Childminders
Questions to ask when choosing a childminder
- How long have you been childminding?
- What extra training have you done?
- Why do you like this job?
- How long do you intend to do it for?
- What other children will be with my child, and how old are they?
- Have you joined any quality assurance schemes?
- Do you belong to a childminder network?
- Do you charge for sick days?
- Ask to see if all the rooms in the house are clean and tidy.
- Where will your child sleep? Make sure it's quiet.
- How do you spend the day and how do other children's schedules fit in with my child? Find out simple things, such as when she or he does shopping/banking/chores.
- Do you go out on day trips? Where to?
- Do you have properly fitted car seats?
- What kind of meals and drinks do you give the children?
- Do you keep a file about a child's progress?
- Will you agree to a trial run (say a couple of mornings) to see how it's going to work out? Most childminders will agree to this.