Visitor at childminder's with no mask?

[Maybebabymaybenot]

I really don't know what to think on this one so would appreciate views please!

My pre-school child goes to a childminder while I work from home. Parents do not go in the building at drop of or pick up but today at pick up there was a new child on a visit and the child's mum was in the room with the children, on the sofa with no mask and my child sitting right next to her.

I understand the mum was there to settle her child but there are 2 days a week when the childminder does not have any children currently so could have timed the visit for one of those days or failing that I can't help but feel a mask and social distancing from the other children should have been implemented or if I had been notified I could easily have picked my child up early and worked around it.

I am not allowing my child to have close contact with anyone outside of my household other than the childminder and her household and I feel I need to mention that I would prefer to pick up in advance of any future visits like this but don't want to cause friction as the childminder is fantastic.

Any thoughts?

Regardless of the last comment. I would ask the childminder whether she asked the adult to put on a mask. The mother may have forgotten or assumed it was okay or something if not asked ( no accounting for stupidity at times). If they childminder says no I didn’t then that’s when you ask if you could be informed going forward or just generally reconsider options. She might say, no she’s exempt- then you can go down that mine hole but don’t just assume she was.

No, I wouldn’t be happy with that at all especially as she was so close to your child.

Thanks for all of your replies. I absolutely accept the lady may have been exempt but that doesn't explain the lack of distancing. In this situation I feel it would be appropriate for the childminder to have asked the lady on booking whether she could wear a mask and if the answer was no and the childminder didn't feel able to maintain social distancing, she should have informed other parents.

Ultimately the parents consent to their children having contact with the childminder and other children but not direct contact with other adults and I feel disappointed that I wasn't informed of this additional risk. We are following guidelines and as such I would not allow my child to have such close contact with grandparents etc and for the sake of an hour it just seems an unnecessary risk

I will have a chat this morning and ask that I be informed next time and can collect. Hopefully she understands!

Don’t open the conversation by asking her to comment on specific instances. Ask in the first instance to see her risk assessment, specifically as it pertains to adult visitors. If it doesn’t say anything about face coverings, ask why. If it does, ask if this policy is being consistently applied because you are concerned about this specific incident.

Lots of early years settings are using visors rather than masks for adults.

@EmilySpinach

Don’t open the conversation by asking her to comment on specific instances. Ask in the first instance to see her risk assessment, specifically as it pertains to adult visitors. If it doesn’t say anything about face coverings, ask why. If it does, ask if this policy is being consistently applied because you are concerned about this specific incident.

Lots of early years settings are using visors rather than masks for adults.

Jesus, there is always one drama queen.

Eh? Asking to see policies is the opposite of dramatic. Making it personal to another parent is dramatic.

@EmilySpinach

Eh? Asking to see policies is the opposite of dramatic. Making it personal to another parent is dramatic.

The entire thing is dramatic.

Scotland here and Dd has just started school play group which leads to nursery then school.

I am not allowed in the building at all. I have done three settles by standing in the local park with the two teachers. Week four they took her in. All the nurseries around here are the same. No parents allowed in at all.

The parent should not have been in the house. Ofsted have said there should be no additional adults in the house when children are there. I would not be happy with this at all.

I would speak to the childminder and raise my concerns. At least that may change her behaviour for the future.

It's not being a drama queen.
I'm a childminder and we have been told not to have parents in the house, even for initial meetings or settling in sessions.

People saying she’s a Drama Queen is why we have such high rates of infection!
Our nursery doesn’t allow any parents inside and masks outside for drop off. It’s not easy but I understand why.
Friend did settling at new nursery and had to be in a separate room from other children. (with a mask) for him to meet his key worker. Not ideal but again understandable.

Just explain your feelings to her OP - you have to feel happy with what she is doing in terms of your child’s care. I think have adults in the main room at settling in is unusual in these times.

*having

Maybe she was mask exempt? She should have kept distance though!

Thing is, OP your child will be socialising with her child. And she won't be socialising distancing from her own child so if she has it, so does her child probably. Whom your child will be in a group with.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

Thing is, OP your child will be socialising with her child. And she won't be socialising distancing from her own child so if she has it, so does her child probably. Whom your child will be in a group with.

This!

There's no point getting hysterical over ridiculously thought out guidelines.

Thing is, OP your child will be socialising with her child. And she won't be socialising distancing from her own child so if she has it, so does her child probably. Whom your child will be in a group with.

Not this! It’s not true that everyone transmits the same. Also if we follow this logic we might as well scrap all social distancing around outside school meet ups. Just let all parents meet up as ‘they are in school anyway’

I don't think anyone is hysterical

But it's not true to say that if the mother had it, her child would definitely also have it and would definitely pass it to my child. By that logic all of the parents may as well have a house party. The mum being there was an additional risk which I now understand is against guidelines but it was more the lack of any precautions that baffled me. If my child can't sit on a sofa with her aunt I don't think a childminder should allow her to do this with another adult.

I have decided to mention that I would prefer to collect her before any future visits if this is the procedure but not make a big deal of it. I will also try to contain my hysteria

Sounds a good plan OP