NDN, noise and childminding

[TheScreams]

NDN and I both have two DCs, one DD and one DS, similar ages. We understand there’s sometimes noise. I work full-time and WFH almost all the time, until recently she was a SAHM. DH’s both work full-time out of the house. NDN has just started working again as a childminder. I have no issue with what she does for a living or with her house, obviously.

But the noise is unbearable. I have never heard anything like it. There is constant screaming, shouting, screeching, thundering, crashing around… I can’t even understand how it’s possible. When I’m on a meeting, even with AirPods, people can hear it. I’ve been asked if I need to take a minute to check on my children so it’s making me look unprofessional.

I’ve mentioned it to her and not got a great reception: “you know what kids are like” and “it’s my job” type responses. What do I do? It’s all day every day (windows closed, not in a room with a shared wall). I never imagined childminding would be so loud. How do I resolve this amicably? Obviously we both need to do our jobs and we can’t just gag the kids.

They may need planning permission to run a childminding service from home - speak to your council.

Blimey, that sounds loud.

I'm a childminder and I hope we aren't like that. I do regularly check with my neighbours though. Maybe have a word?

Check with Council and Ofsted too.

This would be torture for me. X

That sounds horrific. I agree with checking with Council and Ofsted. Doesn't sound like she has good control if there is that amount of noise.

She doesn’t need planning permission apparently. She’s also not listed as registered with Ofsted but I assume that’s an error or a delay in updating their website.

How are you searching for her? Because childminders have their names and addresses redacted for privacy. Maybe ask the LA early years dept.

I don’t know why planning permission would come into this. But she should almost certainly need to be registered as a child minded, doesn’t sound like she is one of the exceptions.

Mosquito noise deterrent?

Are you working upstairs? Does the noise come into every room?

And yes she should be Ofsted registered so I'd call them.

On the government website, there’s a place to put in a postcode which takes me to my local authority website. The LA website lists all the Ofsted registered childminders - but she’s not there. She’s definitely not an exemption so I assume it’s just taking time to get her on the website, I’d be shocked if she’s not registered when she should be.

Then it sounds like she's an unregistered childminder, this will make it harder to deal with as it's just a neighbourly dispute. Ofsted won't be able to do anything.

Legally she almost certainly has to register with ofsted or a childminder agency. There are good reasons for this. Ofsted do care about this stuff.

She sounds like a horrendous childminder. Childcare settings simply should not be operating in such a way that they produce the noise outlined in the OP - it’s indicative that she’s not providing a good environment.

Dismissing it as ‘just what kids are like’ is also indicative that she’s really not cut out to be a childminder. It’s an important job with responsibility. Not everyone is equipped to do it properly.

Could you complain to environmental health as a noise complaint?

Realistically though, childminding isn't just making sure the children come out alive at the end of the day. There should be some structure to the day. I'm thinking about nurseries and childminders I know. There is circle time and story time and meal time and going out for a walk, nap/quiet time, art time. They shouldn't literally be screaming all day every day.

That just leads me to believe she's possibly just sitting there on her phone all day letting them get on with it and collecting the money. I wouldn't want my child in that environment. I don't think there is really a way you can communicate that to the parents, but certainly, it's something I'd want to know as a parent if I felt my child wasn't being sufficiently looked after in her care.

This is from the PACEY website: Registration is essential if you want to be paid to look after children. You can receive an unlimited fine, be sent to prison, or both if you're providing childminding or daycare services without being registered.

It’s not a minor thing. Parents deserve high quality childcare and registration is part of trying to provide some quality assurance and improve standards.

This kind of thing is why the advice that often given that SAHMs looking for an income should just set up as childminders, as if that’s a trivial thing, is so misguided.

Rather than wait to see if Ofsted update their website, just call and speak to someone there.

Then if she isn't, I think you can report her to the council.

I certainly know the rules, as I said, I am a childminder. However in my experience they will just write to the person advising then that they should register. They absolutely wouldn't carry out a regulatory visit from a complaint!

There are instances where you don't need to be registered as a childminder.

Regardless, the noise level is unacceptable and it sounds like you need to clearer with your neighbour. I would go down the route of one more serious chat with her, spell out how it's impacting you properly and if it carries on look further into reporting her.

Probably not. but that’s a resource issue at ofsted really.

It’s more than just a neighbour dispute though if she’s running an unregistered childminding business that’s causing significant noise issues for her neighbours.

Tbh, I have no idea why any parent actually uses this kind of terrible not really a childminding service. Mostly because you cannot access any of the state subsidy if you use it. That means that, even if it’s cheap relative to a proper childminder, it is likely to be far more expensive because you can’t claim UC childcare element/tax free childcare and you can’t access the free hours at 2 of 3 (whichever is relevant).

Mmm so maybe the question is not to expect office levels of quiet in a residential property. I can see this becoming an increasingly common area of conflict between people who want to work from home and people who want to live their lives in their own homes.

Evil. I like it 😈

This makes me sad, and is the type of thing that gives dedicated childminders a bad name. It doesn't sound like an educational environment if this is happening all day. Yes, we have an unsettled child at times or a party or whatever, but how engaged can they be in learning if they are always running squealing?

I wouldn't assume she is not registered though, you can be hidden on the Ofsted website and you don't have to be on the LA website, especially if you choose not to offer funding. You don't need planning permission.

Sounds awful!
I'm a childminder and we never make noise like that! If she isn't registered then maybe she has too many children on her hands.
Some areas require planning permission for childminding so it may be worth checking.
However, chances are that if she's reported then she'll have only get a letter from Ofsted telling her to get registered.

But the neighbour is running a business from home herself - so it’s not just “normal” residential noise in this case.

Airpods are not great for meetings, they pick up loads of background noise. I recommend investing in a wireless headset, you can get a decent one for £40-50, less if you don't mind it being connected by a wire.