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Original poster

Help!! my fab childminder has been suspended!!!

33 replies

mad4mainecoons · 30/09/2011 20:55

hi all,

im really hoping you can give me some advice. i have a fantastic childminder who my dd (18m) goes to one day a week and she phoned me last night, very upset to say that she had been suspended pending an inquiry!!

all she could tell me was that there had been an incident last monday with a boy she minds, and his parents had objected to the way she dicaplined him and had complained to ofsted. i dont really know the other parents or this little boy so i have no idea what to think. she is certinaly not the type of person who would ever even shout at a child so i cannot imagine what she could have done that would warrant a suspension!

do ofstead automatically suspend if a parent makes a complaint?

how long is the suspension likely to be, the ofstead website mentions a 6 week automatic period but then also says it will end when they are sure the children are not at risk?

am i ever likely to find out exactly what happened?

my dd and i love this lady, she is so super with us, very relaxed and brilliant in the activities she does with the children. i so dont want to move dd into a nursary (my only other option aside giving up work) as she has been so happy, but this issue has worried me

if anyone can offer any advice or experience i would be so grateful.

thanks

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anewyear · 01/10/2011 09:02

Why dont you give Ofsted a call, 0300 123 1231, they obviously wont be able to comment on the alleged incident, but could possibly answer your other questions/give you a rough dea of timescales, although all 'cases' are diffrent of course etc

I second you asking the other parents what has happened, as someone else said tho, it will be their veiw on the incedent, and will be down to you wether you feel the complaint was justified or not and if you feel it wasnt, do let your childminder know she has your support. It will be gratefully received.

Original poster
mad4mainecoons · 01/10/2011 08:46

thanks everyone.

my instinct is that she has done nothing wrong and she will be cleared of whatever she has been accused of.

but how long is the suspension likey to last? is it always the standard six wek even if the person is cleared of all wrong doing?

im going to struggle for chilcare if thats the case Sad

OP posts:
cazboldy · 30/09/2011 22:12

? i have no idea!..... surely she has to follow the la guidelines?

ChippingIn · 30/09/2011 21:55

Caz - it's different when you are dealing with a staff member than directly with the person involved. Surely the CM has just as much right to tell her side of it as the family does??

minderjinx · 30/09/2011 21:33

Cross posted with Cazboldy, but I agree that asking the other parent what happened would be a good move. There's nothing to stop them telling you their side of the story, though you'd obviously need to take into account that it is only their side. If they tell you what happened and it's trivial even by their account, or you can immediately see there's another agenda, that might put your mind at ease. If on the other hand it's plausible and serious, you would be right to be concerned and act accordingly.

minderjinx · 30/09/2011 21:23

The problem is that she probably cannot explain or defend herself without breaching confidentiality, and will have to wait for the OFSTED inquiry to clear her name if she has done nothing wrong. It is a horrible situation for all concerned but I know more than one childminder who has been unjustly accused of "crimes" relating to their supposed poor judgement or lack of care but more likely malicious complaints based on personality clashes or even financial disputes such as parents trying to get out of giving proper notice. OFSTED can take their time to sort out the truth of the matter but meanwhile the CM's livelihood may be destroyed and any other families are terribly inconvenienced. I don't have an answer except to trust your instincts and if she has always been good to you and your children love her she's almost certainly fine. If you are in two minds, then your relationship is probably spoiled anyway, either because you will never really trust her or she may be unable to forget that you doubted her.

cazboldy · 30/09/2011 21:05

i was chair of a playgroup, and had to suspend a member of staff (for turning up drunk!)

However i was unable to tell parents why at the time, or indeed afterwards, so think it is probably likely that you won't find out what happened.

Do you know the parents of the other child? Could you speak to them/write to them to see what happened? They might sympathise with your situation, and tell you..... although of course it would only be their side of it, but then you could at least base your judgement on what they say, and what you know about your CM already.

ChippingIn · 30/09/2011 20:59

Well - I would want to know exactly what happened - then if I was happy with that I'd employ her as a nanny in the meantime (if that's what she wants too).

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