CM's Do you get dressed before mindees arrive?

Well the report was wrong. It's not satisfactory to be undresed / going into or out of the shower / leaving the door open and the premises unsecured. She should be inadequate!

Its these berks that give good childminders a bad name.

Tell her exactly what you think of her "service"

The Care Commission would definitely want to hear about this Rossco

I am very much of the opinion not to give her a reference at all - but got the impression that you felt duty-bound to give her one, which is why I would urge just putting the dates on it.

But to be honest, if it was me, I wouldn't give her one at all. What's she going to do if you don't? Threaten you? That's hardly the way to coerce a good reference out of someone.

I can't believe this it gets worserer.

Is she actually registered? Or one of the many who claim to be. I wouldn't bother with a reference actually I wouldnt even take my DC their again. It's not safe IMO.

I'm embarrassed if I don't have my make-up on yet, never mind still being in my PJ's!

Oh my god!! I am a childminder and like the others have said I would never do this. I have been caught out once in 6 years when there was a mix up over the days when my 7am starter was coming but that was the one and only time I answered the door in my dressing gown.

She should be up, showered and dressed before mindees arrive. You pay her to work from 8.50, not 9.20 when she if finally ready. And she should definitely not be leaving children without supervision for that length of time, nipping to the loo is ok, but not having a shower.

As for the reference I would just not write one.

Wow. I am so surprised a CM would think this is OK.

Re the reference, I really would urge you to literally just put the dates, and leave it at that. Anything else at all, even if it's just about activities, will send an ambiguous message to other potential parents.

She doesn't deserve to be looking after children the way she carries on at present. Leaving the door open!

Crikey - I work from home (and have a little one), and I am dressed before breakfast, let along by the start of work. And I don't have 'clients' knocking at my door. I really don't get what her problem is.

I think you have a duty to not make any positive comments in the reference in case it misleads future parents.

I imagine her kids were alone in a house with the door open and mum in the shower...? Anyone could come in and pinch the kids, she wouldnt hear a thing. Shudder.

literally state the facts, ie your dc was there from xxx to xxxx

any parent worth their salt would read between the lines

when you arrived this morning,were there any other mindess there and if so what were they doing?

Yes, don't mention the activities because then you are stating positives. Just put the age of your LO and the dates, nothing more than that. OR decline to do it at all, which would be better really.

what?! the door was open and you were expected to bundle your child inside and leave them? or hang round yourself making you late for work? you should report this woman, she sounds like a liability.

definitely don't give her a reference. If you really felt you had to give her the letter, just put dates nothing about activities - that seems to be rather economical with the truth to put the good stuff but not mention your concerns.

so did you leave your child in a dark house with no adult in sight?

i would report the cm tbh

I'd stick to the bare facts with no opinion - "We used CM's services for our ds between X date and Y date".

That way you're not misleading any future parents!

We briefly had a CM who did this on more than one occasion and again it was at 8.50am not early at all. She also did not apologise or seem to feel it unusual. DD often had a 2nd breakfast as Cm usually hadn't had hers yet. She had pre-school 3 mindees from different families and clearly thought nothing of greeting us all in her pjs.
It was in her case indicative of a general lack of professionalism eg short notice of holidays, confusion about money (sometimes in our favour!) I do like a home from home atmosphere over something too clinical and mini-nursery but this was too much. In the end we gave notice.
She asked me for a reference and I just put factual stuff. DD was with CM from xdate to xdate and what positives I could ie that she was kind and caring which she was.

Oh no - not 'I'll need a letter from you by Tuesday.' Not quite! But I hate confrontation too - I would 'forget' the letter. If she chases you up after your DC is out of there, you can push back then.

I wouldn't write one at all. You are not obliged to.

Or write what SnailWhaleTrail posted and then put if you want to contact me to ask any questions, here is my number.

Can you not just put in your letter 'We used X as a childminder for Y between the dates of .... and ....'

Then just leave it at that, if she insists then offer to add that you felt it necessary to leave as the constant requests for changes in hours made the arrangement feel unsettled.

She has no right to insist upon a reference from you.

Or you could always write a letter and put in why you feel unable to continue using her services.