do i report her??

well imo there are just friends, i dont 'grade' friends squirrel. Do your friends know which rank they are with you. I would never expect any of my friends to go behind my back and I wouldnt dream of doing that to them. If you have something to say then say it to their face. and thats what the poster did in the end. imo what comes around goes around, and if you do a totally mean and underhand act then watch your own back.

there is common misconception on networks regarding going over ratio because you are someone elses's back up. I was told by 2 network co-ordinators it would be ok for one day but trusted my instincts and rung ofsted they said that I would be breaking the law to take the child on and that the only way round it is to speak to an inspector and see if they can agree an emergency variation which can take less than 10 mins. I decided not to bother as too much of a grey area but the point is she may believe she is being above board and legal not intentionally doing anything wrong.

There are friends and "friends" - and even close friends might do things I completely don't agree with.

To answer thebody's question - if I knew a friend was overminding I might well report them. I think to some extent it would depend on the circumstances (which we didn't entirely know in this case). If they were new to childminding I might give them the benefit of the doubt and strike up a conversation to try to establish if they were just confused about the rules. But if they knew full well what they were doing - and you can't say that there aren't people out there who break the rules with a wink and a smile, almost boasting about how they're getting away with it - then I would report them. If Ofsted do an unanounced check and they don't have extra kids that day then it'll be a wake up call and hopefully they'll stop. If they are over numbers they'll get a slap on the wrist and be a little wiser the next time.

People blatantly disregarding the very basics of childminding - having more under eights than is safe, leaving kids with un-CRB'd friends/relatives/neighbours while doing the school run or popping to the shops - don't do childminders as a whole any favours.

I understand it to be that you can take another mindees children and go over your numbers in an emergency - ie - so the CM can get to hospital (or whatever) and for long enough to call their parents to come and collect them. Not just if the other CM has the flu and can't work for a day ... I think.

At our childminding coffee morning I asked about being part of a network and if that meant you could care for each other's mindees if 1 of you was ill. The course leader said that was fine. I said was it ok even if it put you over the numbers and she said that Ofsted wouldn't mind if a temporary thing.

Is this not true then? If not then it shows there is some dodgy information out there!

Keely - I definitely don't think you're a bad friend, its always harder to stand up to someone and question what they're doing than to report them, but in the end you've made a brave choice to talk to her.

Keely you are not a shit friend, you didnt go behind her back, and that was the only issue I had with this post.
Can't understand why you are so shocked Katymac about reporting child abuse in your private capacity.. wouldnt anyone act if they saw real and solid evisdence of such things...
I dont consider overminding, on its own, as child abuse, yes its stupid and she is riding for a fall, but its perfectly possible for one person to care for more than 3 kids at a time, my mum in law had 7 kids, all close together and she was a super mum.

I think in light of all the recent incidents and new legislation & reporting around safeguarding children being 'everyones responsibility' Keelybooboo's instincts probably made her feel as if she needed to raise a concern. It appears to me as if her instinct was put the needs of the children first.

I think her concern is to be commended. She did post here for advice before deciding whether it was a matter for Ofstead.

If it is something you have been able to discuss with your friend then great.

She might be working without knowing what she is doing is illegal

But lets face it if she is breaking the law & is caring for uninsured children she does need reporting

I don't think you are a shit friend at all, how would she better off continuing to over mind and put the children at risk? I think the fact you wanted to put the childrens safety first is very important

I was shocked to find out that if I, in my private life, were to witness child abuse or a child protection issue, I am legally required to do something (report, contact SS/police) because I am a childcarer - this is part of the EYFS. Is over-minding on the same level - is it a CP issue, I'm not sure

Thanks supernanny,
you sound normal, cant believe some of the smooth acceptance of going behind a friends back, that some of the posters feel is ok.. what price, 'you could do it anonymously', What are they teaching their own children, I have always told mine to be honest and straightforward and never lie.. what an example in sneaky behaviour they are setting.. is there a EYFS sticker for that...

Sorry, when I came in saying I WOULD report, I was thinking this person was fully aware of what they were doing etc (as had someone like this a few years ago round here!). If you can talk to her about it then that would be much better I agree. Good luck, not easy!

I'd have a word with her before even thinking of reporting her.

At the end of the day it's for the children's well being, nobody can look after that many children properly on their own!

I completly agree with you THEBODY i hope i have no friends hiding in the grass

and Squirrel,would you honestly report a friend without talking to her first, how two faced and underhand can you get.. I am sorry ladies but I am bloody glad you arnt a friend of mine.. disgusting behaviour...

I am sorry Keely but with friends like you who needs enemies... She might be making a very silly mistake and you should talk to her but to report her behind her back is despicable, imo.

Pehaps she has been tempted, like we all can be, because she is short of cash, you report her and she looses her registration... how would you feel??? talk to her first and when you say you are her friend, then be one...

yes, if she is your friend, talk to her, it does seem a bit off to report a freind out of the blue like that. I agree that if she is over her numbers , then that is wrong, but also there might be a legitimate reason for this, I wouldn't want to but anyone, let alone a friend through a surprise visit from Ofsted unless absolutely necessary.

I know a cm who has a variation for 5 under 5's but works with an assistant that day and doesn't have any over 5's.

Have to say ... if it was one of my CM friends, I would speak to them about it before reporting them. I remember going to a meeting once where 2 CMs talked about covering for each others holidays, and said it was allowed as 'emergency care'. They were soon put right

If she's your friend, why not talk to her about it? She might have made special arrangements for overlap or whatever. You might be able to help her manage the situation.
Unless you think she's a moneygrabbing bitch who doesn't give a toss about the children, your first impulse shouldn't be to grass.

Supernanny - caring for more children than you are registered for, so being in breach of your conditions of registration, is breaking the law. Ofsted could (and has in extreme cases) prosecuted people for it.

It's a slippery slope - one extra child, then maybe two or three. The restriction in numbers is there to protect children and ensure their needs can be met, otherwise you'd end up with baby farms.

You can make a complaint and not give your name, but it carries more weight if you give you details and just ask them to keep it confidential. Then they cannot say who raised the concern. With things like being over numbers it could be neighbours/fiends or even strangers in the street who've seen her with a bunch of kids - there's nothing to tie it to you.

Try to be specific about the dates, times and ages of the kids, as well as any specific times she might have been out and about with them. The more details the better they can investigate by checking registers etc.

Why are you going to do that to a friend?

If in doubt phone ofsted Im pretty sure theyll let you put the "complaint" in confidentailly they are hot on following confidentiality protocols and they are obliged to investigate any complaints, theyll soon sort out whether or not shes over her numbers and if she has nothing to hide there wont be a problem. Good luck I wouldnt want to be in your position with a friend, its not easy but it is the right thing to do.