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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Childminder has a swimming pool - am I being silly?

34 replies

AngeK · 13/04/2009 21:12

I just wanted to run this situation by people here to see if I'm being silly or not...

My DD has been going to a childminder for 8 months now and the childminder has just moved house. She now has a huge back yard with loads of room for the kids to run around, but they also have a swimming pool. There's no fence around the pool, it's simply just there in the garden with loads of inflatable balls, boats, pool pony. Now the childminder has 2 kids of her own, aged 2 and 4, my DD is 3 so none of them can swim.

I'm concerned that children can wander off sometimes; you just can't keep an eye on them every second and if anything happened I would blame myself completely. I've had a talk to the CM and she reassured me that she is always with the kids outside, they are never alone, but I do know that once DD walked out the back door once and they found her a couple of minutes later round the side of the house.

I'm from Australia originally and you have to have a fence around a pool by law, so it's a bit of a shock to me to have an unfenced pool with young children about. Am I being silly about this?

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CrushWithEyeliner · 13/04/2009 21:22

You are not being silly at all - would worry me big time.

ourlot · 13/04/2009 21:22

I think Ofsted would require her to have a fence of some sort. Call them and ask. It's for everyone's benefit if she can get it fenced off. We are advised for safety about buckets that can get filled with water outside, so a swimming pool completely unfenced is quite a big deal. Has Ofsted visited her new house? They have to in order for her to continue childminding as she HAS to inform Ofsted of any changes otherwise it invalidates her registration.
I'm sure she's lovely and the children will all be very safe if she's out there with them, but if something happened how would she handle 3 children under 5 in a pool at once?

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 13/04/2009 21:19

How difficult would it be for her to fit a low wooden/wire/bamboo fence? I mean is it feasible? If it is you might want to ask.
In italy most swimming pool are not fenced. My friend's is however and I think it is much safer. you are right kids do wonder about very fast.
I don't know... I hate being scared of everything but it seems quite risky. However one says they are with the children at all times I am not sure it is possible. Not for me as a mum of two, maybe cm are better at this. dunno.

MrsWeasley · 13/04/2009 21:17

I would be very surprised that Ofsted allow the pool unfenced tbh.

Ask her about security ie does she keep the back doors locked to prevent anyone sneaking out etc!

twinklytoes · 13/04/2009 21:16

my old cm had a pool as well but it was fenced off from rest of garden. it was used for cm children but she had to have at least 3 adults present before the children went in. also the under 3's didn't go in - they ahd a paddling pool.

she should have a risk assessment for safety of pool when in use and when not in use, ask to see it.

eleanorsmum · 13/04/2009 21:15

you're not being silly. ofsted need to re-visit her new house i think. someone who know will be along in a bit, but if it were me the pool must be enclosed with a locked gate and there should be no way of them getting anything to climb over the fence at all. it is a very dangerous situation imho and what with ofsted being so hot on risk assessments at mo itd be nice to see what her risk assessments say for new house!

snickersnack · 13/04/2009 21:15

So no, you are not being silly in the least...I would remove my children.

lisad123 · 13/04/2009 21:15

im sure under ofstead rules it should be fenced in.

snickersnack · 13/04/2009 21:14

I would think that probably breaches all sorts of Ofsted safety standards. I would say that was totally unacceptable for anyone with small children in the house, let alone a childminde.

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