Hello and welcome back to my page, I hope you all are doing well and surviving!
I have officially been a childminder for 6 months and in such a small amount of time so much has changed I have opened and partially closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Though I was initially sad that I would have to close and not see my children again, I know its important for everyone to stay at home and when we resume some sense of normality things will go back to normal. It is such an uncertain and strange time for us all but I live in hope that things will get better and in the meantime I will continue to enjoy the free time, though I do find the days seem to go by so quickly. I have also realised I have not shared much about myself and my space, so though this post is going to be about 10 things I have learned since becoming a childminder I am also currently writing another blog post dedicated to all about me and my space which should be uploaded soon (I am definately feeling motivated to write this week, I hope it lasts!).
So, as I mentioned this post is all about things I have learned since I started my journey as a Childminder, some of the things I cover are things I believe are important to think about especially if you are just starting out or thinking about becoming a childminder. I am only 6 months in and I am learning new things all the time, I just wanted to share my own top 10 tips that I hope you find useful.
1.Financial Security
A job like childminding gives you lots of flexibility, especially with the hours and days you chose work. However, once you fill your spaces there is no guarantee they will be full for long for so many different reasons. A child may move houses, go to nursery, parent may not need childcare anymore etc. You are self-employed, if you are not working for any reason you will not be paid – most childminders do not charge for their own sick days, holidays, bank holidays and or closures. As I write this we are going through a pandemic and many childminders are not working and therefore may not be getting paid however, this is an unprecedented time! (Also, I must mention you write your own contracts and if you want to be paid for holidays, closures etc this is something both you and the parents have to agree to). It is a risk working for yourself but honestly if your numbers are full the financial benefits are there (I know so many childminders who are full with very long waiting lists!). You also get to chose if you want to do wrap around care, depending on your space and insurance you can have up to 10/12 children before and after school!
I should also mention parents like childminders more because of the flexible hours we have. So, unless you state you want specific hours, sessions and or a number of days minimum parents will book in only those speciific hours they need.
Flexibility to suit parents needs is definately one of the strongest selling points a childminder has.
2. Own Boss
It is such a great feeling working for yourself, you are in charge of every decision you make. You work to your own comfort zones and will not have someone to answer to each day! Having this independence brings a lot of job satisfaction, you will feel motivated and have the freedom to pursue your own ideas. Though it can get lonely working by yourself with no adult company, however, that can be easily changed by arranging playdates especially with other childminders, going to playgroups meeting friends etc.
3. VERY different to working in any other setting
If you have already worked in a childcare setting or have children, you may be surprised at how different and hard it is looking after a small number of children. You may not get children that are similar ages, you will have children with different needs, you will have to do all the work yourself whereas in other settings they are shared by members of staff. It is nonstop and the only time you may get to put your feet up is when they are sleeping! (all at the same time, if you are lucky). You will be multi-tasking like you have never done before!
4. Relationship with families
The relationships you develop with families is so much more intense than the relationships you form with parents if you are working in any other childcare setting. This is because you are in touch with parents from the very first interaction, be it a phone call, an email and so on, and then it is your responsibility to sell yourself and your setting. Parents need to feel comfortable leaving their child with you, so its important to build that trust from the get go!
5. What kind of Childminder do you want to be?
This is an important one as it will go onto define your working philosophy, we are a home from home setting. Some childminders work from their living room and some have a dedicated playroom. You could call it a mini nursery but again it is your choice to work how you wish, a lot of us have space to consider too and may not be able to have a dedicated playroom and that is fine. However, you must follow the EYFS framework and be able to demonstrate to Ofsted how you are meeting the needs of the children in your care.
You also need to consider if you want to be paper based or online, both have pros and cons. There are so many different varieties online now so do your research and see which one works for you. The main advantage of being online is having everything in one place. On the other hand if you want to be paper based that’s perfectly fine (I am!). You will have more admin to do and if you keep learning journeys that requires more work. Learning journeys are not an Ofsted requirement, and neither are daily diaries – however they are lovely things to do and I know parents love looking through their child’s learning journey and receiving their daily diary.
6. When to buy your resources?
Please do not make the mistake of buying all your resources as you are setting up, you will not know the ages of the children in your care as it can be so varied. You may have all babies or a mix of ages that you need to cater too, you are fine to start small and build up your resources based on their interests. Also remember interests change as children grow and you will need to adapt to this. Rotating toys and activities can be great and I find having less toys out means they actually play with what I set up. Of course, when you have your pre-registration your inspector will ask you about your resources but, you are fine to mention what you are planning to buy, that is what I did. I think the main reason they ask you about resources is to check your EYFS knowledge.
7. Bargain hunting
I always used to buy my books from charity shops but honestly since becoming a childminder I find such amazing buys from charity shops for a fraction of the price. It is always handy to go for a browse occasionally as you will never know what you find or may be useful later. Another great place to buy bargains from is Facebook marketplace, you will find most items in good condition much cheaper that buying the item full price from a shop or online.
8. How long does it take to be a Childminder?
It can take upto 12 weeks or even longer depending on how busy Ofsted inspectors are and if you have submitted everything required. There is a long list of things you have to do so my advice is to be organised and make a list, you will be required to do a first aid course, get a health declaration, DBS and most likely be required to complete an EYFS introductory course for Childminders. You also have to be mindful of how long the health declaration is valid (I think 6 months?). It is time comsuming and a long process but, you can get organised as soon as you decide to be a childminder and start completing things off the checklist as soon as possible. There is lots to research, Pacey, Childcare and childminding UK all have lots of information on their webites, you can also email Ofsted with any questions you may have!
9. Paperwork
As a childminder you must follow Ofsted Local authority’s guidelines when it comes to what statutory paperwork you must have. This includes registers, accident, incident, medicine forms, safeguarding and complaints policies, trackers etc. However, anything else is entirely up to you and the polices you wish to keep that work for your business. Such as late fee policy, medicine policy, lost child policy and so on. It is especially important for parents to know what your policies are, it is also a way they get to know you and the rules of your setting.
Like I mentioned earlier, you are not required to have stuff like learning journeys, or do daily diaries and daily written risk assessments so the paperwork honestly isn’t a lot, Ofsted actually want childminders to have less paperwork to do and focus on the education we are offering the children in our care!
10. Working with other Childminders
Childminding can be lonely, at the end of the day if you are working by yourself you will spend most of your day surrounded by little ones! Nevertheless, on the plus side the online childminding community is fantastic, you will be supported by your Local authority and hopefully get to meet other lovely childminders in your area. Some childminders arrange playdates, go on trips, playgroups -great for children to socialise with other children! Additionally, if you want to expand your business you can hire up to two assistants or even work alongside a childminder.
I absolutely love being a childminder and running my own little business, I would not change it for the world. Being my own boss, endless fun, and laughter, making memories and building relationships with families – it is such a rewarding job, not the easiest as some people may think. It is hard work especially if you are working by yourself, you have to manage your own paperwork, plan and set up activities, be in charge of the day to day running of your setting, updating your CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and so on. It is a job where you need passion, dedication and a sense of humour! 😊
I hope you enjoyed reading my top 10, please let me know what you think or if you think I have missed any points that you would add?
Love
Sammi xxx
Bluebells Childminding 