To think my childminder shouldn't run an Airbnb?

[eggsforbreaking]

My kids have been going to a childminder for several years. I've just discovered that she has now set up an Airbnb and I don't know if I am unreasonable to feel uncomfortable.

She lives right next door to a paint balling centre, and tells me most of her clients are from there, which to me suggests a predominantly male clientele. I'm sure she wouldn't intentionally leave any of her kids unattended, but at times she will surely be out helping one go to the toilet (or going herself!)

It's renting rooms in her main house, and she tells me she also offers a cooked breakfast. She does have a number of reception rooms downstairs, so there's no need for them to mix, but they will be in close proximity.

I've tried searching, but can't find out whether she's allowed to run both businesses out of the same premises, and if she is, am I being totally over the top to be concerned?

Hmm, no, I wouldn't be happy with this either!

Ofsted checks include whether areas are secure and any other adults have access to the premises.
I don't know if it would pass an inspection, but at the very least childminder would need to inform them of changes and do a risk assessment based on the set up.
I would ask for a risk assessment at the very least, and have a frank conversation about it and decide if I needed to pull my child out if I felt it was a risk.

No, No, No.

How the fuck have Ofsted approved that?

Also adults registered as living there need an enhanced CRB so I'm sure your concern is relevant.
I know they wouldn't be living there all the tim, but that's obviously the risk the CRB tries to address.

Is she doing this all herself or does she have a partner to help out? I'm wondering how she can cope if she's doing the two businesses on her own and needs to deal with Airbnb guests while she has your children?!

I wouldn't be too concerned if she has another adult helping her out.

How can that be legitimate at all??

To be fair, I probably wouldn't want to book an Air BnB that was also being used as a childminders! Surely that must impact her business?

I would assume she got her certification before the change and hasn't informed them.
I could be wrong, but standards are quite high so when so many other things need to be addressed before you register and get certification I'd be surprised if this is deemed ok.

If she's taking all this on by herself, she will also exhaust herself - she might not be such a good childminder if she's been up early cooking breakfasts/clearing away/making beds etc.
Perhaps she's doing this out of necessity to make more money to pay for rising cost of living? What's the alternative - putting up childminding prices? Taking on more children?

Indeed!

I'd find another childminder and inform OFSTED.

There is no way she does the background checks she should be doing on her paying guests.

Take your children out of there. Find another CM.

I would be contacting Ofsted about this because I don't think it would be allowed. As mentioned above, all adults at a childminders premises needs to be DBS checked. She can obviously have other adults present but then they should be supervised at all times around the children.

Even if it was allowed, I wouldn't be happy with a load of randoms in the house with my kids TBH.

YANBU, I wouldn’t be happy with that either.

Even aside from safeguarding concerns, it doesn’t really sound like the relaxed, homey, child focused environment that you’d choose a childminder for

Absolutely not if it’s all in the same building! An out house would be okay. But in her house, nope!! I don’t see a way that ofsted would approve that so it seems unlikely she’s informed them. I’d get in contact with OFSTED and make them aware of it and find another place for childcare.
I also certainly wouldn’t be impressed if I booked an air bnb and there were several noisy kids there too!

Thanks everyone. Glad to hear I'm not being totally unreasonable.

@DobbyHasASock is (probably) correct. She has childminded for years, and started this recently. I suspect she is in need of money; her husband left her years ago and she had to raise her kids alone, and from what it sounds like, without any financial help. In recent years she's put her house on the market at least once, as she said she couldn't afford to run it, but it never sold.

This. I wonder when her next Ofsted inspection is due? I can't see they being happy about this set-up. I would also be concerned that she is trying to do too much and will be far too tired to look after the children properly.

Also how does she fit in cooked breakfasts around arrivals of children or taking the older ones to school?

I’ve only ever used nurseries, not a childminder so I don’t know the rules. However, I am sure that this would not be allowed by Ofsted. As a teacher, I’m not their biggest fan, but personally I would report this to them!
And, even if they were okay with it, I would not be. I would be removing my children from there asap.

I also agree that I would not want to stay in accommodation that had a load of (non-family) small children in it!

Does she only take Airbnb after close on a Friday until Sunday in which case there's no cross over?

I would not keep my kids there with strangers coming and going no. Unless she can somehow assure you the areas are locked separate from each other or all guests are gone by the time the kids arrive. But that doesn’t seem likely.

I would ask for a copy of her updated risk assessment and her copy of a conversation with Ofsted that they think this is ok.

I've no idea how she does it, I hadn't even considered how you would cook breakfast around drop offs. We're not in a very popular area, so I can't see her getting many people other that paintballers. She had mentioned a few months ago that she was doing it at weekends as it gave her some income and company, but it certainly looks from my sleuthing like she's now extended to weekdays. She rents out her outhouses to a local business, so I always assumed the occasional cars in the yard were theirs, but now I'm questioning everything.

Seconding this question. I would check this with her before you jump to any conclusions. I’m sure the vast majority of Airbnb bookings for a paintball range would be at the weekend.

If you have concerns, you are free to move your kids on.

I think the weekend question is definitely relevant. Ofsted not interested in what happens beyond business hours. Providing it is legal.

However, if it is because she needs the money I would expect childminding costs to go up. As much as I realise everyone is struggling, childminders get no help from the government and shouldn't be running at a loss.