Pros and cons of being a childminder...

Tom_Saunders

Crap pay = Nonsense.

My wife charge £4 per hour, today she had 3 children for 9 hours each. If £108 for one day is crap pay then I'm on drugs.

It is a wonderful job.

All oour parents sign contracts, they ALL pay in advance by DD and all know if they don't pa then the kids don't play.

My wife will earn approx £10,000 Gross this year and this will mean she nets approx £5,500. (Therefore no tax).

She starts at 8, finsihes at 5 and doesn't work Friday, Saturday or sunday.

I do all of her accounts and so long as you keep decent records of expenditure it's fairly straight forward. Today we had two under 1's a boy and girl (with speical permission from Ofsted), we also had a 18 month old, plus our two boys from 4pm.

It's very rewarding, extremly upsetting when they leave to go to school and so long as your kids can handle sharing it's cool. Your house isn't your own but if she was out at work who would pick the kids up and make my dinner ?

However starting a business can be difficult, people like to have references from previous parents and for this we are obviously lucky. I say we, I am a full time postman, it takes time to get it going but 2 years in I have to say it's the best move ever.

Tom_Saunders

Crap pay = Nonsense.

My wife charge £4 per hour, today she had 3 children for 9 hours each. If £108 for one day is crap pay then I'm on drugs. It isn't this busy every day but that's only becuase she / we don't want it to be.

It is a wonderful job.

All oour parents sign contracts, they ALL pay in advance by DD and all know if they don't pa then the kids don't play.

My wife will earn approx £10,000 Gross this year and this will mean she nets approx £5,500. (Therefore no tax).

She starts at 8, finsihes at 5 and doesn't work Friday, Saturday or sunday.

I do all of her accounts and so long as you keep decent records of expenditure it's fairly straight forward. Today we had two under 1's a boy and girl, we also had a 18 month old, plus our two boys from 4pm.

It's very rewarding, extremly upsetting when they leave to go to school and so long as your kids can handle sharing it's cool. Your house isn't your own but if she was out at work who would pick the kids up and make my dinner ?

However starting a business can be difficult, people like to have references from previous parents and for this we are obviously lucky. I say we, I am a full time postman, it takes time to get it going but 2 years in I have to say it's the best move ever.

troll35

I have been childminding for 12 years. Most of the ups and downs have been covered. My advise would be don't give up your current job until you have some children to care for. I think that those running the training for prospective childminders don't emphasize enough that despite the fact that there would appear to be a demand for childminding places in your area it can still take a while for your details to be passed to parents in need by the Childcare Information people.
Trust your gut instincts - if a child comes on a visit and runs mayhem through your home he/she will no doubt get worse as they settle in. Just because you have a vacancy it doesn't mean that you have to accept anyone. Try and get children/parents through recommendation.
Get yourself known at toddler groups. Not only can they be a good source of customer but they are also some welcome adult company in what can be a very demanding job.
If you can put 20% of your income into a high interest account. This will mean you will have sufficient to cover any tax/NI when you fill in your tax return.
Join the NCMA, they supply you with booklets that will help you keep on top of all your paperwork.
The NCMA's home insurance is very good and competitively priced.
Many car insurers don't charge any extra for business cover. Over the last few years we have had cover with Direct Line, Norwich Union and Esure and none have charged extra (Schedule clearly states for my business use). Other childminders I know have recommended the NCMA's car insurance.

If you currently have a good childminder then don't be afraid to ask her advise (if you feel you can). I helped one of my parents throught the registration process. Whilst I knew I was losing the income from her I was lucky to have parents waiting for me to have places become available.

Lastly I decide when and how much holiday I am taking at the beginning of each year (7 weeks). There is no negotiation, parents have at least 3 months notice of my holiday, which I view as ample time for them to make other arrangements. Most of my holiday is in school holidays so I can enjoy time with my son and husband.

Good Luck, it can be the most rewarding of careers.

Tom_Saunders

The above is excellent advice.

Spendless

"Also, why should I knock my pan in so you can stay home with your kids! - I really don't understand this remark".

