to think there could be as many neglected children in childcare as there are elderly people in care homes?

[choplouey]

I have three preschool children and a 7 and 9 yr old. I've worked in nurseries on and off since leaving university and obviously have been to a wealth of parks, soft play areas, toddler groups, childrens centres and so on in my nine years as a parent.

Before I get slated - this is not an attack on working mums or childcarers. I recognise that there are many people who want/have to work and many fantastic childcarers. However...

While working in nurseries (I've worked in 12) I've seen children plonked down as soon as their parent leaves and left crying, fussed over for 5 mins so they're happy before they return, an untrue record kept of food and nappies for non-verbal children, children told to shut up, upset children ignored in corners for great lengths of time and so on.

Last week I went to soft play and there was a childminder there. She sat on her phone for the entire time, despite two of her mindees hitting/being hit/crying. Today I went to toddler group and a childminder was working with her sister. One child was around 18 months and wailed the entire time. One kept asking 'what's wrong with you?' every ten mins, the other just plonked her down with toys and told her to stop being stupid.

Another mindee was dropped off by her mum and the childminder was all over her tickling and chasing her while mum was there. Literally the minute she left the childminder sat down, the little girl started crying and the childminder ignored her. Her sister rolled her eyes and said to her 'it's no wonder your mum's don't want you if you're both such miserable little cows!' and they laughed

The children this morning looked so hopeless and helpless and I left feeling furious that the childminder will tell their parents what a lovely day they've had and so sick at the thought of how crap she treats them at home if it's that poorly in public.

Aibu to feel this way and sad for how many parents are given misinformation?

Also, as a nursery nurse I would never use a cm
No accountability
Probably not qualified with limited experience
To me ita such more of a risk

There seem to be an awful lot of posters who have seen these terrible things happen in nurseries. It's always by other members of staff though, never themselves, obviously! To every single person who has said they worked in a nursery and who did not report mistreatment of babies and children that they apparently witnessed - you are the guilty ones. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Age and inexperience are irrelevant. I'm not sure why you would post so smugly about never sending your own child to one. I would not trust a single one of you with any child I know. Not for one minute. Ever.

INSANCERRE WHAT A PIG IGNORANT COMMENT. all cms are qualified to be cms . Id trust themmore than a 16 year old that most nurseries use.
And where does the no accountability come from? So no to the ofsted and council regualtions, inspections and assessments we go tjrough.
Try keeping your ill informed opinions to yourself until you find out what you're talking about

Ps. My assisstant has a phd. Many in your nursery with one of them, are there?
You sound very immature.

I am not immature far from it
I'm not play pig ignorant either
Cms are not always qualified in childcare, the same goes for nannies

Even very small children can express their lack of attachment or unhappiness

Yet how many people drop off their screaming kids to nursery thinking it is fine? When it might not be?

Allchildminders are qualified in childcare as all childminders have to be qualified aschildminders otherwise you cannot be registered. Itsquite simple, really.can I ask how old you are as you appear to know little about childcare sectors and their regulations.

Yes really Cold light

If guilt means that people play closer attention to childcare providers then the chances of poor care diminishes. You can't just devolve yourself of responsibility once your child is in a setting to avoid feelings of guilt.

And I'm laughing at the idea that I have yo keep my comments to myself
You haven't quite got the hang of a chatroom, have you?

Just dontlike to see people embarassing themselves, even in a chat room

I don't think the OP is attacking anybody and thinks she raises some good points.
far better to tell her tale, let others tell theirs and if it seems that nursery care isn't what its cracked up to be then you are aware.
You could bury your head in the sand and pretend this isn't so, that all nursery care is good. That would be cruel, not telling the truth.

Well nobody comes to my house kicking and screaming!I am happy that mymindees are well looked after, happy and treated with lots of affection and attention. All the cms I know appear to treat their , indees the same. I would be surprised if they turned into cackling child haters as soon as they went home.

Jesus what a depressing thread. I'm a registered childminder and to think that people in my community think that I spend my time ignoring and/or abusing the children in my care?! I actually feel a bit sick at that.

I put so much effort into helping my little mindees settle in, have fun and develop to their full potential. I spend time and money planning outings and activities that I think they will enjoy. I spend even more of my own time making sure my paperwork is up to date. I play with them both at home and when we are out at groups. I wouldn't dream of ignoring a crying child. And yes I make my living from my job but I genuinely like the children I care for and enjoy spending time with them. I'm pretty sure I am not the only childminder who operates like this.

Why should I stop the guilt talk?

Youre not ladyjane.
Tjere are a lot ofcmbashers on here for some reason. Always have been. Depresses me too

Agreed Adsy

No one I know would do that for an excessive period of time without investigating by which time it could have gone on for too long.

I should stress that I don't think childcare is bad. I think bad practice is rare. But we shouldn't spare the feelings of working mums if it needs questioning.

embarrassing myself?
childminders do not need to be qualified, I do know that much
oh look, it says so here
"What qualifications will I need?
You do not need any specific qualifications to
become a registered child
minder but you will need
to undertake some training. Childminders must
be registered with Ofsted
(Office for Standards
in Education), who are responsible for ensur
ing that all childminder
s meet the minimum
registration requirements for either the Early Y
ears Register and/or the Childcare Register -
compulsory and/or voluntary parts. "

training is not being qualified
A small distinction, I know, but an important one
and I do know there are good childminders out there, I would prefer not to use one

I think child care workers and carers for the elderly or disabled should wear cameras like the police. And before anyone says "That's very big brother" I don't think so....they could remove them at their breaktime and if they have nothing to hide, then what's the problem? I also think they should all be paid a LOT more.

By being passed as registered as a cm you are a qualified cm. So you arequalified

wannaBe - were you one of these crap childminders yourself and now you're mad you were found out? I think you should get your facts straight before spouting anymore rubbish. Childminders warning each other when inspectors are in the area is crap. In our area we are all inspected by different people so how would that ever work?
And the childminder who left the child in the car while she visited you - with your sense of righteousness I imagine you put her right straight away about her unreasonable behaviour.
There are poor examples of most occupations but childminders seem to be a popular target and easy to criticize. I childmind for other people in the way I'd want my own children cared for. I think you're letting the few bad examples colour your opinion of all childminders in general.
Its NOT an easy job but I still love doing it and I wish people like you would take off your blinkers and look at the whole picture. There are a LOT of us doing good jobs and people like you spilling your bile over sites like this do us a dis-service.