Want to do something worthwhile - childminding maybe

[Mrs Doddy]

Am fed up with my job. Its a thankless one and all I seem to do is pick up everyone elses crap and deal with shitty people, its getting me down and I don't really like the people I work with.

Theres not much point doing anything until after I have a baby (unless it doesn't happen) and have been thinking about what I want to do. I would love to be self employed only answer to myself but am scared to do that and I am not very good with stress and ultimately the buck stops with me if I was the boss. I love kids and thought about becoming a childminder. I could do a course in the evenings or while on maternity leave and this would easily work round a baby and give them some company.

Has anyone done this and how did you get your clients ??

 

[BabyHaines]

I'm thinking about this too!! Is there anyone out there with any advice??xxxx

 

[LankyDoodle]

I have always wanted to childmind, but I have always worked with children. I did my degree in child psych and education, working as a nanny alongside (and then a year full time nannying after my degree). Then I trained as a teacher. I now work in a children's home and with children with disabilities. I always said that when I have babies I will childmind.

What you have to do is contact your local council and ask for an information pack to be sent out, which will include a list of pre-reg meetings. You have to attend a pre-reg meeting before you can register (mine is on friday am). Then you have to do a short course accredited by your local council (and all councils and ofsted) and do first aid (paediatric) and food hygeine and start the registration process. Ofsted come and inspect your house, tell you what you need to do to make it child-proof in terms of childminding, and give you an amount of children you can mind. The process takes between 3 and 6 months.

I have had some second thoughts because childminding tends to be 8-6 (so longer than normal office hours), with other people's children in your home, taking your attention away from your own child. Not all children are brought up to have the same respect for other people's belongings that you would expect of them, and you have lots of rules, guidelines and regulations to follow. Once you account for wear and tare, extra utility costs, training costs, toys etc, it isn't a massive income. However, if your heart is in it then I believe, like nannying, it's really worthwhile.

 

[Abigailly]

My mum is a childminder and I'm qualified as her 'assistant' in case I'm needed.

In Scotland - you send off for a pack, then you have to go to a pre registration course, you begin your registration. People will come out and check your house over etc. You have to be disclosed, if anyone in your family has a criminal past it won't be easy.

As for the last paragraph from Carrie, it is hard work, but not costly. You will be in either band 1 or band 2. and 2 you get a lot more money! Wear and tear, toys, start up costs, training costs, ane equipment can all be claimed back to a certain extent. Also you can claim a percentage of your overheads e.g. heating depending on how many hours you do.

Its not incredible pay - £4 an hour is about average, but that is per child. Mum has 3 under school age and 2 after schoolers some days. so is earning £11 an hour during the day when she has the 3 little ones as 2 of them are siblings so she gives their family a discount.

You can also go about your daily routine to an extent, the kids favourite outing is shopping - on a Monday morning they sit down and make up a menu for the week, Monday afternoon they go to the supermarket and get things on the menu and mum does her shop.