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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my childminder should drop my children at school properly?

127 replies

ThatsSoFetch · 05/10/2018 19:11

I've had my current childminder for quite a while now - around 5 months. DD started with her first doing full time childcare and then DS started with her when DD started school. She has them both before and after school with the arrangement being that she drops both children at school at school by 8.55am. (Can drop off from 8.45am though) DD is 4 and is in reception, DS is 9 and in year 5.

I had a call from the head teacher this morning to say both children have said they have been dropped off on the car park that is next to the driveway but the access is almost at the top near the main road and left to walk up the school driveway by themselves. He said he didn't feel this was adequate due to DD's age and said really if I am paying for a childcare service, that isn't what should be happening. I agree - I'm pretty annoyed. Every other child is walked to the playground.

Now the driveway is quite busy, there is an entrance to a woods which leads off to several different fields, woods, housing estates and beyond. Basically an absolute minefield if you are 4 and decide to have a wander off. There is another school next door to my children's school too so as you can imagine, there are hundreds of parents and potentially god knows who else. No cars drive down the driveway though.

When I have on occasion dropped the children at school myself, I normally walk them onto the playground and see them into their classrooms to ensure they have got there safely.

Today was the first time I have heard this and indeed my children haven't told me - tonight I have asked them and they have said it happens every single time - I could have accepted today as being a one off but now I'm concerned about my children's safety.

AIBU to expect that my childminder should drop my children onto the playground the same as I (and other parents do with their children) do ?

OP posts:
Holidayshopping · 05/10/2018 19:12

I don’t think anyone on here will disagree with you.

What did the childminder say when you talked to her about it today?

ProudThrilledHappy · 05/10/2018 19:12

Yadnbu and I would probably not be able to trust a childminder going forward who thought that was ok

Temporaryanonymity · 05/10/2018 19:13

I'm surprised the HT hasn't raised this with the safeguarding team.

NorthernRunner · 05/10/2018 19:16

No you aren’t.
Why does your CM does this? Is it a time saver or does she do it because of lack of buggy access (just thinking out loud here)
She would have to risk assess the school drop off so you could ask to see this.
I would also request that you take them to the door for safety.
Finally I would let her know about the headmasters phone call.
I am a childminder too btw and always take child to the teacher.

huttub · 05/10/2018 19:16

You need to find a new CM and report to ofsted.

Invisimamma · 05/10/2018 19:17

Yanbu! Particularly for the 4yr old!

Thatstheendofmytether · 05/10/2018 19:17

I am a childminder and I would never leave a 4 year old to walk to school alone.
Have you asked your childminder about this?

Thatstheendofmytether · 05/10/2018 19:19

Infact I would be reluctant to let a 9 year old walk so far on their own.

Cel982 · 05/10/2018 19:20

I'm surprised the HT hasn't raised this with the safeguarding team.

Why would she raise it with the safeguarding team before speaking to the parent?

SilverApples · 05/10/2018 19:20

Odd that you feel the need to ask. Confused No, it’s not acceptable. Yes, she is endangering your children.

LanceStatersGold · 05/10/2018 19:23

As far as I know, a CM shouldn’t leave the children until they’ve seen that they have gone into school. This is not okay.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 05/10/2018 19:28

No one is going to disagree with you. I’m a CM and certainly don’t.

foggetyfog · 05/10/2018 19:28

It's obviously wrong if the HT phoned you. Tell the childminder (before monday morning) how shocked you were to receive a phone call and that it is completely unacceptable and must not happen again.
if she is difficult about it tell her you will report her to Ofsted and will be removing the children as she has put them in danger.

I would probably be looking for another childminder anyway unless she genuinely had reason to believe you would be ok with her doing this and you still trust her..

cadburyegg · 05/10/2018 19:29

YANBU that’s shocking.

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/10/2018 19:38

That’s awful. Safeguarding issue. Have you spoken to the childminder? Can you find someone else to look after your dcs?

Momzilla82 · 05/10/2018 19:39

You need a new childminder

Racecardriver · 05/10/2018 19:40

Really not good enough.

Original poster
ThatsSoFetch · 05/10/2018 19:42

Thanks ladies. As it is I used to be a childminder myself and always walked children to the playground at the school we were at at the time, handing them over to the teacher on duty then waiting with the younger ones to see them into their classrooms. I haven't spoken to minder yet - wanted to speak to my children on their own first to find out what's been going on. And just thought I'd gauge opinion on it prior to speaking to her. I agree- it's a safeguarding issue. I'm absolutely furious. DD is very little, DS often runs ahead of me to his friends and no doubt he does this with his sister. I've never allowed her to walk in by herself.

OP posts:
HowCanThisBeRight · 05/10/2018 19:44

About 4 yrs ago. There was a similar situation with a friend of mine. The CM she used dropped a yr 1&3 in the car park opposite. There was a zebra crossing. But notorious for cars not stopping. ( another story) the HT raised it with safeguarding..who contacted child services! Needless to say the childminder was not longer. But my friend went thro alot of questioning.

upsideup · 05/10/2018 19:45

Obviously the childminder needs to do what your paying and expect her to do but I wouldnt be at all concerned about 9 year old DS walking his 4 year old sister down a drive way to school and I'm suprised people are so horrified by that.

Original poster
ThatsSoFetch · 05/10/2018 19:46

Just for information - the car park is maybe a few minutes walk to the school playground. Access is really good - in fact it's one of the best accessible schools I have ever known for access as the car park is the church car park and it's been made d it for disabilities

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatsSoFetch · 05/10/2018 19:47

The driveway bends round a corner by the way, so there would be no way for the childminder to see that the children actually got to school.

OP posts:
SpottingTheZebras · 05/10/2018 19:49

I think that fact the head felt the need to call you says it all really.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 05/10/2018 19:53

I have no experience of child minders but I would report this to whoever she is registered with (ofsted?) it is such a serious breach of care.

In our reception children have to be physically taken to the classroom.

HannahnotAgnes · 05/10/2018 19:53

That's shocking - I'd find a new childminder & would also report them to Ofsted.

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