New Childminder

[sandra070475]

Hi there

I only got my registration late april and went on the cis site early may.

I am based in Eastwood notts and have only just started getting some adverts around. Is there any more tips and how did you all find childminding when you first started ?

Thanks
San

[babbs]

Hi San

Don't be surprised if you feel scared when you first start. I was really worried the night before my first child started but it went fine and now I look forward to new children starting.

I put adverts in my local shops and post office and also went around a local business park asking if I could leave leaflets for their recruitment officer in case they had people going for jobs who also needed childcare. I got one enquiry that way. Most companies were happy to let me leave leaflets.

Good luck hope you get some enquiries soon. Must dash my 3 arriving soon!

Barbara

[pauline]

Hi Sandra,

Welcome!

Barbara is right, it is quite daunting when you first start minding but after a while it will become the norm!

People soon get to know you when they see you out and about with several children and you can often fill vacancies by word of mouth. Always let it be known that you are a minder, you never know where a prospective new parent might be. You could be chatting to someone in a queue or in the library and they might just be looking for a childminder or know someone who is.

It might be a bit slow at first but soon you will turning people away. I've been minding 22 years and have never been short of children. I only had to advertise for the first few weeks, after that there was a regular stream of phone calls!


Good luck and happy minding!

Pauline

[vicky]

hi sandra,
they are all right it is very daunting. what i did when i first started up was, i made some fliers on the computer and delivered them myself through peoples doors( i got 2 that way), i also put ads up in my local post office, newsagents etc. maybe mention to your local health visitor that you are a childminder. Hope this helps l.o.l vicky

[jamiebec2000]

Hi I also am finding it very slow starting up, I got my registration through end of March and have only managed to find a lovely girl for school holiday and a before and after school from Sept.

For some reason CIS can not put me on the website because of ofsted and ofsted say they have done there bit

Any way nice to know that things pick up eventually, just a bit wary of my 1st ofsted visit do they still come if you have no children to look after?

Cheers Becky

[Pauline]

jamiebec2000 said:

Hi I also am finding it very slow starting up, I got my registration through end of March and have only managed to find a lovely girl for school holiday and a before and after school from Sept.

For some reason CIS can not put me on the website because of ofsted and ofsted say they have done there bit

Any way nice to know that things pick up eventually, just a bit wary of my 1st ofsted visit do they still come if you have no children to look after?

Cheers Becky

Hi Becky and welcome to the Forum

You will probably find that you get lots of work once you are fetching and collecting from school - word soon gets around that you are a childminder!

I would keep on at CIS to get you name on the list as it one of the best places to advertise. If Ofsted say they have done their bit then ask CIS what the problem is.

Re your 1st Ofsted visit - they might put it off if you have no children I know they did for one of my supported childminders. But sometimes different areas seem to have different rules (although they shouldn't!!)

Good luck in your new business.