To report her to ofsted?

[PoppyPrincess]

On the way home from school we popped in to the supermarket and whilst in there I saw the DSC's childminder - with no kids!
I had only seen her 2 mins before picking them up so I went outside and saw they were sat in the car. Admittedly they were with her son who is about 12 (DSC are 5 & 7).
She wasn't just rushing in for bread and milk, she had a trolly and was getting quite a bit, I hovered around for a bit and she was in there for a total of about 20 mins.
I'm sure the kids would have been perfectly fine, I'm not really concerned about there safety, especially as they were with the older boy. But she is getting paid to look after them not paid to do her shopping whilst they wait in the car. She doesn't even have any children during the day so surely she should be doing her shopping then? I just think there's no excuse for it.
I didn't say anything to her as she looks like a gobby common cow who would probably punch me if I confronted her. I rang DP and told him, he doesn't really have anything to do with her, wasn't involved in picking her and very rarely picks them up from her but he's going to mention it to ex.
From what I'm aware leaving the DC alone is a serious no no in the eyes of ofsted and I'm not sure whether its something she would lose her license for?
Things are very difficult at the mo between DP and ex so I don't want to look like I'm a trouble causer but if I was her I would definitely want to know.
Should I report her to Ofsted or should DP just tell the ex and see if she wants to report her? I think she's quite pally with her and she's quite happy leaving the kids with teens babysitting so I doubt she'll see it as a problem so I would think that she'd probably not report her. But in my eyes if she's not taking her job as a childminder very seriously then there may be other issues in her home too. And what if I don't report it and then she does it with somebody else's kids?

I didn't say anything to her as she looks like a gobby common cow who would probably punch me if I confronted her

You should have approached her.

YABU

Yabu to refer to someone as hobby common type. Did not read after that.

*gobby

I can't see that gobby common cow going down well...............

Goodness, you sound pleasant.

yanbu about her leaving the children, lazy bugger should do her shopping on her own time

but you haven't painted yourself in a very nice light, have you?

yabu and sound like a right gem as well. Gobby common type (shock)

If you saw her you'd know what I mean....she scares me, that's my point.

I used to leave DD with a teenager babysitting. I used to babysit when I was a teenager.
What is wrong with that?

Isn't there a minimum age for babysitting - 14, iirc?

I would mention it to your dp and his ex, and let them decide what to do about it.

pagwash I too was looked after by teenagers and also babysat as a teen, like I said I'm not too worried about their safety it's more the issue that a childminder isn't allowed to leave the kids, she is getting paid to look after them but she wasn't.
I know quite a few childminders through playgroups and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't leave them in the car.

There's a difference between something being illegal and something being heavily frowned on by OFSTED. I can leave my own DCs sitting in front of CBBC all day but I'm pretty sure OFSTED would not be happy about it.

However you need to inform the DC's parents and then stay well away.

I think you were right not to confront. I'd contact OFSTED tbh, perhaps to seek clarification more than anything.

It's not about babysitting age, it's about the contract between the CM and the client. So the client/parent should be the one to speak to her.

btw I saw someone I know who is a CMer leave two toddlers (CMees) alone in the car to do shopping. I called OFSTED, who logged it but did nothing.

You could always follow her around for a few days to find out if it's a common occurrence.

... in disguise of course. Just in case the gobby common cow spots you and punches you. A false moustache and sunglasses should suffice.

Perhaps she just had to do some shopping then for some reason or another.

And I'm not saying she was right to be shopping whilst allegedly chidlminding but you saw a snapshot.

Maybe she had told their Mum she had to do a shop and the mum said it was OK.
The kids may very possibly mention it during idle chit chat anyway.

Personally, regardless of the person looking after the children I would report her, I work in Childcarer and the teenager would not be the one who is police checked nor would the mother necessarily know what her son is capable off with all the things teenagers are exposed too these days, it's risky leaving your kids with anyone but worse when you leave them with someone you trust and understand to be looking after them, especially if you not!
A lot can happen in 20mins.

Tell their mum and leave it to her.

Just tell your do and let him (I am assuming its a him) decide want to do. You don't have to do anything.

Oh don't be stupid (some of you) - are you telling me you can't tell the difference between a Gobby Common Cow and a Sloane Ranger?

One says "yah" and the other says "yeah"?

But that's not what you said. You said she (your dhs ex) is quite happy leaving the children with teens babysitting so she probably won't care. Which sounds like a criticism.

Are you paying the woman?

No

Are the kids yours?

No

Is the Mother likely to report her?

No

Wind your neck in then...