Childminder not there at drop off

So why didn't you look at their Ofsted report where it shows assistants etc?

That wasn't the update. The childminder claimed it was in the contract we don't know if the client confirmed and checked. I have experienced a childminder tell me an assistant was registered when they weren't.

I would have been really cross - very unsettling for the child to be there without familiar faces - I wouldn't necessarily be concerned for the child's safety. Why wasn't the CM there? Was your friend running late? If so; fair enough, school age children need to be at school on time. (Although this is one reason I wouldn't want a childminder, not much flexibility). If she wasn't late then why wasn't the CM there? School suddenly started earlier? Not your fault.

Does it say she hadn't met him?

So your issues is men? Vanessa George was a long time ago unfortunately the safety in numbers and whistleblowing didn't save the poor baby who was strapped to a bean bag in front of other female staff members around a year ago. You could argue that a 17 year old apprentice is more worried about speaking out but there were other mature women watching the abuse.
For a childminder loss of the job typically means loss of a home and their own children being removed during investigations so they are far more invested in safety ontop of their attachment to the children mine still visit with their own children and I've minded mindees children my friends are similar.

Well this one didn't as it's on her contract, as per Ops update, which proves my point.

It's worse in other types of setting Ng childminder settings are the only ones where if there is police involvement with anyone at that address Ofsted are automatically notified. I'm a nursery a staff member doesn't live at that address and there is no link so until the next DBS update nothing is flagged.

To be fair, I registered my husband years ago when my friend had a family emergency and I had to go over my numbers. He remains registered (and first aid trained) so technically I could do this at any time too. Don't have a need to but it's not illegal. Get your friend to chat to her childminder but also remind her to not do something if she's not comfortable with it. Shes an adult

That isn't what I said.

I think parents would remember if they have been told by the childminder that they have an assistant working with them.

Assistants are not just for emergencies where did you get that idea from?
As I've already said many parents don't remember what they discussed or even the details of contracts so it's very possible she was told.
The whole point of assistants is sharing the work load and splitting up so children don't always need to be taken why would anybody go to the costs of registering an assessment then not using them?
Nurseries work to exactly the same standards. They won't tell you they have cover.staff in and they are left alone with children.

When I met my CM and we interviewed each other for fit, I ket her husband as well. I can't imagine leaving my children in a home with any adults I hadn't met. This all sounds a bit slack.

Most CMs I knew had their DH signed up as their “assistant” - ie back up. For these types of scenarios.

tbh sounds like the drop off time does not work for the CM if she was dropping off at school at that time, which is the type of scenario where the assistance would be helpful.

when we interviewed CMs we always met their DH or other assistants. You need to be happy with the set up. And we much preferred the CMs to nurseries. At least at age 6m or 18m.

Why are so many people finding it odd that the CM does school drop offs?

That is really not what I said

I actually am a SAHM, but my daughter also goes to nursery 3 mornings a week. I consider nurseries to be safer than childminders because there are multiple adults around to witness other adults' interactions with the children. Obviously terrible things still can happen, but, post-Vanessa George, nursery staff are much more aware of the importance of following safeguarding procedures such as not having one adult changing nappies behind a closed door.

I also use a small nursery which, currently at least, only has female staff members.

But does this mean your not happy to use a nursery for the same reasons....lots of cases involving females abusing and harming children in nurseries so presumably you are a SAHM because most cases are family and friends doing the abuse.

That is not true....please show me where in the EYFS it says business operations must be cleared by the parents each and every time they use their registered assistant....because it doesn't. The parent is aware there is a registered assistant it does not have to be run past them every single day. Do you think a nursery ask each parent if it's okay to have a floater in to cover sickness, for staff to be moved from another room or the office?

It is not allowed to leave children with anyone other than a registered assistant who has first aid. Even the partner. Certainly not a common thing, an should be reported if it happens.

Agreed, which is why I'd never use one. However, the childminder is a woman, so is significantly less likely to be a child molester than her husband is.

Maybe I am far more relaxed than most people but I don’t think this would have bothered me. Childminders are more of a “home from home” environment so leaving the child in the care of someone else in the household (who is presumably familiar to the child as they live there) wouldn’t have bothered me.

what do people think is going to happen in 10-15mins while the CM is gone? If people are worried about abuse then why would it not be possible any time as the partner lives there.

Either you trust the childminder and the environment or you don’t.

I was going to say check paperwork as often a cm dh is down as an assistant for times like these and anyone in the house over 16 needs to have a dbs

your update says cm says dh is on contract which i assume your friend read and signed and agreed to

so honestly she hasn’t got a reason to complain

agree a cm can’t ring all parents to say dh is having kids today and again no need if he is on the paperwork - which he is

There is no problem if the parents know that this is what to expect.

When I was a child my mum would be collecting the children who had half days at nursery or school and my dad back from work atvhis lunch break would be greeting and settling the afternoon drop off children. He was all DBS checked and fully trained the kids loved him. He's 74 now and still volunteers at the local school to hear kids read. What's the problem if he is cleared? Ihink everyone in the house over 18 has to be.

Regardless of whether it is in the contract or elsewhere, the CM should also be making it clear to parents how they work, it isn't reasonable to turn up at agreed drop off time to find the childminder isn't there unless it is an emergency situation. Taking extra children to school is not an emergency.

My CM’s DH was DBS checked and registered as an assistant but on the 2-3 occasions over a 10 year period an unplanned situation came up, she phoned me each time to ask if I was OK with it. She didn’t assume that given I had said yes previously that I was OK with it this time.

If a parent asks for an unscheduled change it’s up to the CM to check with impacted parents before saying yes. It could be she could have asked you to drop DD slightly earlier and she take your dd on the school run for example.