AIBU to think that childminder is being unreasonable/to report to ofsted?

[notenoughbottle]

My childminder gave me 4 weeks notice just before Christmas for my children - the reason being that they have had a better offer. Are they being unreasonable/are they allowed to do this? I know this is a bit of a childcare issue and I'm posting in AIBU but need the traffic for this as its really left me in the lurch as originally they were the last option anyway as childcare locally is very limited. I may now have to give up my reason for needing the childcare. I was going to have words with them after xmas anyway as there are a few things we were not happy with. The main thing being the two dogs they have jumping up in my toddlers face/biting us when we collect the children. There seems to be no control over the animals and the husband actively winds the dogs up. The toddler is taken to soft play most days and the older children seem to always be sat in front of a screen when we collect them. The original menus that we were shown seem to have been relegated in favour of hot dogs, pizza and pasta on rotation. They have taken on two groups of children who go to different schools and finish at exactly the same time every day. A few weeks after starting I was asked if my children could finish 15 mins early every day to enable the CM to get to the other school on time. Obviously I refused as it would have meant my children missing out on an hour of their education each week. Hence the CM is often a few mins late for my children instead. This is despite us having been the CM's first clients. We were also originally told verbally that the CM would only be taking on ours and one more as they have minimal childcare experience and wanted to get used to such a career change - on the first day we were told that they had taken on another two. I know these are within the legal numbers allowed but this was disappointing. Given all of this I now want the childcare to stop immediately. I do not need childcare up until the four week notice point anyway as I can work around this so I will be paying needlessly for it.

So what do I do? Is the CM being unreasonable to give me this reason? Am I being unreasonable to expect dogs to not bite me or my children? The second dog was bought six weeks after my children began. They have only been there for three months...

My CM contract says she's/we're not allowed to give notice over a holiday period for her or me. It sounds like you're well rid so I'd report to OFSTED for the dogs and late pick up. Some people think being a CM is easy money whereas it's really parenting in lieu and therefore and important job. I get the impression they're in it for the money so need reporting for their low standards.

I think you are angry she's given notice otherwise you'd still be leaving your kids somewhere dogs bite and your kids are left waiting at school gate that is ridiculous!

Ofsted are sadly well aware that a lot if reports come to them when a parent is pissed off about being given notice. They will very much question you as to why you suddenly felt the need go complain at the point your childminder is ending care but not even discuss any concerns with the CM prior to then. Your CM may have already notified Ofsted that a malicious complaint may be in the pipeline. It's fairly standard to do so.
She can only look after a limited number of children so has to prioritise those that make business sense. If your relationship has been rocky she may actually have sought out new children so she can end your contract but is trying to be polite and say it is for business reasons rather than that you don't get on. She needs to like you and your children as much as you need to like your childminder for your working relationship to succeed.
As she has other children to look after I'm assuming other parents are satisfied with her care. Late pick ups, and a scratching dog would concern me but I find it hard to understand why this has not been something you have discussed in detail before now. Ofsted would have expected you to do so before going to them.

YABU for leaving your child in a place with a potentially dangerous dog. One nip and I'd be out of there.

It sounds like the childminder got the measure of you and decided she no longer wanted to deal with you and mind your children so lined up replacements and then gave you notice and it really does look like you're out for revenge and scraping the barrel trying to exaggerate anything you can think of to try and get the childminder in trouble with Ofsted.

All you'll do is just show yourself up as a piss poor parent making a vexatious report out for revenge and/or trying to get out of paying for the 4 weeks.

The main thing being the two dogs they have jumping up in my toddlers face/biting us when we collect the children

and you stayed ? Dodged a bullet there OP

YABU... You're pissed off your CM has given you notice and now there just happens to be 'issues' you're not happy with. Coincidence? Doubt it.

You can report to Ofsted but I don't think they'll do anything. Parent complaining immediately after being given notice by CM, yet continued to send the DC there despite these concerns? Laughable. People aren't thick.

Pay the notice and find someone else. The CM is better off without you.