View Full Version : lack of vacancies...
Hi ladies, I live in sutton surrey. We seem to be having increasing amount of childminders in our borough, with a lot of us with vacancies - including myself!
I have 2 after school children who i have part time in the summer holidays. They are really good children, i have been very lucky with my minded children. The problem i have at the moment is i am not earning enough to help pay the bills. So therefore things are rather tight here. The main change is the children i look after the mum asked a few months ago if she could change the contract hours because she couldnt afford the childcare fees as she had moved in her boyf and her tax credits were stopping. so i lost monies that way, and they asked if i didnt have the children mondays and fridays throughout the holidays. So again monies dropped. I didnt wnat to lose them so i agreed :(
I have a 2 year old son, and was asked many times at the beginning of this year to look after babies but i turned them down because my son was a bit of handful at the time and i didnt think i could cope. Now I want the full timers cant get them!!! Could bloomin kick myself! Netmums adverts for childcare are ridiculous. As soon as you put your advert on by the end of the day its on page 5!
Sorry having a rant. Im at a bit of loss of what to do. I'm already advertising on FIS, netmums, childcare.co.uk, childrens centres, schools and playgroups.
Any ideas, is it like this where you are?
Sorry i'm in a bit of funk :(
Kel
marnieb
22-07-2011, 06:44 AM
Hi Kel,
I'm in Worcester Park, not far from you at all, and I'm in exactly the same boat!!
Here the after school club has the monoply on after schoolies and holidays, and since Jan I've had 2 enquiries that turned into nothing!!! I've had to hang onto my screamer so I have at least some income coming in, but luckily I now have light at the end of that particular tunnel as a friend is going back to work in Sept and has asked me to have her 2, 2 days a week.
Al least you know you're not alone!!!
Hi Marnie, thats great. I just gave notice to 2 of mine last month, they were supposed to be 3 days a week after school and throughout the hols, but the mum said she coulsnt afford me in the hols so could i do term time only. But thats means 2 spaces for only 4hrs a week so i gave notice to free up my spaces. And people are charging differing rates for babies too. Ive seen £35, £45 and £50!!
Hopefully find something soon.
miffy
22-07-2011, 07:05 AM
Hang on in there - you know there has been work around and, this time of year you often get enquiries for September.
Fingers crossed it picks up for you soon
Miffy xx
AliceK
22-07-2011, 09:26 AM
It's really quiet here at the moment too. I was just talking about how quiet it was with another childminder yesterday. Hope things pick up soon.
xxxx
Ripeberry
22-07-2011, 10:04 AM
I think that since the incident with the two policewomen who got 'caught' doing childcare, that now lots of people are sharing care between each other as they said that it was OK to do it for nothing.
Money is tight everywhere and lots of people on part-time jobs, so they look after each other's kids and have 'clubs'.
They don't pay each other, just take turns caring.
A lot of this happens around here and I've seen the 'clubs' in action.
All my mindees are from parents who are new to the area or don't want to be in the club.
I do part-time cleaning work and data entry work in the evenings and weekends to fill in the loss of income :(
AliceK
22-07-2011, 11:27 AM
I think that since the incident with the two policewomen who got 'caught' doing childcare, that now lots of people are sharing care between each other as they said that it was OK to do it for nothing.
Money is tight everywhere and lots of people on part-time jobs, so they look after each other's kids and have 'clubs'.
They don't pay each other, just take turns caring.
A lot of this happens around here and I've seen the 'clubs' in action.
All my mindees are from parents who are new to the area or don't want to be in the club.
I do part-time cleaning work and data entry work in the evenings and weekends to fill in the loss of income :(
This is happening a lot around here too, especially with the school age children.
xxx
Mollymop
22-07-2011, 11:37 AM
Hi hun, I know the feeling! Round here there seems to be too many minders and not enough children! I am having 2 children leave next week because their tax credits has been cut, I will be left with just one child and 3 holiday children, but the full timer is cutting down to 3 days and now mum informed me this morning that her tax credits have been cut so she is wondering where it is worth her working or not!
My biggest issue is why do they allow new childminders when most of us are looking for children to keep us going??
Hope you get some work soon x
The Juggler
22-07-2011, 03:22 PM
hon, I'm in your area. I know the adverts disappear as soon as you put them on. Instead I would message the parents who are looking. Also try childcare.co.uk and message them all hon.
If you want to pm me your number I'll pass on any enquiries. Do you visit the Thomas Wall Children's centre?
Hi all sorry was very ranty last night! Just fed up! Have become a gold member on childcare.co.uk today using the fab discount code Sarah sent me. Hope something turns up soon!
lilliuspillius
24-07-2011, 05:17 AM
hang in there!! childcare.co.uk is good. I live in south gloucestershire, and am full with two on a waiting list for 2012. the majority of my work comes from recommendations, but in the past two months i have had two new mindees (starting in august 2011), from this website.
have you thought about getting a website produced. Pauline (from the forum) did one for me, really cheap!. and already ive had another two enquries, unfortunately I wasnt able to persue them due to the hours they wanted, but at least it shows a website works!
good luck.
Greengrass74
24-07-2011, 07:25 AM
have you thought about getting a website produced. Pauline (from the forum) did one for me, really cheap!. and already ive had another two enquries, unfortunately I wasnt able to persue them due to the hours they wanted, but at least it shows a website works!
good luck.
Agree with the website, we had spaces but as soon as the website went live we started to get enquiries, we are now full.
I think a lot of parents when they first start looking for childcare will look on google and do a search along the lines of "chilcare in (name of area)" so having a website will a least mean your business is being looked at.
The next thing I would say it maybe try to have a USP (unique selling point). This could be anything but make it something that others don't offer,
Examples of USP's
•Hours - flexible or weekend hours available
•Experience or qualifications you have
•Location - are you close to major routes e.g. A14 or M1?
•Resources available e.g. large garden or close to a park
•Pets - many parents like their children to be around animals - particularly if they do not have pets themselves due to working hours
•Sport/creative activities - do you excel or specialise in providing these experiences for children?
•Home cooked meals
•Experience of caring for children with additional needs
•Ability to speak another language
•Collection from school/pre-school/nursery
•Collection service for parents without transport
•Anything else that is applicable
Just remember it is your business and you have worked hard to get where you are so go and sell it, :thumbsup:
Good luck
primula
24-07-2011, 09:21 AM
Since i began childminding, which is a long time ago, they have more than doubled the amount of childminders in our london borough that isnt that big!
I often wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that if you are looking for work, the job centre then can sign you off their list if you go on a childminding course and register, as you are no longer 'looking for work' or am a bit cynical!? it makes no sense to register more minders when there isnt enough work for the present ones..