Keli's story

Keli became a registered childminder in September 2015. However her journey to this point began many years ago and involved a totally different career.

Following a degree in film making, Keli worked for a large multi-national company as a business support manager.

Although Keli had a successful career and was financially well rewarded, she always felt like a square peg in a round hole. So when the opportunity for redundancy arose, Keli took the chance to embrace a career change.

Although Keli initially thought about teaching, a friend suggested she consider childminding. This would give her the chance to move away from a corporate environment and be her own boss. The idea of taking control of her own life and setting her own rules appealed to Keli. She also relished the thought of being able to reawaken her creative side.

Another important factor for Keli was the chance to see more of her own child. She had gone back to work when he was just 3 ½ months old. She really wanted to be able to take him to and from school herself whilst he was still young enough to need this.

The process of redundancy and then childminder registration took about 18 months. And in less than a year Keli has built a very successful business with more work available than she needs. As well as a financially sound business, Keli has found childminding to be extremely rewarding. She feels privileged that parents trust her to leave their precious children with her and value her as an extension of their own family.

Keli has a sense of satisfaction seeing children develop and move on in their learning. She knows that she has been an important part of this.

Keli has learnt that as a childminder she has to be prepared for wear and tear on her home. Accepting the physical and emotional challenges of the job.

Keli’s advice is:

• be prepared for full commitment
• do network with other childminders who have a wealth of experience
• always keep on top of paperwork and money matters
• don’t go into the job if you are squeamish!

Keli says that being a childminder means she has fun every day. Also when the children finally go home she still has a smile on her face.