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Original poster

Childminder leaving kids in car

36 replies

alied321 · 08/06/2019 15:42

There is a lady who I've been told is a childminder leaves young children in her minibus outside a nursery while she picks up other kids from inside. You cannot see the vehicle from the nursery as the entrance is round the other side of the building. By the time she walks round to the door, waits to get in, gets whoever she is picking up ready she must be at least 5 minutes. On one hand it's none of my business but on the other if she was meant to be watching my kids and was leaving them unattended in a minibus on their own parked on a road I'd be raging. WWYD?

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Tanith · 08/06/2019 19:16

If this lady is a registered childminder, she is absolutely, categorically not allowed to leave children for whom she's responsible in the car! It's not a matter between her and the parents, it's a matter between her and Ofsted - and Ofsted will regard it as negligence.

Original poster
alied321 · 08/06/2019 19:09

Children must be under 5 as it's during school hours, definitely nobody on board with them.

OP posts:
freshstartnewme · 08/06/2019 17:58

She has a minibus? Are you sure she is a childminder and not a driver with escort? Most adults don't drive minibuses, even child-minders, because the ratios mean it's not necessary to have so many seats.

Lindy2 · 08/06/2019 17:54

A childminder shouldn't be out of either sight or hearing of children in her care.
However, you don't actually know she's a chilminder. Could she be a mum collecting her and a friends children? Could she be a nanny and parents are fine with it?
If she's a chilminder perhaps there is an assistant on the minibus too, perhaps it is just her own children in the bus at that time.
There's a lot you need to clarify here before you go rushing off to report her.

CallMeRachel · 08/06/2019 17:52

Well it doesn't sound great but it's a balancing act between which risk is higher.

She may have two or three young children on board, all needing carried or hand held to cross the road and what does she do with them while helping get the one she's collecting ready? Shoes coat bag etc?

There's probably a higher risk in taking them in than there is in leaving them secure nearby (providing of course it's not left on a main road, with keys in ignition, and in full sun on a hot day etc.

It's really for the parents to discuss with her how she manages her day, she will have risk assessments in place.

What do you think will happen while she's in the nursery that concerns you so much?

PotteringAlong · 08/06/2019 17:48

Presumably they’re all strapped into car seats. When was the last time a minibus spontaneously burst into flames or was stolen with lots of children in it in your area?

isabellerossignol · 08/06/2019 17:44

You've been told she is a childminder, so it sounds as if you don't know for sure.

And if she is a childminder then you have no idea of what she has agreed with the parents.

It is between her and the parents of the children she is looking after.

veryboredtoday · 08/06/2019 17:43

Ofsted!!

veryboredtoday · 08/06/2019 17:42

I think I would report her to fisted

veryboredtoday · 08/06/2019 17:42

I wouldn't be happy with this. It would be ok if she could see the minibus at all times but as she can't I don't think this is acceptable.

SeaToSki · 08/06/2019 16:02

How old are the kids - is there anyone in the bus who is 12 or 13 ish? If they are all younger, I would report it - Im not sure who too though, maybe the school she is picking up from could help

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