Childminding myths

When talking to family, friends and parents about which type of childcare they believe would be best for their child, it seems that there is a misunderstanding about what childminders offer, and a view that children gain a better early year’s education in a nursery rather than a childminder. The purpose of this blog is to give you an idea of what is required by Ofsted to provide childcare and some misconceptions about childminders. It’s not to convince you that Childminders are better than nurseries, that is a decision for only you to make....

• If you want to look after babies/children under 5 years old, you have to work to the same EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework as nurseries and schools.
• You have to complete 12 hours of paediatric first aid training.
• You have to complete a training course on setting up a home based childcare business. This course covers topics like looking after different children at different stages, data protection and confidentiality (concerning the child and his/her family), and how to detect abuse in children.
• You, and all adults in your household, have to be DBS checked.
• You, and your GP, have to complete a medical form about your suitability to look after children (this looks at physical and mental health).
• Once you submit your application to Ofsted they will contact two character references about your suitability to childmind.
• Once you have completed all your training you will be inspected by Ofsted. This takes around 4 hours and is essentially an oral exam about EYFS, child abuse detection, data protection and confidentiality, risk assessment, how to deal with different aged children and much more, including a thorough check of your home and the areas where you intend to childmind. Following this, you have to continally renew your Ofsted registration by completing further inpections every 6 months to 3 years depending on your previous inspection.
• If you manage to get through all of this, you will get your Ofsted registration number and you can start working.
• All that’s left is to advertise your services, find families that you want to work with and want to work with you. Complete further training courses such as food hygiene and further safeguarding courses and work to keep up to date with EYFS requirements and actually care for Children.

Once minding the children, you are required to continually work to the EYFS framework, providing daily diary updates to parents, plan meals, have days out and enjoy a variety of activities based on special days or seasons.

I asked members of great childminders group, which comments they hear a lot where in most cases are untrue;

“All they do all day is watch TV”. Although I have a TV in my Playroom, the last time it was used this week was during a play date where it was used to play music and nursery rhymes with the children.

“They just get taken out on shopping trips”. I will not plan a “Shopping Trip” whilst caring for your children. If you do happen to see me in a local food store. Maybe I am buying something to cater for the children..

“You’re being paid to socialise with your friends”. I meet up and arrange play dates throughout the week but this certainly isn’t socializing with your friends. Typically, I will be with fellow childcare professionals, sharing experiences and ideas to ensure your children have the best time whist in my care. Some of the childminders I meet with have been caring for children longer that I have been alive, so imagine how much valuable experience I’ll gain from this.  

“We’re vastly overpaid”. Would you work for £5 (or less) per hour some days?

“How much do you baby sitters charge?” After reading the above I think you’ll agree that there is slight difference between a childminder and a baby sitter.

"I don’t know how you do it, it’s bad enough looking after 1!" I absolutely love my job and find it so rewarding educating children and watch them grow into lovely young people.

“I want my children to mix with more than 1 or 2 other children so choosing a nursery”. As mentioned above. A typical week for me would include playdates with other childminders, playgroups and Parks / Soft Play where your child would mix with lots of other children. Your children certainly won’t be limited to playing with 1 or 2 children whilst in my care.

To finish, childminding is certainly not about taking peoples hard earned cash and making their children sit watching Cbeebies all day. We are expected to work to exactly the same framework as nurseries but based in a homely setting. It can be a very stressful job at times but also so rewarding and I love it. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a visit, please get in touch.

Speak Soon,

Gem x