To be worried about filthy childminders house?

[tennispros]

Signed up in the summer and all seemed fine. Today had a settling in session and was really shocked at the state of the house. Not just kids mess but tbh really dirty

I don’t really have a choice re childcare and she’s only there a couple of hours a day so part of me thinks leave it another part thinks I’m being really neglectful sending her there!

Dirty plates and dishes, crazy stuff.

It sounds as if the childminder is a person who uses plates and dishes to eat food. That's absolutely disgusting and filthy.

I'm so glad that I live in a house in which the food magically floats out of the cupboards and lands directly in my mouth, like in a Disney movie. That completely negates the need for plates and dishes, which means that my home never has dirty cutlery.

@tennispros I don't think anyone can help you further, unfortunately. The place is disgusting but you don't have any other option for childcare. Your options are to try to work with the childminder to improve things by questioning her and asking for changes. You could also go direct to OFSTED and hope to trigger change that way. These things may or may not improve the cleanliness and there is nothing that you can do realistically to force change whilst your DD attends this setting.

I apologise for questioning you, but I was curious as to the inability or unwillingness to give specifics when you seemed to want to discuss the state of the house. Whether a place is perceived as dirty can depend on who is perceiving it, as personal standards can differ.

OP, a lot of good sense on here, but nobody but you has seen the house. You're clearly not happy, so obviously you should change your childcare.

You'd said several times that you have no choice, there is no one else, and she'll be going there, so even if everyone said 'yes, it's a disgrace' what difference would it actually make?

You absolutely cannot send your child to a filthy house.

It’s a fair point and even though the people on the thread are quibbling with me the poll indicates otherwise. But it is true there isn’t really an awful lot I can do. Just feel a bit bad as it isn’t somewhere I’d have envisioned sending her.

Was it like this? The floors feeling sticky? You where scared to touch anywhere?

I had paste a pic but didn't come up^

I know that this is meant to be sarcastic but you don’t leave bits of congealed food and dirty plates out all day, I’m guessing (or do you?) No one’s expecting a plate to clean itself while someone’s still eating, but that’s not what I’m talking about, which tbh I think you do know.

You might leave lunch plates on the side in the kitchen til you finish work if you are busy with children all day though.

OP - I know exactly what you mean. There is a big difference between having a few dirty dishes stacked in the kitchen after a meal and the kind of kitchen that just looks a bit grimy. Carpets where people having been stomping around in their outdoor shoes etc.

Yep, I leave my plates on the side as I dash off to work, with a half drunk cuppa as well. No one has died yet.

She knew you were coming and yet the house was filthy, the kitchen grotty and toys all over the floor (ok), did you check out the bathroom? How many other children are in her care and are you sure she's registered, check the LA website as well as Ofsted.

Just wondering why you've had to place your daughter in such a hovel for 4 hours a week all of a sudden?

You seem to be passively accepting these conditions for your daughter, that, to me is baffling.

No, but it’s not very nice to leave food rotting all day @likelysuspect , not being critical, it’s your home and up to you but …same again @maggisimpson , I just don’t think leaving dirty plates and rotting food for ages is very nice, if I am being honest.

Thanks @Newmeagain , I do appreciate it when people ‘get it’!

but you're not a child minder @likelysuspect

Food doesn't 'rot' in a few hours 😂

Posts like this do make it difficult to work out if the childminder's house is actually filthy, or you are just very particular OP.
That's why people have been trying to clarify what 'filthy' actually means to you.

I dont think we do know what you mean.

Is it caked on dirt on the plates and surfaces that have started to grow mould? Or it it that mornings dishes that isn't really dirt but just unwashed fresh food? Massive difference

Mould would be a health hazard whereas clutter is not

Many people grow up in "lived in" houses and are extremely healthy. Which is probably why she has passed ofsted standards

Its not rotting!! And no Im not a child minder I was just answering a post which said that people dont leave food on plates all day. Well sometimes I do, sometimes I dont.

Well, it kind of is if it’s left on a plate all day! But anyway it doesn’t matter, what people do in their own homes is none of my business, it’s just it has left me feeling like the setup isn’t ideal.

That wouldn't prevent someone from being a childminder ffs

Better for them to be concentrating on the kids rather than minor housework tasks

Exactly this. I would excuse dishes in the kitchen. I went to visit a childminder in a work capacity just after lunch, and the kitchen was a bombsite; food on the floor, plates in the sink etc. Childminder was with the children, but they would be napping shortly after lunch which is when she would clean the kitchen. She has an outstanding ofsted.

Actually, sometimes it can be quite a while before you can leave young children and turn your attention to the washing up.

You do have a choice. I definitely wouldn’t be sending my dc to a dirty childminders house.

We’ve had a childminder give immediate notice leaving us completely in the lurch - there are always choices.

I’m surprised she’s allowed to practice if her home is as dirty as you’re describing. My childminder had to clean thoroughly every night and disinfect toys regularly etc; it doesn’t sound like just a bit of food on lunch plates now I’ve read all of your posts, op. You only need her name or the name of her childminding business to look up her ofsted report on their website.

You need her Ofsted number, most childminders don't publish their name and address.