Hi Ladies,

As most have you have probably guesses or know, I will be registered very shortly (crbs have all been completed, just waiting for the Ofsted cert.)
and I need your help trying to establish whats important when parents make decisions about child care...

Can you please look at below and answer questions and put what area of sheffield you live in. I am trying to figure out how much I should charge as I am planning a lot of activities but I don't want to price myself out of the market.

Cost - how much are you prepared to pay per hour, meals included or pay for meals/packed lunch
Quality of food, would you pay more if you knew the quality of food would be better, for example, some home grown, fresh baked bread and using free range eggs?
More local trips - libraries, farms, parks - would you pay more per hour if you knew that local trips would be included.
Types of activities - would you pay more if there was a greater range on offer, out door play area, gardening, baking, I am learning makaton and also have a music diploma so could offer music lessons as part of the price and lots of books. I want to offer more than just toys and tv. I want children to get stuck into making and experiencing things. (I have bought a lot of trugs so children can have their own mini garden to grow things)
Is multicultural activities important to you when looking for a childminder?


Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!!!
P.s I am in Gleadless Valley, so very interested in replies from people living/lived here :)

i think everything you say shows you will be a fantastic childminder, i love my childminder to bits and she has become a friend over the last 18 months not just a childminder. I pay £30 a day from 7 till 6 meals included she feeds my 4 year old anything from homemade spag bol to beans on toast somedays infact most days she stays in and they play inside and do different things inside may be baking etc. She does the local scool runs and in the holidays thats when she does day trips not in term time as such apart fron she goes to the wacky warehouse 1 morning but she is brill and she loves my daughter to bits and thyat what counts to me that it's not just a job she realy cares about her kids and goes that extra mile for them.From what you say i think you may be worried about trying to hard, just but some basics in to plsn and see hoe you go with the 1st kids you get then you will work around them. I think the free rangfe egg thing is good but to be honesti have never questioned the products my chilminder uses in her food. I have my trust in her and thats what counts good luck and you sound like you will be fantastic. I live in Swallownest also.

Hi Joi5ey

We've just started using a childminder for our 2 girls. She charges £3 an hour each. If it was evident that the service offered was of greater quality than the norm, I'd happily pay more (though I think £6 an hour for siblings is enougth). I think the music qualification is a huge plus, for instance. Regarding the multicultural aspects, I 'm not convinced it would be that crucial to most families - I guess it's a question of relevancy. My OH is from Mauritius, so it would be a bonus to us . . .

Where is Gleadless Valley? We live around Ecclesall Rd and our current childminder can only give us a contract till the end of the year so we're trying to get something sorted. My OH has just started an access course at Sheffield college and I have the car and work over night till around 10 am so you would have to collect some days when I'm not around, and drop off if I'm working - around %50 of the time. Is this of any interest, or are we too far away? I guess you may be wanting work sooner . . .

Anyhow, get in touch if it's of any interest. The girls are 1 1/2 and 3.

Thanks for the replies Ladies,

I am worried about trying too hard but I need to make this work as I will be giving up a well paid job in order to mind. However I think the long term benefits to our family will be invaluable :)

Keep the thoughts coming :)

Thanks for the replies Ladies,

I'm a Lady! Either I better get down the Dr's quick, or joi5ey's making certain assumptions. ;)

Hiya, hope these answers help:

Cost - I wouldn't want to paying more than I would at a nursery and probably a bit less but I'm not sure of the kind of charges per hour you would be thinking of. For me it would probably be easier if the childminder provided meals but I wouldn't mind supplying a pack up.

Quality of food - I would prefer free range eggs but other than that I would be happy for my child to eat supermarket produce. I personally wouldn't want to pay a lot more for things like home made bread etc.

More local trips and Types of activities - I would pay more for my child to go to a childminder that offered activities and trips. I suppose that I would expect any childminder to offer some activities and trips though as a norm.

Is multicultural activities important to you when looking for a childminder? - I wouldn't say it would be on my list of criteria when choosing childcare but I think it's great that you are thinking about it and if you were to include things like this I would see it as a bonus.

I've looked at your website and read your posts on here and I think you will make a great childminder. I may need childcare soon (have a job interview this week) so I will bear you in mind. I forgot to say the only problem I would have with a childminder would be pets. I saw on your website that you have a cat and I am allergic to them. I also think the hair would probably aggrivate my sons eczema as it does mine. I'm not saying that childminders shouldn't have pets (my childminder when I was little had dogs and I loved going there becuase of that) just that it may mean that you are not an option for some people.

Sorry Chinaski, I am making assumptions ;)

in that case, Thanks Ladies and Gents :)

Corbyn - I do realise having a cat is going to be a problem for some people, however, I take preventative measures to alleviate the hair issue. Felix is mostly out during the day, we have leather settees and laminate flooring so they do not harbour hair. I have a dyson hoover which is great at picking up any hair on the floor, I hoover and mop every day. I also damp dust as I have been led to believe that this is better for eczema sufferers. If you are allergic though then I totally understand. I just wanted to answer your concerns in case others are reading.
(all cat things are kept in my bedroom which is not accessed by minded children, i.e litter tray, food and water bowls)

Please keep replying people :)