Finding a childminder
Read this page in
Welsh/Cymraeg
The best place to start is by asking people you know. Tell
colleagues, friends and family that you are looking for a
childminder. They may be able to recommend someone they know. But
stay focussed – at the end of the day it's your decision, and
what's right for your neighbour may not be right for you. Remember
to start early – some parents are lucky enough to find their ideal
childminder almost straight away – others take longer.
"We started looking for a childminder three months before I went
back to work. We were really lucky, because as soon as I walked
into Nicola's home I felt really comfortable, and she and Jasmine
clicked straight away. Knowing my daughter is safe and happy being
cared for by Nicola made it so much easier for me to return to
work." Mrs HC, Hertfordshire
Local knowledge
Your local
Family Information Service (FIS) can give you a list of
registered childminders with places available. It may also have
extra information such as which schools and playgroups they can
drop off and pick up from or whether they have a garden or
pets.
You could try speaking to your local school or children's centre
to see if they know of any childminders with vacancies. Many
schools and children's centres work closely with registered
childminders and have vacancy coordinators, helping match parents
with providers.