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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Childminder wwyd

52 replies

Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 08:23

I am a childminder. I currently have 5 children in my care. 4 of the children have been pulled out for now, including one key workers (category 1) child because her dad is home and not a key worker so can care for her.
Yesterday morning, my second key workers (catagory 3) child was brought to me for the day as per. They have just finished 2 weeks isolation. At drop off, it because apparent that neither of the parents are actually working.
Now I have no idea what to do. Should I refuse to take their child? We havent seen anyone at all, and hardly been out for over a week. I feel like this is a bit of a piss take.

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Thatbloodybear · 27/03/2020 10:42

Perhaps their rota has been changed as a result of all that's going on. You'd have to ask them really, it's the only way to know.

PegasusReturns · 27/03/2020 10:46

Are you basing their not being at work solely on what they’re wearing?

If they are HCPs a number yesterday were told they can no longer wear their uniform into work because of risk of assault 😨

insancerre · 27/03/2020 10:47

Why didn’t you ask them?
The guidance is quite clear that children should only be with you if there really is no other option to enable a key worker to go to work
I don’t understand why you can’t ask them Confused

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 10:49

Thanks @Thehop. I'll text them today. Thanks everyone. I really hate letting people down when it comes to childcare, and have never actually done it before, but these are difficult circumstances for everyone. We are following the rules to the letter in here to minimise risk, so I'll ask them tonight. If the genuily need me, absolutely, but I don't think they do. They should really be taking this more seriously as mum is high risk because of her health problems Confused.

Believe it or not I'm actually no shrinking Violet normally, but I really hate having to confront my service users about anything. I've been very lucky in all my years that it's not happened often at all.

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Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 10:52

@6PegasusReturns no as I said they are not. As I said if mum was working she wouldn't be able to do drop offs or pick ups because of her working hours, she never has before.

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Ohjustboreoff · 27/03/2020 10:54

Both myself and my husband are frontline key workers. Our childminder has gone into isolation as she also care from elderly parents but we are using our school. BUT only went both of us are working. We have had to try and wangle opposite shifts and we both have a set of nights coming up, I don't know how we will deal with this but I would not send my children to school if one of us was at home. They are BU!

insancerre · 27/03/2020 10:57

If mum is high risk then she probably isn’t working and they have no need to be using you
You really need to message her now, I would say

Tanith · 27/03/2020 11:05

We’ve been given very little guidance, insancerre
One of my parents is a keyworker civil servant and he offered to send me a copy of his letter: that was the first I’d heard of them.

He is actually not sending his children to us precisely because mum is at home. I’m quite sure the poor lady is incredibly stressed and busy and I feel so badly for them, but they wouldn’t dream of gaming the system.

hm246 · 27/03/2020 11:11

If they are NHS a lot are not allowed to travel to or leave the hospital in uniform for cross contamination reasons, could be the reason they weren’t dressed.

notalwaysalondoner · 27/03/2020 11:15

I would point out that there is a reasonable chance they are key workers working from home but still very busy and just cannot do their key work with a small child present, and maybe aren’t able to be flexible with hours etc like some people are (eg each parent taking shifts etc). But they should be very very clear with you if this is the case - if I were you I’d really probe them to confirm there was no way on earth they could manage just the two of them...

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 11:16

I've messaged them. Will see what they say.

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Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 11:17

No they can't possibly work from home they both do manual jobs that can oy be done in the work place.

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insancerre · 27/03/2020 11:22

Any childminders here can join a fantastic Facebook group that has loads of really good advice
It’s called early years managers 2020
m.facebook.com/groups/1105292516178952?multi_permalinks=3608067885901390&notif_t=group_highlights&notif_id=1585294307708514&ref=m_notif

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 11:22

Neither of them are NHS

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Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 17:09

Yup as I suspected, they were home all day together. Just needed a break after 2 weeks isolation 🙄

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CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 27/03/2020 18:21

What did you say in reply @Wherehaveallthepeoplegone Shock??

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 27/03/2020 18:50

Oh that's a complete pee take @Wherehaveallthepeoplegone. I'd be ending their contract with immediate effect. Everyone knows the rules by now.

It is not OK to put you and your family at risk like this. We all need a break, I'd rather not kill someone for it though!

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 19:07

I've told them I will not be able to accept the child back into the setting until we are advised otherwise by the relevant bodies (dad is not a key worker and not working atm. They didn't tell me that, but I looked up his place if work. It's closed. There's a chance he is going in to do maintenance, but that will not take all day, and I'm sure other employees will be taking a turn aswell).
I'm really angry actually. Apparently they wanted to get a few things done in the house and needed the peace. They have one child and have been in the house for 2 bloody weeks in self isolation 🙄.
I gave them the benifit of the doubt at the end of last week when she text to see if she could bring her back, she sounded so relieved, and I thought they were really struggling for childcare.

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DamnYouAutoCarrot · 27/03/2020 19:10

Good for you! Such cheek, honestly. The only good thing is that they've been isolated and your risk is low.

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 19:12

I actually feel like terminating their contract at the moment.

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Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 19:18

I suppose that's an upside DamnYouAutoCarrot but now I'm wondering of they would have stuck to that.

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DamnYouAutoCarrot · 27/03/2020 19:22

If it were me, I'd have cancelled their contract. No discussion. Its ridiculous to do that to you, your family and to expose their child unnecessarily.

They don't know who you have or have had in. It's so irresponsible. Good on you though, you did the right thing.

mygrandchildrenrock · 27/03/2020 19:23

Unfortunately the government advice is very clear that even if only one parent is a key worker, the child is entitled to attend daycare. However, it should only be when no one can look after them at home.

Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 21:16

That's true, but as the many emails we've had state, parents should only use childcare where absolutely necessary (I thought it was necessary for them) . I'm not willing to accept "needed a break" or "needed to get a few things done in the house" as necessary. The schools and nurseries here aren't, so I'm certainly not going to.

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Original poster
Wherehaveallthepeoplegone · 27/03/2020 21:17

Anyway, thanks everyone.

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