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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to withdraw dcs from childminder?

43 replies

Twiceover · 03/12/2014 16:00

This morning headmistress took me aside to tell me that my childminder had been seen after school loading 6 children into her 5 seater car.

Came home, phoned childminder immediately. She assured me it was a one off caused by her helper being late to pick up and that it would never happen again.

I said ok but have been thinking about it all day and I'm not happy. It shows a total disregard for child safety and I'm amazed anyone would do this let alone a childminder.

I feel I can't trust her. Would it be unreasonable to take the children out without notice?

OP posts:
Thurlow · 03/12/2014 16:05

I don't know what the clause in the contract is for terminating without notice - I assume most contracts have something in them for extreme situations?

But YANBU to feel like this. Yes, emergencies happen, but the correct response was for her either to plan some way of walking home, or call the parents and ask how this could be fixed - could a parent or their friend pick up a child, would they be ok with another CM helping out etc.

That's both insanely dangerous, and also just a really, really worrying response to a problem.

Stormingateacup · 03/12/2014 16:06

I would. Being willing to cut corners when it comes to child safety is not an attitude I would want in a childminder.

speedbird17 · 03/12/2014 16:10

Oh god, I'm pretty sure that breach of safety is gross misconduct surely? I would be getting my dc out immediately Sad how awful for you.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 03/12/2014 16:11

I would be absolutely livid. What she have done was arrive at school to pick up and remained on school grounds until someone or her helper could come to get the children. There was no need to do what she did. How far did she travel like that?

To be honest I would remove the kids and report her to ofsted.

dogscatsandbabies · 03/12/2014 16:14

Mine's another vote for pull them out immediately.

CommanderShepard · 03/12/2014 16:14

That's two without seats. That's horrific.

Yes yes, our parents all used to do it in the 80s and blah blah but less than a mile from my house three children died when a mum had 7 kids in a car, flipped over the central reservation and killed another driver. Her son sustained brain damage in the crash.

I know that's me coming on a bit strong but seriously, if that was my daughter with that childminder she'd be out of there.

DuploGiraffe · 03/12/2014 16:15

I dont think it's unreasonable at all to withdraw your children. This would be a deal breaker for me I'm afraid.

cinders456 · 03/12/2014 16:16

Yes, report her and take your dcs out!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/12/2014 16:16

I wouldn't be able to trust her to make decisions safely if she cut corners with such a basic thing as car safety. I would withdraw immediately.

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 03/12/2014 16:17

Good point commander I didn't count the childminder in the number of people in the car. 7 people in a 5 seater is bloody disgraceful Shock

BuzzardBirdRoast · 03/12/2014 16:19

Wouldn't that mean that at least one child was not wearing a seatbelt? Shock

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 03/12/2014 16:21

Mine wouldn't be going back in that situation either. And yes, I would report her. There's just no need for that.

MaryWestmacott · 03/12/2014 16:24

withdraw your DCs. report. Being late because she'd had to walk would be what a normal person would do in that situation, not cram 6 children into 4 seats.

Littlef00t · 03/12/2014 16:26

She could have called parents and asked permission for a taxi to take the extras back to her home, but presumably she was also over ratios if her helper hadn't arrived.

I can't believe she did it in public and didn't think it was an issue as a one off.

Ebb · 03/12/2014 16:28

YANBU. I'd withdraw my kids and report her to Ofsted. If she'd had an accident, even a minor one, well it doesn't bear thinking about.

DaisyFlowerChain · 03/12/2014 16:30

Yes I would withdraw my child and would have been on the phone to Ofsted straight away. Well done on the head seeing as it's unlikely you would have ever found out the risks being taken with your children.

lem73 · 03/12/2014 16:32

I'm glad the headmistress told you but I think she has a responsibility to speak to the childminder as well. I agree you should immediately pull them out and for the sake of other kids report them to Ofsted. I wouldn't do that with my kids' friends even if their parents agreed.

waithorse · 03/12/2014 16:49

I'd be taking my dc out and reporting her. Just such a stupid thing to do. Sad

MrsMaker83 · 03/12/2014 16:50

Yanbu. She should have just waited, what is so important that she would compromise safety of children in her care?!

fatterface · 03/12/2014 16:51

I'd withdraw them immediately and report to Ofsted.

Castlemilk · 03/12/2014 17:03

Withdraw them immediately without notice, report to OFSTED.

No doubt for a second.

VivaLeBeaver · 03/12/2014 17:06

Dd's old childminder did this once. And it wasnt a short journey. It was ten miles on a dual carriageway.

I later also discovered she had my 5yo buttering bread rolls in the village chippy in school holidays and before school!

VivaLeBeaver · 03/12/2014 17:08

Meant to say I withdrew dd. CM was actually struck off by ofsted a few weeks later. I don't think for either of those things as I didnt report her.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 03/12/2014 17:10

Withdraw with no notice or payments for any notice period and report

KnackeredMuchly · 03/12/2014 17:32

Pull them out and report to OFSTED.

It's incredibly dangerous and teaching the children in the car that it's ok to go without a seatbelt - causing lots of fun for their parent who insists on it.

I'd be furious.