To tell the childminder to stick it!

[Eljkr]

Possibly outing myself but I need some opinions

Trying to cut a long story short..

So I visited a childminder is June, liked her and told her I wanted to put my children with her but I wasn't due to return to work until September so when I knew the arrangement I would get in contact.

I got a new job and contacted her beginning sept and let her know what I needed, they were due to start 2nd week on sept. Next thing I know I have a email to say she has a holiday booked and cannot start them until a few weeks later. Not a problems I just told work I could start that week instead.

Then a few days before they were due to start I get an email to say the staff she has taken on have had troubles with their Ofsted so would have to postpone the children starting until October, I gave her the benefit of the doubt and organised for MIL and DM to have the kids.

I have since tried to contact 3 times to confirm their start date and their settling in sessions.

Yesterday I get yet another email to say that her own kids are ill so no settling in sessions until they are better and now she can't start the boys in mid October due to more issues with Ofsted but can come to my house to look after them with another family she was due to minds kids until the issue is sorted

Do I give her the benefit of the doubt as its Ofsted pushing her back, or am I being had?

[Willow2016]

Nope she cannot child mind in your house, and especially not bring other kids there too!

What is she thinking?

It can take a while for paperwork to all go through but she should have been up front with you from the start and certainly not booked holidays the week you were due to start. She should have kept you up to date on whats happening and given you the option to look elsewhere.

It could all be very innocent except for the coming to your house part. Why on earth cant she mind in her own house if she has another family as well? Somethings not right that she cant do it in her own house and she should be honest with you about it. She doesnt need an assistant just for you and the other familys kids if she can look after them ok at your house.

You can look her up online and get her latest inspection report and see if there are any issues.

[Eljkr]

Yes the issues are with the assistant starting and others moving into her home, probably didn't need to ask but I didn't want to seem totally inreasonable to look else where and tell her I'm not interested!


I will definitely be running for the hills!!

[DonkeyOaty]

Dig around the Ofsted website, I'll bet you'll be able to find her reports which will be decent pointers.

And yes, run. You need reliable care which she patently cannot offer.

[Sara107]

She's unreliable, she didn't honour the agreement you had. No reason to trust that things will get better. Look for someone else, or find a nursery - at least then your childcare doesn't get cancelled because somebody else's kids are sick.

[enjoyingscience]

Noooo. That's super, super dodgy.

[PinkPetal38]

She's not being very professional about it at all, and I would look elsewhere as this pushing back could take a while and cause you even more problems.

But it is likely that the Ofsted delays are around the assistant is having trouble with their own registration/DBS check. You get told it will take an approximate time by Ofsted but it can drag on and on, which obviously impacts on any children a childminder has agreed to take on based on having that assistant.

If her children are sick then you can't do settling in sessions unfortunately. She has offered to mind in your own home with another family (as a nanny) as that doesn't require an Ofsted registration, and number of children are therefore more lenient, and her assistant could come too perhaps.

But, as I said, she's not communicating with you in a professional manner and I would draw a line and find someone else who has the space you require.

[DailyMailFuckRightOff]

Things might have changed but I think it used to be that if a CM wanted to change where the care was offered they needed to have OFSTED inspect the new setting? Dodgy dodgy dodgy. Would things like their insurance even still be valid?

Plus what about anybody who happened to be at your home if she brought other kids there - would she be covering the costs for the necessary DBS checks??

[R2G]

Her actions speak louder than her words - booking a holiday over your start date. That's bad enough.

[Maryann1975]

I'm a cm and agree that the ofsted issue could be something completly out of her control. What is the issue? It would be helpful to know.
But, she knew when you wanted to start, then Booked a holiday. That, to me, is really bad. She should have got in touch with you. The children's illness, I would do every thing I can to avoid this being an issue. Especially with a new starter. Grandparents help out, aunties, uncles. DH has had to take a day off and keep poorly child upstairs all day so as not to mess my parents around.
As for working from your house, that is a major red flag. I don't think her insurance would be valid, she would probably become your employee and you would have all the issues around hat to deal with. Just no. There are lots of good cms out there. I hope you find someone more reliable quickly.

[GingerbreadLatteToGo]

You need the ask?

Seriously?

Dodgy as fuck, find someone else.

[gettingitwrongputingitright]

Run

[nancy75]

Run for the hills! Aside from all the other issues what kind of insurance would cover her to look after children in your house? I'm guessing she would be relying on your home insurance but hasn't mentioned that!

[HereIAm20]

If she is unable to have them in her house it would suggest that Ofsted have an issue with a family member who lives there. Look for alternate child care!

[NuffSaidSam]

I'd look for someone else.

Ofsted can be a nightmare to deal with so it could be that she is entirely innocent and just the victim of ridiculous redtape, but she hasn't dealt with it very professionally. She should have rung you early on and explained the problems/delays and what that would mean for you.

[mouldycheesefan]

"Issues with ofsted" would have had me cancelling the arrangement.
Make alternative plans this one is a disaster. You can't rely on her.

[EweAreHere]

You need to look elsewhere. Do not trust someone who is supposedly running her livelihood, and caring for children, in this careless, erratic manner, with your children.

Good luck!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I'm in Scotland so we're under the Care Inspectorate rather than Ofsted but here you have to have separate approval granted to have an assistant (unless you register one right from the start) and the Care Inspectorate have to approve and check that person - and anyone you hire to replace them. I'm wondering if it's a similar situation here and it's taking longer than expected. Either way, very unprofessional as you shouldn't offer a service you can't provide and she sounds flaky as fuck

[fabulous01]

Avoid. You need to trust the carer never mind be organised

[Piscivorus]

If she is this reliable now you'd be in for a nightmare.

I had a cleaner like this. I liked her and was desperate for a good cleaner so accepted the excuses and I really paid for it. No good deed goes unpunished. Don't do it!

[FriendofBill]

I would try to get someone else. Bringing other children to mind at your house? Never heard of it!

Have you tried childcare.co.uk?

Also your council website? Ours has lots of local minders on it, I got my minder this way

Sure start centre usually had a list/ads for local minders.

[talksensetome]

Definitely organise something else. If she continues to be this flakey it could put your job at risk.

[Liiinoo]

No, if she isn't reliable now she probably won't be later.

[Betaday]

First and second time okay, third and fourth no, just no

[Longlost10]

look for someone else. But don't tell her until you have found someone