Starting childminding

[aussie80]

Hi,

 

I'm looking at my options for when i finish my maternity leave and one of them is to start childminding. I'm just looking for information about childminding and if any of you have been there and started your own childminding service.......was it hard for you to start up? did you find that there was a need for a childminder in your area? I am worried that i'll decide to do it but wont have anyone to look after.

 

also is there anyone out there around the S5 area that is after a childminder? am interested to see if there is a need for another one in the area. What price would you consider resonable or what do you pay now if you have one already? does this price include food, nappies etc?

 

any help on this would be greatfully appreciated.

trish

[Zebra]

I did my course whilst on leave but I haven't registered with Ofsted yet. I'm still considering a few other options at the moment.

Some advice I got was to contact the young childrens service and get a list of childminders in your area. It gives you an idea of cost per hour, competition in the local area and so on.

Also you need to check out your alternate competition, the nurserys and creches and so on in the area, I work in S6 at the moment so I know there's a large childcare provision at the moment in a not too wealthy area. So you might want to target a more wealthy area nearby.

You could also join forces with other childminders and form a co-operative maybe?

To my knowledge and training, most people charge between £2.50 and £3.85 an hour, some include food, some don't, no one includes nappies that I know of.

The initial cost is around £200 - £300 for the safety equipment, plus the actual training, insurance and toys, games, books craft and equipment.

I'm considering doing overnight emergency care for social services eventually but I have irons in the fire elsewhere.

[madpat]

Hi

 

If you're interested in talking to childminders in your area, to answer some of your questions, I suggest you contact Children's Information Services and ask for a list of local childminding groups. Go along to a group - all the groups I know are really friendly and would welcome you. Childminders meet with their children to do activities together and to support each other. The group I attend in Firth Park welcomes people interested in childminding and we have invited people who are interested in childminding. If you came along it would also give you a bit of an idea what the job's like.

Hope this is helpful.