Research on finding a nursery / childminder

katskorner

If you have five minutes please can you give me your responses to these questions:

Assuming you need to find a nursery or childminder place.

1. What information sources would you use to find a nursery or childminder?

2. What type of information would you want to help you choose?

3. How long would you be prepared to spend on researching a nursery or child minder?

4. How would you go about researching a nursery or childminder?

5. Would you refer back to the same information if it was available via the internet? If so, how useful would you find this?


Thanks everyone. I need to collate some answers within the next week to help me with a new project I am undertaking.

Mado

There is a very good website https://www.childcarelink.gov.uk, that really gives out usefull info in your area.
And if you call them they will send you a search of who has got space in a given area.
The rest is up to parents. Keep looking until you are happy. Read the Ofsted report.

Found my childminder without looking... she is a Mum at the scholl so I really saw her with kids before she had my precious!

Savvy_Sue

katskorner wrote:

1. What information sources would you use to find a nursery or childminder?

Internet, Ofsted (would have been Social Services when I was actually in the market but it's now Ofsted AFAIK), other parents, other 'umbrella' groups.

katskorner wrote:

2. What type of information would you want to help you choose?

Qualifications, charges, facilities, outings, policies, 'gut feeling', other parents recommendations, location, public transport if not within walking distance.

katskorner wrote:

3. How long would you be prepared to spend on researching a nursery or child minder?

Depends how long I've got! How desperate I am! Started looking into local state nursery when my eldest was 2, used friends before that (they were in some cases registered childminders but it was 'favour-based' rather than a paid arrangement.) But if a childminder let me down at short notice - as one once did! - I'd be looking to find a new one within a week.

katskorner wrote:

4. How would you go about researching a nursery or childminder?

Phone and ask for details, arrange a visit.

katskorner wrote:

5. Would you refer back to the same information if it was available via the internet? If so, how useful would you find this?

Probably, and probably very. I always lose bits of paper, and it's useful to be able to refer to things again on the computer. But I might not want to pay to do this!

The site Mado refers to is useful.

Squidgy

Hi katskorner

1. I can't remember who I contacted, but they sent me a list of all available childcare in my area, think I got the number from a surestart booklet from the health visitor.

2. Price, number of children to a class/per staff member etc, whats included ie meals, milk etc, what their rules are on behaviour etc.

3. After looking through the options I would definately visit and I prefer to go unannounced although you do have to give an approximate time usually. So it's dependant on the number of visits you have to do really.

4. I usually check out the OFSTED reports online, and also ask around.

5. as above, I found it very useful.

HTH
Squidgy

Pinky9

I am a registered childminder and have found that it is essential once you have found all the information you need, that you chat on the phone and make at least one visit.

From the other side of the coin, it is so important that you can build a good trusting relationship with the carer of your child so that you can feel confident in leaving your child with them and that you child is happy with your choice. It is also important that your childminder likes you - it can be really difficult if you find it difficult to relate to mummy or daddy.

Also, I would be mortified if a prospective parent just turned up on my doorstep unannounced for 2 reasons. Firstly, as a Registered Childminder you have to be very careful whom you invite into your house - so strangers can be difficult and chatting on the doorstep is not really on, and secondly, especially if you care for children with special needs or as in my case a child who screams the place down when anyone new shows up, it is hardly a suitable atmosphere to get to know a new child.

Once you have made your decision, I would recommend a trial couple of visits to make sure it's going to work - sometimes it just doesn't!

The very best of luck in your hunt for childcare, there are many fabulous childminders out there who I am sure would be very happy to look after your child.

Pinky x

katskorner

Pinky9 wrote:

I am a registered childminder and have found that it is essential once you have found all the information you need, that you chat on the phone and make at least one visit.

From the other side of the coin, it is so important that you can build a good trusting relationship with the carer of your child so that you can feel confident in leaving your child with them and that you child is happy with your choice. It is also important that your childminder likes you - it can be really difficult if you find it difficult to relate to mummy or daddy.

Also, I would be mortified if a prospective parent just turned up on my doorstep unannounced for 2 reasons. Firstly, as a Registered Childminder you have to be very careful whom you invite into your house - so strangers can be difficult and chatting on the doorstep is not really on, and secondly, especially if you care for children with special needs or as in my case a child who screams the place down when anyone new shows up, it is hardly a suitable atmosphere to get to know a new child.

