mandysmonkeys
01-03-2009, 02:59 PM
Just Thought I'd share with you a post I made in a childcare group on facebook................
I know its stating the obvious but childminding is so very different from working within a team in a nursery setting. I will be completely honest and say it is the most challenging early years role I have taken on in the past 10 years.
Although I have only been physically doing the job for a month (training planning and setting up took over a year). The proffession is extremely underated. I have experienced comments like "thats a nice easy job you can still get on with your own routine" and "childminding is just having 1 or 2 extra children in the house" others have said to me poeple don't want you to educate their child, they just need somewhere for a child to stay while they are at work".
Of course all these statments are true but there is so much more involved. A childminder has to adhere to the EYFS welfare requirments the same as any other early years setting, which we all know requires policys, proceedures, long term, medium term, short term and individual planning , we need to be on top of new legislation invovling inclusion, safegaurding children, data protection and so on. I find myself reasearching the net myself to make sure I am covering everything.
Iin a team setting different roles are taken on by different team members. I am in fact the Owner / manager / keyworker / cook / cleaner / administrator and book keeper of Mandy's Monkeys. :)
I have also noticed how little support there is out there for childminders, you need to belong to an organisation like the NCMA for information to be filtered down to you. There are training courses for childminders and first aid is a must. These are difficult to get on too and if you don't belong to the NCMA you wont know about them anyway.
It IS a very rewarding job, being able to spend so much one to one time with a child and watch them develop, learn and secure an attachment to you. There is time to get on with your normal day to day life ~ no where near as much as people think but I have manage to get the washing done, and pick a few bits from the local co op. I have never found the paperwork side of things too daunting and enjoy making decssions, choosing activities and planning the weeks activities. This week George was on nights so I took the children to the Iwade farm shop to see the animals, just a quick RA and we had a very enjoyable hour seeing the animals and feeding the chcikens. Something that can't be a spare of the moment thing in a nursery setting.
Parents choose childminders becasue of the flexibilty most childminders can offer. Hours can be early mornings, into the evenings, shift patterens etc all of which a nursery that opens 8 to 6 don't provide. Childminders can also offer wrap around care and care to older children out of term times. Which is a big benefit for parents who want to keep siblings together. There is a limit to how flexible a childminder can be. Parents have asked if I can pick their children up from different schools to where mine go and sugested I make arrangements for someone else to pick up mine!
Money is also an important issue for parents. Its suprising how many parents first question is "how much do you charge?" whereas in a nursery the first question is what will the child be able to do here? In comparrison most childminders and Nursery charge roughly the same.
I set my prices to the local areas average and I offer discounts and include meals and the toddlar groups we attend in the price to remain competitive. I have been told I am expensive, my top rate is £35.00 for 12 hours care including 3 meals, 2 snacks vertually 1 to 1 care. I don't feel this is expensive at all people pay their cleaners and gardeners more.
This is turning out to be very long post, but I could add so much more. So to conclude, Childminding is a job that can take over your life if you let it and I am sure it is not for everyone, but i am enjoying it, i like being at home, spending time with my little boy, being there for all my kids. Having a flexible routine that is different everyday. Yet doing the job I love and have always loved.......Caring for children.
I know its stating the obvious but childminding is so very different from working within a team in a nursery setting. I will be completely honest and say it is the most challenging early years role I have taken on in the past 10 years.
Although I have only been physically doing the job for a month (training planning and setting up took over a year). The proffession is extremely underated. I have experienced comments like "thats a nice easy job you can still get on with your own routine" and "childminding is just having 1 or 2 extra children in the house" others have said to me poeple don't want you to educate their child, they just need somewhere for a child to stay while they are at work".
Of course all these statments are true but there is so much more involved. A childminder has to adhere to the EYFS welfare requirments the same as any other early years setting, which we all know requires policys, proceedures, long term, medium term, short term and individual planning , we need to be on top of new legislation invovling inclusion, safegaurding children, data protection and so on. I find myself reasearching the net myself to make sure I am covering everything.
Iin a team setting different roles are taken on by different team members. I am in fact the Owner / manager / keyworker / cook / cleaner / administrator and book keeper of Mandy's Monkeys. :)
I have also noticed how little support there is out there for childminders, you need to belong to an organisation like the NCMA for information to be filtered down to you. There are training courses for childminders and first aid is a must. These are difficult to get on too and if you don't belong to the NCMA you wont know about them anyway.
It IS a very rewarding job, being able to spend so much one to one time with a child and watch them develop, learn and secure an attachment to you. There is time to get on with your normal day to day life ~ no where near as much as people think but I have manage to get the washing done, and pick a few bits from the local co op. I have never found the paperwork side of things too daunting and enjoy making decssions, choosing activities and planning the weeks activities. This week George was on nights so I took the children to the Iwade farm shop to see the animals, just a quick RA and we had a very enjoyable hour seeing the animals and feeding the chcikens. Something that can't be a spare of the moment thing in a nursery setting.
Parents choose childminders becasue of the flexibilty most childminders can offer. Hours can be early mornings, into the evenings, shift patterens etc all of which a nursery that opens 8 to 6 don't provide. Childminders can also offer wrap around care and care to older children out of term times. Which is a big benefit for parents who want to keep siblings together. There is a limit to how flexible a childminder can be. Parents have asked if I can pick their children up from different schools to where mine go and sugested I make arrangements for someone else to pick up mine!
Money is also an important issue for parents. Its suprising how many parents first question is "how much do you charge?" whereas in a nursery the first question is what will the child be able to do here? In comparrison most childminders and Nursery charge roughly the same.
I set my prices to the local areas average and I offer discounts and include meals and the toddlar groups we attend in the price to remain competitive. I have been told I am expensive, my top rate is £35.00 for 12 hours care including 3 meals, 2 snacks vertually 1 to 1 care. I don't feel this is expensive at all people pay their cleaners and gardeners more.
This is turning out to be very long post, but I could add so much more. So to conclude, Childminding is a job that can take over your life if you let it and I am sure it is not for everyone, but i am enjoying it, i like being at home, spending time with my little boy, being there for all my kids. Having a flexible routine that is different everyday. Yet doing the job I love and have always loved.......Caring for children.