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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

According to my DD, she spends the whold day watching TV at her childminders!

157 replies

mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 21:01

Hi, my 6 year old daughter is home educated and has recently started going to a child minder one day a week. I asked on facebook if anyone knew any good CM's and a friend of my husbands family mentioned her daughter, who used to be a nursery nurse. She's only in her early 20's but I didn't feel we could really say no, so we though we'd give her a try. I sent my DD with a big bag of things to entertain herself, eg pens, paper, puzzles, books etc. When I picked her up she was asleep on the sofa. The CM said she'd been good etc. When I asked her what she'd done, she said watched cbeebies and a DVD. She didn't do any drawings or play with any of her things either. I noticed that the TV has been on every time we've visited, and if it's on, DD will watch it. She has an 18 month old daughter who DD has become very fond of, but no other CM children.
I'm not sure wether to say something very tactful to enquire about what she's been doing there, just carry on taking her, or what? I find these things really awkward! I don't mind her watching a DVD or some TV, but 6 hours worth is just too much. She goes on a day that's usually a chill out day, but even so, I usually encourage her to play games, read to her and involve her in what I'm doing.
Am I asking too much though?

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mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 21:15

I found it very hard finding CM's. I found a list, but how do you know who's good, without going to see all of them? That's why I asked if anyone could recommend a good one.
Because they are friends of my DH's family and I've known the mum for many years, it's really awkward to say "no, I'd rather shop around thanks".

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 17/06/2011 21:12

why did you send her to an unregistered minder?

seriously if you dont care enough to find a proper CMer tehn you can hardly complain when you dont get proper chidlcare.

mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 21:10

I sent her some things as the CM doesn't have anything appart from baby toys for her own DD. I thought some familliar things would also help my daughter to feel like it was more of a home from home.
I don't think she is ofsted regestared. I assumed she was a propper registered CM, but when I asked how much she charged, she was really unsure and just said "how much do you want to pay? That was awkward! We agreed on £25 for 6 hours. I think that's about right? I hope.

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 17/06/2011 21:08

I wouldn't expect a parent to send in activities for their child to do. Then again, I don't normally have the TV on (have the radio on) though, but then I have under 3s at the moment.

Perhaps ask if she could provide a log of what they've done that day? Childminders only have to provide 'structured' activities for under 5s under the EYFS, so whilst you might not be happy with a 'chillout day', Ofsted probably wouldn't have a huge amount to say about it - they're mainly interested in the little ones.

If your DD is getting lots of stimulation and activities at home every other day, it's probably quite nice for her to have a day doing nothing.

BooyHoo · 17/06/2011 21:06

lots of research.

BooyHoo · 17/06/2011 21:06

you found someone via facebook and didn't feel you coudl say no? lost of research you did there wasn't it?

is this woman registered? why didn't you go through teh list of available CMers on the ncma website? they are all registered

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 17/06/2011 21:04

Hmmmm. Is she Ofsted registered? Why did you feel the need to send stuff with DD for her to do? My CM does different things with her mindees each day with a teeny weeny amount of TV on the odd occasion.

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