Childminding has always attracted people who want to make a difference. Today, being a childminder offers flexibility too. It’s possible to provide a few hours of care or develop a business, employ an assistant and work outside the home. Emma Bush, a childminder in East Sussex for more than 13 years, is one of the new breed. Here she describes her day.
“I start work at half past seven in the morning. My husband’s at work so it’s just me and my son and he’s old enough to get himself ready for school. I work Monday to Thursday and Sunday night is my setting-up night. I have three or four children arriving by half past seven or eight o’clock and if they have arrived early, I will give them breakfast.
“Then we’re off to school, dropping off one child, then we come back, and my assistant, Georgia, arrives. It didn’t start off like that! I started when I had my son Jamie. It felt like I had a couple of extra children, but now it’s very much more a small nursery type child minding business.
Now I have an assistant I would not want to go back, because I love having someone to work with. Georgia started off with the two days that I needed and then extended her hours.
Plenty of time for free play
“In the day, the other children in our care are all early years. We start off with free play while they all get settled. Play is really important in the early years. Every term I do a newsletter for the parents and carers that includes our activities and important information for the term ahead. This week we’re doing about birds because next week is ‘RSPB Bird Watch’. There’s a structure to our day, but it’s adaptable so it meets the needs of the children.
Snack time can be an activity as well as food
“At about half past nine, it’s snack time, provided by me, which is always a healthy option such as fresh fruit and toast. Not all childminders choose to provide food but I think parents prefer it. The children might prepare their own snack, depending on their age so it becomes an activity as well as a snack. It creates a friendly conversation and gets them engaging in discussions.
“Then we tend to do focused activity. I make a plan based around festivals, important days and the children’s interests. We will be celebrating Chinese New Year, Bird Watch, Valentine’s Day and World Book Day. We decided to incorporate the five senses within those topics. We’re doing touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell because we can include them in a lot of those activities. There are so many ideas on the internet which you can use as well as ideas from other childminders and your own experience.
As a childminder I’m in charge of my own day
“We might go to a local garden centre or up to the common for a walk. We also visit soft plays, National Trust gardens and local parks, as well as the seaside. It can change, if a child is upset that day or if they are not 100% and we feel they wouldn’t enjoy going out we can stay home. So, we’re quite flexible.
I’m in charge of my own day but led by the children. We come back from a morning out and have singing, story time, or quiet carpet time, a chance to chat with each other, which is always lovely. If we don’t go out, then we will enjoy a craft or baking activity and lots of garden play.
I go by what the parents want
“And then lunch, provided by me. I offer cheese on toast, beans on toast, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, or soup for example. After lunch they sit and have quiet time looking at a book while we get the sleepers ready. That could be for an hour or sometimes two, I go by what the child needs and what the parents want. The ones that aren’t sleeping have free play while we eat our lunch. Obviously, as a childminder, you don’t get an actual lunch break, but that’s okay. And the older children know that we need to eat and have a well-deserved cup of tea!
“When they wake up from their sleep we sometimes go back out in the garden. My lounge opens out onto the garden so they can go in and out all time. Garden play is available most of the time, but obviously they do need supervision. I was fortunate that a lot of my toys and equipment came from my own children. I collected bits and pieces from car boot sales, charity shops, and online. You don’t need to buy new.
For me childminding is a whole family thing
“In the afternoon, we do a double school run, my husband picks-up too. He’s obviously registered as well. For me, childminding is a whole family thing. I started doing this when my son was born and he really enjoys having the children around. Most have grown up with us because they came to me when they were younger. I’ve continued to look after them, even though they’re older now.
With the after-school children there’s a snack and craft activity on offer. When my son comes home from school, the children are excited to see him, it’s lovely. The parents love that connection too. They become part of the family; I wouldn’t be doing it if it didn’t work for us as a family.
“I cook a healthy, balanced hot dinner for everyone. Meals times are really important as they chat and they talk about school. It’s just a big family mealtime . Just the other day a little girl had had guitar practice at school, so after dinner, we all sat on sofa and listened to her play her guitar because she wanted to show us.
Childminding work is continually out there
“Most childminders have either worked in childcare like me, or they’ve had children and that has given them ‘the want’ to do it. You have to have a passion for it, because they’re in your house, they’re in your space. I was scared to go self-employed , but now I know the work is continually out there, it’s not a worry. I’m independent, the team at East Sussex helped me become a childminder. Once I became registered with Ofsted I just did it myself.
“Friday is my day off. That’s when I would see a new parent, it’s good to first speak to the parent on a day when you haven’t got the children. I invite them back on a day when they can see what’s going on , and then they’ve got questions that come from that. There are courses to do and some admin around employing an assistant. I’ve always said in my job, I need to earn enough. I need to earn the right amount otherwise there’s no point doing it, but I’m not doing this to be a millionaire.”
Being a childminder genuinely doesn’t feel like a job
“It’s like they’re all my own, except they all go home by six o’clock. It’s lovely if you treat childminding as if they’re your children. They are so special to me and my family and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Find out more
For more information about becoming a childminder, visit the East Sussex County Council website.
