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Original poster

Help!! My CM lost my LO for half an hour, what would you do??

83 replies

Loukev08 · 04/02/2015 12:21

Hi all

I'm currently so upset at the minute. Yesterday I had a message from my cm asking me to call her when I was at work. I knew it must have been important as she never does this.

Anyway basically she had collected lo from school (he's 4 and immature for his age) and apparently lost him after crossing the busy main road outside school. She took the other kids back to school and got the teachers and older kids looking for him. He was finally found scared and crying for mummy walking alongside the main road by a lady and some senior school children. She told me he had run off and hidden behind the nearby bus shelter and she hadn't thought to look there even tho she said the older children she collects regularly run there. I was lost for words and in shock but when I finally got home my husband and I were so angry that we pay this CM to protect and keep our lo safe and she didn't. When I walked him this morning I viewed this bus shelter and because of its design you can see all the way round it as it's clear glass and if lo went behind it he would have been easily seen! I sat lo down last night and chatted to him and he was really upset and asked me not to leave him again. He also said she shouted at him and told him he was very naughty, I have since discovered from the teachers and headmaster today that when CM collects the children she never holds their hands or gets them to hold each other's hands and they are always running about everywhere, to me this is NOT acceptable for 4yr olds when you on main roads.

When I spoke to her about it she got very upset and when I asked why she stated "people will talk about me behind my back and the teachers will bad mouth me to parents" hmmm excuse me but no mention of losing a little boy just her own selfishness.

I have totally terminated my contract with her with immediate effect and she now wants 4wks pay as per the contract but I am not paying her as I feel she was in breach of her contract by not protecting my baby.

I just wondered what other ppl thought please and Tia xxx

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 04/02/2015 12:56

I would phone OFSTED and find out if it were me Louke.
and yes she should have been watching him and had systems in place.
but she did not. therefore she has failed as a childminder really.

Only1scoop · 04/02/2015 12:56

Regardless of her following correct procedure or not....I would waste no time in reporting....

Original poster
Loukev08 · 04/02/2015 12:54

How do I find out if she has reported this incident to Ofsted?? Since I terminated my contract I haven't heard a word from her but dreading bumping into her at school later. I feel so let down, I know 4yo are mischievous but it's her job and he should have been in her sights constantly. That is my opinion, would be great to hear a CM's professional opinion.

OP posts:
Only1scoop · 04/02/2015 12:45

I literally felt sick when I read the 'lost for half an hour'. Your dc is 4 this is outrageous.

Please contact Ofsted and protect others using this 'childminder'

Saltire · 04/02/2015 12:44

definitely let OFSTED know, and check your contract, there should be a complaints procedure. She needs to write out a new risk assesment to cover this, even if you choose to remove your child from her setting she still needs to make sure this doesn't happen again.

As for paying notice, if she has breached any part of the contract - specifically under the Keeping your child safe (or words to that effect) part then you shouldn't have to pay her

SunnyBaudelaire · 04/02/2015 12:40

"I have totally terminated my contract with her with immediate effect and she now wants 4wks pay as per the contract but I am not paying her as I feel she was in breach of her contract by not protecting my baby."

Do not pay her and if she starts huffing and puffing about the 'contract' tell her to bring it on! She won't of course, she wouldn't want this dragged through the courts.

rumbleinthrjungle · 04/02/2015 12:37

You need to let Ofsted know. She may already have done this as a serious incident. This happens to good parents and toddlers like to hide,but of course you are very upset. I would not pay the notice period either. Does she have a complaints policy you can follow?

InfinitySeven · 04/02/2015 12:26

Most childminder contracts have a clause that essentially means that you don't pay notice if the childminder significantly breaches her contract, usually by putting children in danger or failing to meet their needs. Check yours carefully.

If she has a lot of four year olds, is she definitely within her ratios? It's been a while since I looked at them but they used to be quite low, certainly not enough that you should lose control.