To think this isn’t on (childminder and school events)

[PoutySprout]

I arrange a lot of events at DD’s school.

One of the mums from DD’s class registered as a childminder about 18 months ago. She has 2 children now at the school (year 3 and reception). She has the maximum number of minded children she’s allowed to have. Causes chaos in the morning when she blocks everyone else in in the car park with her minibus, then herds the children 4 abreast as the lay crawl towards the school entrance (across a road) and blocking everyone else who just wants to be able to travel at a reasonable pace.

Anyway, since she started this she brings her minded children to school events. Discos (the triple pushchair gets in the way and she regularly loses the older children either inside or outside the school because she just can’t keep control of all of them). She came to several Xmas shows, had the kids push to the front of the queue and then hog the front seats, changed nappies and left the bags under the seats for the whole performance, fed them snacks she brought with her (we sell snacks - that’s the point) and then ignored them whilst they tried to climb on stage, winged, ran off to pull a xmas tree apart because she was filming her kids on her iPad and blocking the view of the parents behind her (we sell a DVD for a few £s). Other parent helpers are whinging to me about it, but it’s hard to know what to do. The headteacher is aware but seemingly not bothered enough to do anything about it.

Surely the minded children’s parents don’t expect them to be cared for in this way?ive never used a child minder so don’t know what’s normal.

You allow parents to record the children and you see dvds of productions?

How about protecting childrens identities.
I thought most schools had stopped this now

Fair play bringing own snacks and filming own kids. Some PTAS charge a fortune for things.
You don't like her much do you?

ChristmasSnow why pick up on this bit of the post? Hardly the point and is it so surprising that schools have different policies about recording?

It dies sound annoying OP. Some people are really inconsiderate. I don't think there is much you can do or say though. Except perhaps issue a siblings only policy due to seat numbers or something?

Normal for childminded children to attend school events. I took three little ones to the school Christmas play AND I brought snacks.

Meh. Doesn’t sound terrible. Some of it you’re just nitpicking probably because you don’t like her.

OK practically you can make sure she knows the rules. Have a word with 'everyone' ie her going in to remind them of the rules. Then if you're not allowed to film etc get whoever introduces the events to remind everyone again that anyone filming will be asked to leave. And that rubbish including nappies must be taken with them. She can't say she didn't know. Taking other kids to events and blocking with the pram is irrelevant, if someone had a few kids or a disability that meant they were slow you wouldn't complain. I think you need to separate what's irritating from what's stopping raising money or just plain gross / rude (nappies) - which is hard when someone is doing a lot of shit stuff

I would say this is exactly what child minders do. The reason people opt for child minders rather than wrap around club types, is that they mimic what you would do if you were home with your child.
This particular childminder seems rude and inconsiderate, but I guess it's up to the parents whether they use her or not.
Maybe change your policies, ie charge entrance rather than for snacks?

ChristmasSnow My DB & SIL got me a DVD of my DN in her nativity 4 years ago. You’re not allowed to film it yourself but the school do and sell copies.

To the OP, I wouldn’t be happy if my DC were taken to stuff like this, I’d be paying her to look after my kids, not drag them round to events featuring her kids.

You allow parents to record the children and you see dvds of productions?

How about protecting childrens identities.
I thought most schools had stopped this now

The school ask parents if they have any objections before the shows. If they don’t receive any, then parents can film so long as videos don’t get put onto social media. Any objections would see our DVD disallowed as well.

It’s a tiny village school with (currently) no at risk children.

Maybe change your policies, ie charge entrance rather than for snacks?

The school sells tickets.

(She doesn’t buy for the minded children. She just brings them in on her £2.50 contribution.)

It is a bit naughty of her though. I'm not sure how many you're allowed, say 6? At £5 an hour she's making £30 an hour. And essentially volunteers are helping her entertain/look after the children. Clever really!

I think you're treading a very dodgy line. What's going to be the rule - noone films on an iPad (not sure how you police unless noones allowed a phone or any other form of recording device), noone is allowed to bring food & drink - are you going to check everyone's bags as they come in? Inky allow parents to come if they have no other children with them to look after? There are always parents who others view as selfish / dont seem to acknowledge the impact of their behaviour but you cant single one person out. I think PTA snacks and videos (our school does the same) are expensive and I'm on the PTA (!) so can see where shes coming from.

As for the parking thing, that's absolutely nothing to do with the PTA and quite frankly it's none of your business. If theres a health & safety issue that puts children in danger then it's a matter for the staff.

To be honest, it sounds like you just dont like her.

£30 an hour

Love a bit of rounding up, ignoring the facts. Who cares when it makes a good insult!

the snack thing I can understand - if she has the max no of children then it would cost her an arm and a leg to buy for all of them.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat oh good, do you know the facts? How many primary aged children can a child minders look after?

Do you expect parents to buy tickets for all their preschool children? Plenty of families have 3 under 5s.

At minimum, The school should require an adult to child ratio at events. The school can also designate some events as no extra children. Our school does this for daytime performances and classroom activities. Siblings are typically only welcomed to evening and weekend events.

Another option if you sell tickets, start charging for all ages.

Yes the issue with hogging seats at the play is a bit annoying but it's normal to bring snacks for kids and fair enough with the minibus. Perhaps a rule for events that preschool kids have to sit on their carers lap or in a pushchair on the side?

Ah, I just googled it. I was right! Good guess. You can look after 6 children under 8yo. I can't find any info quickly on over 8s. But your own children are included too.

oh good, do you know the facts? How many primary aged children can a child minders look after?

A maximum of six under the age of 8 with no more than three under the age of 5 (and of those three, no more than one under the age of 1).

A childminders own children count in those ratios so she won't be getting paid for minding six children, at most she will be getting paid for minding four.

Depending on where the OP lives the childminder is more likely to be on £3-4 per child per hour rather than £5 so £12-16 an hour rather than £30.

Out of that £12-£16 per hour she needs to pay all of her overheads, petrol, registration fees, membership fees, insurance, training, and for any resources she needs.

You don’t like her and you sound like a bit of a bitch who is making life harder for a) her b) the mindees c) the parents

As for the parking thing, that's absolutely nothing to do with the PTA and quite frankly it's none of your business. If theres a health & safety issue that puts children in danger then it's a matter for the staff.

The school has no parking. The PTA pays a local club to allow parents to use their carpark. When parents cause hassle it’s me the club complains to. So it is my bloody business. Next time it happens I won’t be negotiating. They can lock the carpark and the selfish fuckers can find somewhere else to accommodate them.