Childminder leaving kids in car

[bobstersmum]

There is a childminder who drops her own child off in the morning at my ds school and leaves the rest of the kids in her car parked on the road, in this car can be children of varying ages but also includes her own very young baby. I understand it is very very rushed and stressful doing the school run as I do it myself with my other two in tow, but I would not even think of leaving my two in the car while I drop ds off. The child she drops off is in ds's class.
I have seen her doing this most mornings for a while now, not just a one off. Is this considered OK to do? I know I would not be happy my child being left in a car on the road out of sight even for a few mins.
Aibu to think this is not right?

What age is the child she's dropping off? Could they be trusted to get in to school from the car themselves?

What distance are you talking that she's out of sight?

I get where you're coming from but I also think it's potentially more dangerous to get lots of children out of a car at the roadside

The child is reception age. It's not a main road it's a side street. Every other parent gets the kids out and other childminders do too, because to go into the school it's up the road then up and through a playground into another area, and how long it takes depends on if there are other children and parents in front.

No she absolutely shouldn’t be leaving any of them. You can put the baby so it’s on the side of the car that’ll be parking on the pavement, and open that door and take all the kids out from that side. If everybody else can do it then so can she. I would be beyond angry if I had left my child in someone’s care and they did this.

Could you offer to take her child in for her?

As a childminder I can say this really should not be happening.
Children should be “ in sight or sound” of the Registered minder at all times.
OFSTED would take this very seriously.

How old are the children she is leaving in the car? Approximately

Hi op ex Cm here and no absolutkry no way did I ever even consider this to be acceptable practise or it be acceptable practise to ofsted.

ash it’s her job to care for and safeguard children and she should have policies on getting out of the car safely and the school run.

This is really bad practise and terribly bad for business as the way you model good behaviour keeps your books and waiting list full.

Georgie, she usually comes after me as I see her coming in as I am leaving and I walk past her car with the children in. The children are all infant age, from different schools.

I used a childminder when DS (now 13) was very young, around 18 months. One day went to pick him up and he was asleep in her car while she was inside with the rest of the kids. She said he had fallen asleep and she didn't want to disturb him! I was horrified and moved him to a nursery the next day! It is not safe to leave a child that age in a car with no adults around! What if he had woken up crying? What if someone had broken into the car?!

I used to leave my children in the car for short periods if I had to pop out of car for a couple of minutes. Risk is negligible...

That's horrendous - what if the car catches fire? It would be different if she was within sight and easy reach of the car.

If I knew her better to speak to I could suggest I take her child in when i see her but I don't really know her so feels strange to ask I suppose?

My policy was all children out of kerb side.

Out of the car

Babies first and the secured in buggy. Older child next to stand by the buggy and then toddlers with reins.

Into the car

Toddlers first. Older child next then baby.

Nice thought Georgie , but she has been entrusted to look after these children

or what if another car crashed into the parked car with the kids inside? I would report her to OFSTED OP. There’s no way she’d know it came from you.
I would stand at the car till she came back and ask her point blank why she thinks it’s acceptable to leave them there.

cocunut what you do with your own children has nothing to do with what you do with mindees.

Totally different.

We left a childminder who did this to ours. It wasn't just about risk assessment though, they were petrified and bawled crying every time, but she kept doing it anyway. I couldn't leave them with someone who thought that was okay.

mavis this is her own child she’s dropping off though.

And no you should not ever be taking in her minded child unless in an emergency! The child if her responsibility not yours. The parent won’t wabt you taking control it’s not your business.

I would report her or tell her you will unless she stops. Or inform the school although they might not get involved

Oh sorry her own child! Ok still stands she should take the minders or arrange for a friend to walk her child in.

That’s what CMs do. This makes me very cross

I do it with my own dc - but he’s two and refuses to get out. He’s quite happy to sit in th car for a few minutes on his own. I’m fairly comfortable taking the risk that the car might catch fire (has that ever happened, a switched off car just suddenly igniting?).

I wouldn’t be impressed if a childminder was doing this though with multiple children who clearly don’t have a choice.

I'm a CM and she should not be doing this. Are you sure there's not someone else int he car with her like her assistant?

No she absolutely should not be doing this and should be reported. She is being paid to take care of people's children and not to leave them unattended in a car. totally out of order.

I left my five year old for a few minutes today to get his sibling. It was pouring and he has a bad cough. However, in those few minutes I was imagining - what if he opens the door? It's locked but you can still open up from inside. He might do it if I was late and he decided to come and look for me, crossing two roads. Or, what if he has a play with the controls, and pulled the handbreak off? The car would have slid back into the main road.
So I am making a new arrangement for next week!

childminder here. I hate this. it gives us a bad name.

She shouldn't do that. Not only is it plain common sense, we were specifically told during training not to do this...