to think this woman will never mind my child

[LowFat]

not that we need a CM. But when I take DD to pre-school ther is often a woman who has minds several children who go to schools and pre-schools all over our town.

Today I overheard her having a conversation with another mum that she used to be a staff nurse at GOS Hospital and has sinced moved through a career of variuos caring roles to end as a childminder.

I was shocked I always thought, because of her and the childrens appearance that she was the childrens grandparent. She has long yellow dirty toe nails, yellow nicotine staine fingers, glasses are smeared with dirt and however many children she has with her all of them always have yellow candles running from thier noses - sorry TMI

All I can think is that:
A the parents have never been in her house or close to her?
B she has good rate so they dont care?
C thier own level of cleanliness is such that they dont care.

I feel so sorry for these poor children. She barks orders at them and yet cant even be bothered to wipe thier little noses.

Thing is have YOU ever been in her house LF? It may be clean and tidy (well as clean and tidy as a house subjected to children can be).

A snotty nose is not the end of the world - but a brusque character barking orders at children would probably put me off.

If she's a CM she'll be subjected to OFSTED as well. I would hope that if she's in business that her OFSTED is okay.

Okay, I conceded I have never been in her house, but would her own personal appearance not put you off if you were considering her for your children?

Does sound a bit yuck! for a childminder.
We have someone around here who does that kind of thing.
She is not a registered childminder but she helps out at playschool for cash in hand, looks after kids after school (cash in hand) and lots of other things.
She does not "work" as she would have to pay tax and would mean she would lose some tax benefits.
Problem is, that she is undercuting all the other CM's around here, but because she is cheap the parents don't mind.
She is quite well dressed though and does not smoke so not so bad really.
AB

I wondered if she is registered? If she is registered (and therefore inspected regularly), surely this would have been picked up on by Ofsted.

Us professional childminders are always clean (ok maybe a little paint/baby drool stains) and would not 'bark orders' at our mindees.

Also registered childminders are not allowed to smoke in their homes or in the presence of children so if she was registered I would think Ofsted would have picked up on this too.

Sadly there are parents out there who would rather use an unregistered childminder and run the risk to their dcs for a cheaper childcare bill.

Possibly - more the barking orders at the children though. I have to say from your description that I don't think I'd choose her as CM for my DS.

I have seen her pushing some of the DC's while having a cigarette.

An unregistered childminder - now that really would put me off.
Actually I would hope that if my DS had a snotty nose the CM would wipe it for him.

If she's unregistered and you are concerned about the way she is with the children a call to social services might be in order.

Pushing a baby around while having a cigarette is quite

She's always very talkative, a bit too much sometimes, and the children in contrast are always very quiet.

I dont have anything against her personally, but was just shcoked that given her appearance she was a CM.

If it were me I would make discreet enquiries about whether or not she is registered, and if not report her. But then I am a registered childminder and these people are my biggest bugbear!

As a childminder we are not to smoke around the children so thats a good reason to report her if she was!! With KS on this one

Her appearence would put me off and so would her smoking - even though I smoke myself - outside. I'm all for children developing their immunity in a 'lived in' enviroment but does she wash her hands?

My friend had a registered CM who was leaving the children with her husband all day - who wasn't registered

For the sake of the children and the thousands of legitimate CM's out there I would blow the whistle. It would not be acceptable to me to have someone barking at DS and if it happened I would probably throttle them

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO SPELL CHECK PLEASE

Thanks all - especialy you two last nightowls

I will listen some more to her conversations an try to find out if she is registered etc.

FWIW, my son had a childminder who looked quite unkempt - a bit similar to your description, minus the dirty toenails. But she had a tidy house and was good at childminding - my son was happy with her for the year he was there. She was registered. She was also a real grandmother, and looked after her own grandchildren as well as my son.

So don't just go on appearances. Mind you, some of the other stuff in your description, like smoking round the children, would be a real turn off for me.