To change childcare?

[NotAPuffin]

Our childminder of a week is leaving our 6 and 4 year olds alone in her car while she drops off and collects her child to school and activities. They get upset and cry. She says she needs me to talk to them about it because it's making things difficult for her.

Am I overreacting to start looking for a new childminder?

Defo not overreacting in fact I would be saying in no uncertain terms that they are not to be left like that under any circumstances. If she can't see or hear them (I'm assuming) then she is not following Ofsteds rules either.

I agree with Looneytune253
I assume shes a Ofsted Registered Childminder? She should know better imo..

She must keep children in her care with her, it doesn't sound like she understands her responsibilities. I'd be looking for a new childminder if I were you, who knows what other rules she may be choosing to ignore?

When you say 'alone' is she going out of sight or is she still in sight but outside of the car? For example, is she getting out of the car and standing on the pavement, in sight of the car, while the other child goes into/comes out of their activity. Or is she going into the building with her child and leaving your children in the car out of her sight?

The reason im asking is because Ofsted state that while minders are in your care they must always be within your sight and/or hearing. If she is going into a building/schoolyard and your children are out of her sight and her hearing then please call Ofsted as this is a safeguarding issue (not to mention that it gives the rest of us minders a bad name!).

If I were you though, I'd look for alternative childcare. Even if she is keeping the car in sight, they're upset and therefore shouldn't be getting left alone. I'd never leave a child to cry like that. If I go to the loo when I'm working, I don't have to take my mindees with me because I can still hear them from the toilet however I've had children in the past get upset when I leave the room so I've ended up taking them with me and sitting them in the hallway outside the loo while I quickly pee and wash hands. I don't have to take them with me but it's nicer for them not to have to cry about being left behind.

Your poor DC, they are not in the wrong here and she has no right shifting the blame onto them

Sorry, typo. My second paragraph should say mindees must always be within your sight and/or hearing

Wow, I'm sorry what?!!!

I had to rest that twice to make sure I'd understood it. No way in the wild should she be leaving them in the car whilst she collects her child.

I'm a childminder myself and yes it's awkward getting little ones in and out the car but they are in my care. One day a week I give a fellow playgroup leader a lift home but have to pick up my daughter from school nursery first. She is highly trustworthy and DBS checked but even so I still have to take the mindees out of the car and take them with me even for the 2 minutes it takes for collection. Time for a new childminder I'd say.

Sorry was so amazed my spelling went to pot!

Rest= read
Wild = world

You're paying her to mind your children - she doesn't get to just leave them in her car. YANBU.

More details please OP. If she is truely leaving them unattended not only should you change childcare you should report child minder.

If it's leaving them in the car while she goes 5 feet to the door and back then I'd be a bit more understanding.

I assume it is the former if the kids have time to get upset and start crying. She sounds like a non starter.

I'm not in the UK so Ofsted isn't an option.

She says she can see them but they can't see her. I've plenty of experience of parking at that school and you can't always get a place at the gate so she could have to park around the corner.

She has someone else's 10 month old who also gets left and cries.

You've all reassured me that I'm not going overboard. Thanks. They won't be going back (the 10 month old is leaving soon anyway).