I don't understand what it 'means' either. What does the phrase 'knock my pan in' mean I've guessed what is being implied

What I would say though is I've had a few different childminders say to me "I started this job as it was a way of earning whilst being at home with my kids, I had no wish to put mine in childcare"

and I always think, don't tell me this when you are providing childcare, just tell me that you adore children and can't think of anything you'd enjoy more.

The childminders that have said this to me, I've known for years, before they started minding, and perhaps they've just said this to me and not to prospective customers.

Rachie_B

I am in the process of becoming a registered childminder,started the ICP course last week

for me the biggest plus is being in control ,as you are self employed its you who sets fees,you can decide what activities / outings you will do ,what times you will / wont work til etc,what holidays you will take

also of course being there for your own children is a big plus point

downsides

house maybe not being treated in the way you / your own children do house isnt you own lol
the paperwork

kelloggs36

It depends on demand a lot. I was a registered Childminder for 2 years before I went back to college to train to be a teacher. The problem I found was lack of work so the pay was totally crap. Some weeks were great when I was full, but often familes' circumstances change and despite having a contract, if they don't want to pay their notice, there isn't much you can do without the huge risk of losing out even more if you take it to small claims court. Other times were very lean, I had only a couple of children before and after school only and I was not earning very much at all.

When I did it, I was assured that there was a shortage of childminders, but there was also a great shortage of children which cancelled any benefits out!!

Ofsted inspect your home and look at the tiniest little things in the name of health and safety - mostly good, but they do get over zealous sometimes.

amandada

charlotte664 wrote:

Also, why should I knock my pan in so you can stay home with your kids! - I really don't understand this remark. I am not thinking of becoming a childminder so I can have an easy life. I would be leaving a job which pays very well (but still not enought to pay for 2 kids in full time care
and have plenty of money left over at the end of the month) to get paid rather poorly (please see other posts from other MSErs). In few years time when my youngest child would go to school and I would return to an office job I would very likey find it difficult to get employed in a well paid job but I think I am willing to take that chance. Furthermore looking after someone else's child is an enormous responsibility and not something to be taken ligthly

I think that this was meant to be a tongue in cheek comment rather than a knock or slight upon your suggestion in anyway!

EEK!! Yes it was meant to be tongue in cheek! I didn't reply last night as I was at work!

What the OP said about an evening job-why not explore this further? I work evenings and nights so I'm at home in the day and dh is home at night when I go to work.
To me it's the best of both worlds, I'm there during the day with my ds and for my dd coming in from school, but I can then go out to work at night for a bit of a break (yes work's a break these days!)

I'd never belittle the work a childminder does-mine is worth her weight in gold, and she does a job which I could NEVER contemplate doing!

Rachie_B

kelloggs36 wrote:

It depends on demand a lot. I was a registered Childminder for 2 years before I went back to college to train to be a teacher. The problem I found was lack of work so the pay was totally crap. Some weeks were great when I was full, but often familes' circumstances change and despite having a contract, if they don't want to pay their notice, there isn't much you can do without the huge risk of losing out even more if you take it to small claims court. Other times were very lean, I had only a couple of children before and after school only and I was not earning very much at all.

When I did it, I was assured that there was a shortage of childminders, but there was also a great shortage of children which cancelled any benefits out!!

Ofsted inspect your home and look at the tiniest little things in the name of health and safety - mostly good, but they do get over zealous sometimes.

yes you hear about that a lot

People who are registered but cant get any children to look after !!!! It can take months before you have your first mindees

Thats why its important you dont give up a job expecting to start childminding straight away and unfortunately it doesnt always happen like that

hatsepsovet

amandada wrote:

EEK!! Yes it was meant to be tongue in cheek! I didn't reply last night as I was at work!

What the OP said about an evening job-why not explore this further? I work evenings and nights so I'm at home in the day and dh is home at night when I go to work.
To me it's the best of both worlds, I'm there during the day with my ds and for my dd coming in from school, but I can then go out to work at night for a bit of a break (yes work's a break these days!)

I'd never belittle the work a childminder does-mine is worth her weight in gold, and she does a job which I could NEVER contemplate doing!

I did look into this option but my hubby's job can be quite unpredictable. He's away quite often overnight, sometimes few nights in a row so it really isn't an option.

I really want to thank everyone for your replies. You have given me absolutely fantastic advice.