Childcare.co.uk

**McKenzie** · 05-04-2013, 09:22 PM

Hi all, just wondered whether anyone thinks it's worth paying for the gold membership of this website (childcare.co.uk)?
There are quite a few parents in my area looking for childcare but I can't message them unless I pay the £19.99 a month which seems an awful lot! Wondered how much success people have had using this site! Thank you!

**sarah707** · 06-04-2013, 08:24 AM

I have had work from it... others have too... some haven't... but you can hardly blame the site if parents don't get back to you

I don't think it's a huge amount of money if it gets me a new contract when I need one

**Becci26** · 06-04-2013, 08:32 AM

Yes I have had work from it (paid the years subscription though as better value for money), to begin with I felt quite disheartened by it as no luck and lots of people don't get back to you. But I have had at least 3 parents from there in the last 18 months. You have to speculate to accumulate :-)

**CLL** · 06-04-2013, 08:41 AM

I was unsure at first but I was not getting any calls from parents from other advertising. I have paid for 2 months now, I sent a message to parents within a 5 mile radius. Some thought I lived too far, others wanted care and then did not get back to me, some time wasters etc. But I have had a few potential parents and one who signed up last night. For me the cost was worth it as without it I would be no further forward. It seems like a lot of money at the time but they offer a great service and they need to be paid for it, there is nothing as good as it online and most parents check here when looking for care.

**jo.jo76** · 06-04-2013, 09:03 AM

I've had work from there too, plus gold members also get access to some great resources

**angeldelight** · 06-04-2013, 09:08 AM

Well I didn't realise how great it was till I moved house and had to start all over again

Admittingly I did pester parents on there with messages

I'm full and all my work has come from here

I have to say that for every parent that replies to me ...another 4 will not .....can't blame the site for that though ...just put it down to rude ignorant people .....so be patient and pester pester ha

The site comes highly recommended from me

Angel xxx

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 06-04-2013, 12:09 PM

Pay for a month and if you fill up cancel it. £20 is not a lot if you get work

**McKenzie** · 06-04-2013, 12:26 PM

wow, thanks everyone that's great advice

I will get organised and write a message /letter to those near me

Hx

**sprinkles** · 07-04-2013, 08:50 PM

I think it's worth it if you have local parents looking for childcare. Unfortunately there's hardly any parents on there that are local to me, and the ones that are on it haven't logged in for months!

I'm really struggling with advertising at the moment. Doing loads but not getting any enquiries.

**angeldelight** · 07-04-2013, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by sprinkles

I think it's worth it if you have local parents looking for childcare. Unfortunately there's hardly any parents on there that are local to me, and the ones that are on it haven't logged in for months!

I'm really struggling with advertising at the moment. Doing loads but not getting any enquiries.

That's a shame ...sometimes there is no parents in my area other times there are lots
I message everyone and anyone though ha ...I messaged one that was 4 miles from me but she ended up only up the road ..so it's worth messaging them all like I do

Good luck hope you get work soon

Angel xx

**twinkletots** · 07-04-2013, 09:26 PM

Have you filled your ****** profile in?? ( you get it free if you are a PACEY member)

This works similar to Childcare.co.uk where parents search for childminders etc?? It's on the 'my benefits' section when you log in to PACEY

I do like Childcare.co.uk I have found it to be useful, as is my own website.

Hope this helps

**McKenzie** · 08-04-2013, 09:59 PM

Thank you all!
I messaged everyone with requirements that I seemed to match even those 3/ 4 miles away and now have a new parent visiting on wednesday re a possible 2 days a week moving to full time

Brilliant advice thanks x

ps I also emailed all those who had given their email addresses too as I found that not many parents were logging in, but that they do check their personal emails x

**angeldelight** · 08-04-2013, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by McKenzie

Thank you all!
I messaged everyone with requirements that I seemed to match even those 3/ 4 miles away and now have a new parent visiting on wednesday re a possible 2 days a week moving to full time

Brilliant advice thanks x

ps I also emailed all those who had given their email addresses too as I found that not many parents were logging in, but that they do check their personal emails x

That's brilliant news good luck let us know how it goes and in the meantime still keep contacting them ...always new parents every few days

Angel xx

**Carolc** · 08-04-2013, 10:19 PM

I've registered on childcare.co.uk but I'm a bit lost with it to be honest. U can't even upload a profile picture to it. How do you find parents that are looking for childminders in your area? Xx

**Rick** · 09-04-2013, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Carolc

I've registered on childcare.co.uk but I'm a bit lost with it to be honest. U can't even upload a profile picture to it. How do you find parents that are looking for childminders in your area? Xx

Yes you can upload a photo. I have one! Just make sure it only has you in the photo and no children. If you have filled in your profile with your postcode you can just click 'My Local Parents', or use the drop down menus to change to 'Parents Seeking Childcare' and enter your postcode. You can change the search options to show you parents who have logged on most recently or those who are closest to you etc.

You can have a free profile but to contact parents you have to pay or wait and see if a parent contacts you at which point you can reply for free.