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Home ed

using a childminder....

10 replies

MrsBradleyJames · 25/02/2013 20:28

Does anyone out there use a childminder for a child who is home educated? If we HE ds who is 10, we would need a childminder two days a week while I work. I am not expecting the childminder todo any educating! Just wondering if anyone out there has done this and if so how it went. Thanks in advance.

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AnnIonicIsoTronic · 01/03/2013 18:45

I'm recruiting an au pair with a similar brief.

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VikingLady · 04/03/2013 21:52

I am currently training as a child minder and have been thinking about this from the other side, as it were. I do know quite a few cms who would be very happy to take an older he child - I certainly would!

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lilyfire · 05/03/2013 22:48

We use a childminder one day a week for our three home educated children - age between 4 and 9. We've done it for the last 3 years or so. It works pretty well - she doesn't do any formal educating. Mostly takes them to home ed groups. We've had three different ones and each one has been fine - although choosing was a bit stressful - but then I always find it hard to choose childcare. I know someone who uses one Monday to Friday and it seems to work really well - he does lots of home ed. groups - some 'tutory' ones. I think two days a week is totally doable - you just have to find the right person and then maybe check out home ed activities in your area, if you think they might be helpful.
Ours isn't exactly a childminder, as she's mostly out and about with them. I don't really know what to call her.

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maggi · 06/03/2013 11:06

Hello -Im a childminder.

Lilyfire - you call her a childminder. It's only nurserys or preschools that stay in one building all day long every day.

Mrs Bradley James - I HE my eldest (12) whilst I have little ones here too. I would be very happy to have other HE children here.

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lilyfire · 06/03/2013 21:40

Maggi - ah yes, but I think childminders are technically based in their own homes, whereas for a lot of the time our's has been pretty much based in our home. So more like a nanny really- but that sounds a bit posh for us.

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Saracen · 06/03/2013 23:38

We used home educating childminders for my dd, mainly because she preferred the company of older children but also to take advantage of the CMs' freedom from school and nursery runs. Many childminders have to spend a fair chunk of their day ferrying various charges to and from school and nursery. If it's possible to avoid that, the kids can have the luxury of more time to have fun.

The CMs and I were autonomous home educators. so there was no expectation of any formal education being provided. However, they did tend to have age-appropriate educational toys and to be geared up to take the kids to interesting places including home ed groups. (Not saying a non-HE childminder wouldn't do so, but perhaps they would be less focused on such things if their other charges are at school and in need of winding-down after a day at school rather than stimulating, if you see what I mean.)

It worked brilliantly. Dd got some variety by going to different houses and seeing how other families lived, and she had kids to play with. One of the CM's children became her best friend.

The disadvantage is that they weren't local - I could have found a non-HE childminder in my own neighbourhood, which would have been convenient. I did actually have a childminding home educating friend who lived a few doors away from me, but she jolly well went and moved away just about the time I started work, LOL.

If that idea interests you, you might ask on your local home ed email list to see whether there's anyone suitable.

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maggi · 08/03/2013 20:13

lilyfire- "a homecarer" is the technical term if she only works out of your home and if she is still self employed. If she were your nanny then she would be your employee.

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lilyfire · 08/03/2013 22:48

Maggi - thanks. Homecarer, sounds better - although I guess it's a bit like home education - which for a lot of people doesn't take place in the home particularly.

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MrsBradleyJames · 12/03/2013 15:57

Thank you guys! I hadn't been back to check this thread for a while, didn't know I had replies!
This is all really useful stuff, thank you SO much. I will ask on my local HE group email whether anyone is doing this locally. I can very much see the benefits to DS in that he would get that social interaction with other kids.
It's inspiring to know it has worked so well for others.
Thank you xxx

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AmyLR · 12/03/2013 20:54

Hi, I home educate and am thinking of setting up as a childminder. I was thinking that i would only look after over 7's which means i don't have to register with Ofsted. I would aim to look after HE children but could also take school children in the holidays. As a home ed parent would you use a childminder that is for over 7's only and not registered? I am very experienced as i worked as a nanny, nursery nurse and with children in a hospital for many years. I'm also first aid qualified. Would be grateful for any feedback. Thanks

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