Im getting really worried now :(

**JCrakers** · 17-05-2013, 06:19 PM

I'm not one to worry for no reason and all the talk about agencies hasn't worried me because I don't know the facts yet. I've kept pretty calm about it and haven't listened to all the what ifs....I've signed petitions and said my piece, I've emailed truss and my local councillor. I know we all have our own worries about these agencies and what they are going to bring.

But now I'm worried

At the moment business is booming, Ive built up over 6yrs which has been very hard. I have 6 EY children but I'm losing 4 soon.

1 goes to school in sept but is term time only so she stops being fulltime in mid July when schools finish
1 is leaving mid july along with older sister as Mums having a 3rd baby in September
1 is prob going to cut hours right down as Mum is expecting in November

So....i'm left with three, two of them receiving 15hrs funding a week.

So, I've been reading about agencies and the funding. Like I said, I'm not one to worry about things that haven't happened but.....

What if the agency (that I'm not joining) does the funding....where does that leave me?

It leaves me with two mindees Ieaving me and going to a preschool, and I'm left with 1 child. All the advertising will be to no avail as all the work will be with the agency. Work is really hard to find here, I have about 1 phonecall a year, most business comes from people I know or siblings.
So I'll either HAVE to join the agency or go out of business.

The wine has been poured !!!!!!

**Twinkling Stars** · 17-05-2013, 06:35 PM

I understand your worries. Mine are the same. Bit hopefully you will get business through word of mouth. Mine has always come this way, so fingers crossed that will continue x

**The Juggler** · 17-05-2013, 06:36 PM

hon, sorry to hear how many are leaving possibly. but....chill a bit. This year the agency model is only a pilot so no-one can be forced into anything in order to continue to receive funding. Any rules like this will not apply until after the pilot and when agency model is here for real.

Also at the mo, the proposals to remove central funding/control over NEG funding are just proposals so until something is sorted - no change.

So, enjoy your wine and get advertising

**Tazmin68** · 17-05-2013, 07:40 PM

Last year I had all of my ey children leave end August.

A 3/4 funded child who was starting reception at a school I do not cover.
A 2 year old funded child who was moving to a nursery school in the September.
A 2 year old private full timer family moved away.
Two children aged 1 and 2 who were only with me for respite care for 10 weeks until end August.
Plus I has an after school child who left me end of July,

I was left with 1 child who attends school holidays only and 1 child after school.

I started to get busier again from November but yes it was a struggle.

**sarah707** · 17-05-2013, 08:46 PM

The DfE have confirmed that ALL childminders - agency and independent - will be able to accept funded sessions.

It will depend on grade and suitability - not whether you are in an agency or not.

It's here - https://www.gov.uk/government/upload..._Framework.pdf

I hope that helps a bit xx

**sarah707** · 17-05-2013, 08:49 PM

The Childminding Forum has a Facebook group for independent childminders! It was only set up a couple of days ago and we have barely advertised it yet but it already has nearly 300 members.

We are aiming to get the facts out there and stop all the worry caused by supposition and rumours.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/inde...tchildminders/

**mrstom** · 18-05-2013, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by sarah707

The Childminding Forum has a Facebook group for independent childminders! It was only set up a couple of days ago and we have barely advertised it yet but it already has nearly 300 members.

We are aiming to get the facts out there and stop all the worry caused by supposition and rumours.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/inde...tchildminders/

I've just joined

**adedwards68** · 18-05-2013, 06:22 AM

Just joined as well

**Optimalstar** · 18-05-2013, 07:44 AM

Just joined too x

**marnieb** · 18-05-2013, 08:21 AM

JCrackers -

I share your worries, am having EXACTLY the same thoughts about my own situation! I'm trying not to worry about any changes until we have something concrete, but its so hard not to!

Come September I'll have 2 babies 2 days a week each, 1 leaving as mum getting an aupair, own dd and mindee to school, so I should have loads of spaces but cannot fill them!! I've had interviews, but I never see or hear from them again!! It's not like I'm even losing them to other local cms as I literally never see these children again!!!

**JCrakers** · 18-05-2013, 08:34 AM

Thanks all.

Sarah, I joined a couple of days ago and only started to get worried by reading people's comments. they come up in my newsfeed. Someone had asked her LA about the funding and they had been told that they probably won't be able to receive the funding unless they were in the agency, that's when I started to think.....

**Kiddleywinks** · 18-05-2013, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by JCrakers

Thanks all.

Sarah, I joined a couple of days ago and only started to get worried by reading people's comments. they come up in my newsfeed. Someone had asked her LA about the funding and they had been told that they probably won't be able to receive the funding unless they were in the agency, that's when I started to think.....

Unfortunately the LA's seem to know less than we do, so I wouldn't read too much into what LA's are saying at the moment.
(Think about the revised EYFS in September and the information some LA's were giving out to members here