 'rounded' person. There is always a demand for childminders - we paid a retrention when we were on holidays or whatever, and there was the occasional problem with sickness etc. but that was usually sorted through friends etc as OP says above.
It is quite a long process to get on the register though . Good luck if you decide to go with it.

ruthyjo

I think you should definitely give it a try. My daughter will be going to a childminder in September, before school two days a week and after school four days a week. She won't begoing in the school holidays although my husband and I don't have term time only jobs - we have two older children and want her to be with them in the holidays (looked after by either us or other relatives or friends). There are as many reasons as there are families for people needing different combinations of care - what you can do is bound to suit someone. The childminder we're going to be using can't do two of the mornings we needed but we liked her so much we rearranged our own days so we could drop off at school two days a week. If you're good (and I'm sure you are) people will want to use you and will find a way to do so.

BernadetteN

I am currently childminding part-time as I am on unpaid maternity leave as a civil servant.

It took me 10 months from requesting a first seminar (obligatory in Kent) to doing the ICP (introduction to childminding practice) course, the paediatric first aid course, the CRB and Social Services checks, the medical questionnaire, the reigistration inspection and then finally my registration certificate. It actually cost me nothing to register because I got a start up grant of £400? which covered the expenses involved and paid for some new equipment.

I would echo what Counting Pennies said about having to get up early, staying up late, and the disruption to family life if you have school aged children yourself in particular. I childmind a 7 year old boy. This week I had him at 6.30am for 3 days before school, until 10pm one day after school, and for another day after school and through to the next afternoon until 4pm (at least he went to school for some of those hours. It can be hard to find the time to supervise the homework for our 2 elder children. It can be hard to get the house up at 6am in order to be realy to look after this boy. I would recommend being alot firmer than myself in finding out what hours the children are really likely to stay if you are going to offer before and after school child care and charge accordingly for the unsocial hours. Just be careful you don't get taken advantage of when doing more unsocial hours than other childminders are able to offer.

I would also echo the comments about the children who spend long hours away from their own parents - they do indeed tend to act differently in terms of poor social interaction and poor manners which I try to help with.

I have had loads of enquiries despite me advertising that I do only part-time hours.

I would really try and concentrate on taking on children from your own children's school too - the 7 year old I have goes to a different school and we have a 20 minute rush between schools to do which is no fun at all.

Good luck

Bernadette

BernadetteN

I am currently childminding part-time as I am on unpaid maternity leave as a civil servant.

It took me 10 months from requesting a first seminar (obligatory in Kent) to doing the ICP (introduction to childminding practice) course, the paediatric first aid course, the CRB and Social Services checks, the medical questionnaire, the reigistration inspection and then finally my registration certificate. It actually cost me nothing to register because I got a start up grant of £400? which covered the expenses involved and paid for some new equipment.

I would echo what Counting Pennies said about having to get up early, staying up late, and the disruption to family life if you have school aged children yourself in particular. I childmind a 7 year old boy. This week I had him at 6.30am for 3 days before school, until 10pm one day after school, and for another day after school and through to the next afternoon until 4pm (at least he went to school for some of those hours. It can be hard to find the time to supervise the homework for our 2 elder children. It can be hard to get the house up at 6am in order to be realy to look after this boy. I would recommend being alot firmer than myself in finding out what hours the children are really likely to stay if you are going to offer before and after school child care and charge accordingly for the unsocial hours. Just be careful you don't get taken advantage of when doing more unsocial hours than other childminders are able to offer.

I would also echo the comments about the children who spend long hours away from their own parents - they do indeed tend to act differently in terms of poor social interaction and poor manners which I try to help with.

I have had loads of enquiries despite me advertising that I do only part-time hours.

I would really try and concentrate on taking on children from your own children's school too - the 7 year old I have goes to a different school and we have a 20 minute rush between schools to do which is no fun at all.

Good luck

Bernadette