Once you have made your decision, I would recommend a trial couple of visits to make sure it's going to work - sometimes it just doesn't!

The very best of luck in your hunt for childcare, there are many fabulous childminders out there who I am sure would be very happy to look after your child.

Pinky x

Brilliant information and thanks for the time you have taken.

I need to let everyone know that the reason for me posting these questions is not because I am searching for childcare - I have a brilliant childminder.

I am embarking on a project to assist local nurseries in their marketing and various other things so I need these questions answering as part of my market research for this project.

So if more people are able to find a little time to answer the questions I posed then I really really would appreciate your help!

Thanks!

Squidgy

Sorry Pinky, I think you misunderstood. I didn't mean turning up completely unannounced. In my experience it has been ok to say a day and perhaps whether it would be morning and afternoon, but nothing else.

Regards
Squidgy

Pinky9

Squidgy - yep misunderstood! Sorry! As you say - a rough idea ie morning or afternoon is always acceptable - I always try to work around the parents needs as it is difficult for them sometimes with school/playschool/work etc to juggle.

Pinky x

Squidgy

That's ok.

The last thing I would want is to turn up and everythings perfect - that's just not natural!!!

Twinkle_Mitchell

Hi,
1. I used the following: local library resources, childcare link, childcare co-ordinator provided by employer, friends recommendations, yellow pages, local paper.
2. I went mainly by intution when I visited the placement. Also, I took into account the general reputation of the nursery, also looked at Ofsted reports.
3. As long as it took to find a place that I was happy to leave my child in. I visited about a dozen places and researched a whole lot more!
4. I chose the ones I thought were appropriate, phoned round them all (which narrowed them down), then visited them, looked at Ofsted reports and asked around. The ones I was left with matched all the criteria I had listed including: good leisure facilities, good reputation, plenty of space, availability for my child to attend on the days I wanted, trained staff, good dining facilities and right price.
5. Yes and would be very helpful
Hope this helps,
Twinkle

HappySad

I looked on the internet for local nurseries, ofsted reports and I also asked the mums in the local mother and toddler groups. I made my short list based on location, word of mouth and ofsted report and visited about 5 nurseries. I choose the one that fitted most of me & my son's needs. I also visited my choosen nursery twice and called the owner to ask more questions.

Try to think of all the things that is needed to look after your child, to develope him/her, make him/her happy and safe. Ask around and see why other parents choose their nursery and this will help you to expand on your list of question for the nursery.

When I looked round the nursery I asked loads and loads of questions and asked to look at everythimg. They where all happy to answer my questions and show me around.

The amount of time spent was not my main concern.. it was choosing a good place no matter how long it took. I would suggest that you start to look for one at least 1 year in advanced, to give you plenty of time to search and also to make sure you get a place when you have choosen one.

It look me about 3months to choose the nursery. I spent a couple of hours each week researching on the internet, reading leaflets from the library and asking around. I then knew roughly what I was looking for. I then visited the nurseries armed with a printout of my questions.

I would not send my son to a nursery that has "satisfactory" or "poor" in its ofsted report. It had to be "Good" or "very Good".

There was one nursery that was linked to my local gym. I was shown round and I asked my questions.... I was impressed by what I heard and saw. BUT when I looked at the Ofsted report they has all their areas listed as "poor". So I will not be using this nursery.

You have to decide what is important. For me location->walking distance, ofsted, safety, development, education, play, social skills were all important. You may want long care hours or the location may be near to work. You might want to volunteer at the nursery so that you are with your child more. You may want to prepare your child for public school. You may want one that is religious. Take your time to make your list of what you are looking for. Know what you must have and what you would like to have.

I have choosed my nursery and my son starts in September when he is 24months. He is a happy & confident little soul and I know that he will be OK being away from his parents for a few hours a day for 3days a week. I still have a few more questions to ask this nursery about potty training and i know they will welcome my call. Other mums are very happy with this nursery. The only thing that they do not provide is adequate out door play area. But I live next door to a great park and I can take my son their every day or so. I am also investing in a good garden play system (swing , climbing frame & slide) so my child's physical needs will be meet at home.


The websites I used are
http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/childcare/choose_checklist.shtml
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/foragegroup/0to3years/choosingchildcare/
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/childcare/available_playgroups.shtml


Good Luck
HappySad