To immediately remove my child from childminder

[Ohriley]

My child has been going to a childminder for 2 years - with 2 days a week at a preschool and the remainder with her. I don't like her at all, she's becoming more and more unhinged in how she deals with me - however I've kept them with her because they enjoy their time there and have nothing negative to say.

This week, my child has told me that they're sometimes left alone in the car while the childminder goes to the shop. They're not one for making up stories.

They start school in September so only 6 weeks to go and I can scrabble together alternative care until then.

Would you upset your child's routine for your own sanity / the safety issue or would you stick it out for a further 6 weeks?

Safeguard you child and remove them.

Remove her and if she’s ofsted registered report her to them.

Shop or petrol forecourt shop to pay for fuel?

No that would be a deal breaker. Also unhinged how? I would not want my child around someone I thought of that way

And I agree, report to council/Ofsted. It's a safe guarding risk

@Justcallmebebes a corner shop type thing, they pointed it out to me. They don't tend to make things up but they're little enough to not always give a reliable account.

It depends on how long they are in the car. Popping in for a loaf of bread isn't the same as leaving them while she does a full supermarket shop.

Don’t hesitate. I’d have removed them already if she’s acting “unhinged” when dealing with you!

Agree @Annachristie but it's still illegal even if for a loaf of bread if they're pre school age.

It's not even legal to leave under 7s in the car on the forecourt which is why Dh and I always fill up when we're alone

Safeguarding issue
i would report to local council and OFSTED

I wouldn't let someone 'unhinged' look after my kids, no way, if something happened you'd never forgive yourself.

What country are you in?

Also and assuming you have a contract, give notice and assume she will keep your deposit etc

It's definitely NOT illegal to leave your child in the car whilst you pay for petrol. It's actually safer as dc should not be on the forecourt.

As a childminder she should not be doing this OP. Even for a loaf of bread. I'd pull your dc if you can get childcare sorted.

I think the 'acting unhinged' thing would have been the clincher for me to be honest

I’d remove my children and report her tbh.

I wouldn’t leave my own children unattended in a car so I definitely wouldn’t expect someone I’m paying to do it. It’s just plain lazy.

I know lots of people are comfortable doing this with their own children, but it’s not a choice someone else gets to make for you.

@ReformedWaywardTeen I don't want to be too outing, but this week alone I've been sent 3 messages informing me about completely normal little kid behaviour as if they are the worst things in the world (eg sometimes missing the toilet bowl - apparently other little boys don't do that or on one occasion whispering to a friend about their day at school - that's not nice to whisper and is naughty, I'm told)

There's also now a clock taped to the front door - is not been explained to me, but my child has told me it's to make sure I drop them off at the right time. I suspect because 3 times I have been less than 2 minutes early (despite never ever being late to collect him and paying for a day a week that I never use). When I have arrived early, its not as if they are still in bed, the other children arrive before we do, and I always get a comment "oh you're keen!!!). I'm not especially keen, it's just sometimes we walk a bit faster and get there been 1-2 minutes before our contrcted time.

Remove him at once OP. Trust your instincts.

For the sake of 6 weeks, I'd remove them now.

I would remove them.

I never leave him alone in the car, that's my choice, I appreciate other people make different choices, but I wouldn't expect a professional to leave a child alone.

Seeing it all written down and with your responses (thank you!) makes me feel I should withdraw him, I just want to do right by him and don't want to make a decision based on my personal views, but just what is best for him.

Where on earth did you get that idea from?

A clock taped to the front door ffs !!
defo UNHINGED on top of leaving the boys in the car.
I’d remove now x

The law states that it is illegal to leave a child alone in a car if they are at risk - parent has to decide the risk I suppose.

And that’s why I use a nursery!

please put your child’s safety first, I would

@rubyslippers yes, I'm factoring in that I'll have to pay the notice period - I just consider that collateral damage.