In West Sussex we have a very supportive childminding group. It was started years ago well before my time starting out as a childminder, and was born through the National Childminding Association now know as Coram Pacey to provide support for new and upcoming childminders. This was before we had any social media and contact details of new childminders registering, was passed to the group through the local council. Over time it transformed into a charity group Horsham District Childminder Group and when I joined nearly 10 years ago was struggling to get members on the committee to keep it going. It changed its name to Octopus childminding group in May 2017. The change from a charity to a Facebook group of like-minded childminders wanting to support each other happened in 2024. This change was suggested by one of our members (Anna) and the new closed Facebook group has grown over the past few years.
It has supported many new and existing members with their own business, being a staff room to sound off ideas and issues as and when they arise. Through this group we have regular monthly meet ups in local play areas. Our outdoor meet ups mean we do not have any regular hall hire to worry about and no toys to put out and pack away. Some members bring along bubbles, small toy cars, chalks etc for the children to play with outdoors.
We ask that members share some of their outings as others may like to come along, such as days out to the beach, National Trust, or woods. Making the group fully inclusive and offering members options for days out and ensuring that support is available as we all know this can be a very lonely job.
There is no cost involved to join the group, and we ask that members contribute in some way whether it be offering advice to others or arranging a Halloween party or a social event for example. We arrange group musical sessions, Christmas parties and have had the local fire-brigade and police out. Hiring halls as and when required asking for payment from members per child to cover the cost of the hall and event.
Our group offers a Vacancy matching service so we can help each other fill any vacancies by having a monthly vacancy update post. Childminders post any vacancies they have and if we hear of any parents looking, we match them up.
We have regular evening meals for the childminders and when big issues occur like the introduction of 30 hours funding, we had face to face discussions on how we could all work this and still make a living. Training sessions such as face-to-face speech and language group sessions have taken place.
We work closely with our local county council and family hubs/centres advertising/Promoting events that are taking place. At our last group training session with Kent & Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, they donated books for us to work with our children on Pre-phonic training and some of our members have signed up with West Sussex County council to have free paediatric first aid training.
Parents of the children we mind have told us that they love our Octopus group as their children get to mix in bigger groups and extend their friendship circles. We help each other out when one of us is unable to work providing support for each other and offering parents childcare cover, so they don’t have to take time off work.
We now have over 50 members to our group, luckily, we don’t all go out to the same place at the same time. There are little groups that spring up from the main group and people find their own friendship groups.
It it such a simple concept that could easily be copied by other childminders to support each other in your local area. Here are some quotes from our members
"Octopus group has been so incredibly helpful and inspiring to me back when I was new and now. Having an array of knowledge from everyone has been unbelievably valuable. So much so I have started the process to leave my childminding agency as I have the support, I need to go it alone with Ofsted. Not only has it been helpful to my practise and business, but it is just nice having people around you to make you feel a part of a team. When I left nurseries to become a childminder I struggle with the isolation of being on my own but finding the group really helped me!" - Melissa
"I joined the group to make some friends and to help this job not to be so lonely. When I first moved to Horsham, the group was incredibly supportive and welcoming, and that has always meant a lot to me. I really value having the Octopus group as our own kind of staff room — a safe space where we can vent, share ideas, and make plans together. When I’m making changes within my setting, I like to talk things through with a small handful of people to see how they do things. Sometimes I’ll take inspiration from that and do something similar in my own way. What I really love is how kind everyone is and how supportive the group feels — there is a genuine sense of looking out for one another." - Anonymous
I Joined myself as the the group was at risk of closing, needing committee members to keep it going, long before we had the Facebook group. I found the support and friendship from others so very helpful when I started out and now even 12 years on, I still have questions and queries I put out to the group. I am now helping to support others." Lyn
So, what are you waiting for? Start you own group today and see how fast it grows.
Lyn Foster of Lyn Foster Childminding and member of Octopus Childminding Group.