Childminders? Help!

[winegirl]

Right, I am getting myself well worked up about childcare.. here is the dillemma...

At the moment Isabelle goes to a private nursery, has done since she was 8 months old. David drops her off at 07.30 am 47 days a week (she is off with David on a Thursday) and I pick her up in the evening.

Sp far with placements I have been very lucky, and in fact the one I start next week is Mon-Fri 9-5pm and no bacnk holidays as it is in the community.

However, I will have at least 2 ward placements coming up end of this year and next year. Previously I have beeb very lucky that staff have let me do mid-shifts or earlies, but I know that I am gonna get some matron bitch who makes me work what hours she tells me.

Now there is only David and I for Isabelle's care, no family or friends around to help out, and Isabelle starts school in January. David has to leave here at 07.30 every morning and is often not back till 20.30 at night. So Im wondering if anyone has any advice on childminders?

Will they work flexibly? i.e a few months of the year, sometimes 07.30am and sometimes till 19.30 at night?

[Weeble]

Hi WG

something I know about

I have had two great childminders both my sons are happy with them, S thinks of her as his second grandma. I have found my childminders to be very flexible and cost effective, however, it does come down to the individual minder and the demand and supply in your area. Both my childminders have over time taken the kids early and will keep them if we are stuck, my current one has even picked the kids up from nursery when we have had an emergency.

I dont know about your local area, but our council runs a website with details of all the available childminders etc. My experience with choosing one is go with you instinct and recommendation. We have been happy with ours because they had the same laid back values as us to it did not feel like a conflict leaving our children there.

The other option we have round here is after school club which runs 7.30 to 18.30 dont know if that is any good or you have one.

Kat

[winegirl]

Hi Kat

Thanks for that! Yes I think I will have to have a scout around on the child minder front.. She starts school in January but the before and after school clubs dont start till08.00 and finish at 18.00.. so would need a childminder to drop her off and pick her up.. as I say, the problem comes when it may only be for three months of the year and only on odd days.. not exactly a great contract!

Thanks for the advice Kat, think I will start looking around xxx

[monica]

Hi

Check out ofsted site as they register childminders and I believe have list of them.

I've been using our for over 10 years. She is very flexible and has them both early am and late into the evening on occasions as well as weekends. But not all of them are so flexible, so you just have to talk to them individually. If it's only for a few months they may well be more flexible during that period.

Good luck

Monica