Just been told Ofsted are closing my childcare provider...

[Shouldknowbetter2015]

I'm in a total panic. I rely on this for care as i work FT. How is this allowed to happen? They were informed this evening & all parents have just been told. I just don't understand how this is allowed to happen. Surely they know how working parents rely on this? We have zero information as to reasons why, and this is freaking me out even more. Don't want to give any details as could be identifying. Has anyone else experienced this? How long did the Ofsted investigation take? What did you do????

[NickNacks]

There will be a potentially serious reason behind it and instead of being thankful its being investigated you're annoyed you can't go to work tomorrow?! Yabu.

[Allthewaves]

Look for another provider now you don't want to be stuck if they don't reopen

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

It will be something very serious if they're shutting them down like that. That's why the setting don't want to give you information. It may be best to look at it as ofsted doing you a favour.

Although the immediate childcare issues are obviously a big problem. There's nothing else to do but start phoning all the alternatives.

[PinkiePiesCupcakes]

Of be grateful ofsted is doing their jobs and keeping my child safe tbh.
I'd take a moikd inconvenience over potention dangers any day.

[intheknickersoftime]

Of course she's panicking she can't get to work!

[Thirtyrock39]

Yes been in Same situation. Cm was adamant it was a misunderstanding that would be quickly sorted it wasn't and she was struck off a month later ...I'd recommend looking for alternatives ASAP as it is a long old process ...talk to other parents who use them and you may be able to help each other our temporarily that's what we did. Ofsted only do this after warnings.

[AuditAngel]

The Health dept shut ours down for a week just before Christmas after a bug outbreak a few years ago. Thank heavens for grandparents.

Good luck with finding a new provider.

[LouBlue1507]

Ofsted do not take shutting an someone business down lightly! It must have been something serious for them to do so! I'd be more worried about the reasons why your CM has been shut down than about work tomorrow!!!
You're entitled to parental leave anyway!

[SocksRock]

This is either the result of failure to improve after a series of warnings, or a major issue. Either way, it won't be reversed so you need to start looking for new childcare. I know it's horrible and stressful but I wouldn't want any child of mine attending a setting that had been closed by Ofsted.

[Shouldknowbetter2015]

Oh goodness, so this won't have come out of the blue then? I'm shaking at the mo. I thought everything was great, DC settled & happy... Life always has something crap just around the corner :/

[Dozer]

Have been in similar situation and advise you to focus all your energy/attention on finding new childcare, and try to set aside Qs or thoughts of your current provider's circumstances, Ofsted etc.

Ours was a nursery and the local council provided info on providers with spaces.

[OlennasWimple]

Yes, it could have come out of the blue, if they found something really bad during an inspection

[Dontpanicpyke]

Is it cm or nursery op?

[SocksRock]

It could have come out of the blue. A serious safeguarding issue would have them closed with no warning.

[AllotmentyPlenty]

Do you need to go to work tomorrow? If so, try www.sitters.co.uk/ - have had success with them in the past. Good luck.

[Armi]

I'd be panicking, too. I rely heavily on childcare (wraparound now DD has started school) and would be utterly screwed if it closed. It's all very well saying people are entitled to parental leave, but that would be completely unpaid for many of us and most people can't just cheerfully dip in and out of work without causing massive disruption to whatever employer they work for. I am a secondary school teacher and would be frantic about my classes if I had to take a chunk of time off due to loss of childcare and you'd be fucked off too as a parent if I was at home playing with sticklebricks instead of preparing your child for their GCSEs.

Good luck, OP. I hope you get something sorted.

[Leatherboundanddown]

This happened to my sister recently. It was a serious safeguarding concern that was the reason for closure.

It was a big nursery which meant that night and the following day all the other local providers were desperately trying to place loads of toddlers. It was very stressful but happily my niece is even happier at the new place. Is there any way you can work from home tomorrow whilst you ring round?

[Leatherboundanddown]

The original nursery was not allowed to reopen, by the way.

[Maryann1975]

They might not have had any warnings. When childcare providers have an inspection, if massive failings are found, they can be closed down on the spot. Other things can give warnings and can be sorted out and given as recommendations, but in serious cases, instant closure is what happens. If there were a serious safeguarding issue in the place would you really want a warning being issued? I wouldn't, I would want the place shut down and not have to send my children again.
Obviously start phoning around other places in the morning, nurseries and childminders. You might be lucky and find a place for your children and if not, like a po has said, can you get together with another parent and see if you could help each other out (do a day each of childcare) or get a nanny between you temporarily maybe?

[Shouldknowbetter2015]

Thanks so much for all your helpful replies. I don't want to give details re type of childcare don't want to out myself. But like many have said, i can't just not go into work tomorrow, or the day after!!! Of course, my DC safety is paramount, hence i can't sleep for worry about what might have happened. Luckily they are old enough to have told me, had anything untoward happened that they knew about. God, it's just so awful. I feel for all the other working parents who will be affected too.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Ive seen places closed for paperwork reasons (OFSTEAD confirmed reason) and deep cleaning after illness along with ones that had insufficient policies all emergency closures all reopened within a week

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I know one where an allegation of physical abuse was made against management. Although the individual concerned was eventually found not guilty of the charges the nursery never reopened. I'm sorry this has happened to you, good luck with finding an alternative.

[puglife15]

Not for the same reason but we were suddenly left without childcare at one point, we waited a month before we started looking for something else thinking the original setting may reopen... We had 7 weeks with no childcare, bloody nightmare. Used holiday, parental leave and begrudging GPs who live hours away!

I'd start looking ASAP.

[DoNotBlameMeIVotedRemain]

What a shock for you!

Are you friends with other parents? You could perhaps do a babysitting rota so you don't all miss work.

[sammum9]

How awful for you. I worked as a cm for several years, but also am a parent and teacher. Hopefully I can see it from all sides. Your dc's welfare obviously comes first, so you have to accept that there is a reason for this and the closure is in your dc's best interest(s). Your job (as your livelihood) is important too. So maybe you can find a family member, friend or neighbour who can help in the short term, but you also need to be looking for new childcare arrangements.
Armi, really?? As parent to two children who are now in sixth form (as well as some still in primary) I'm sure parents (yes, parents, just like you) would understand if, in an emergency, you had to take a couple of days off to arrange new childcare. ALL good parents put their own children first and will understand when others do the same even if they get in a strop initially then become more understanding when they've had time to think about it