childminder worries

[LizLemon]

Hi - hope you can offer some advice.

My son recently started going to a childminder one day a week (I'm self-employed & can't afford more atm). Although I like her personally, I'm starting to feel that it's not the right place for my child. A few things are niggling me, such as where/how he naps (there are 3 other children all around 1 yr old & only 2 cots), last week he came home with a really full nappy & a look through the change bag showed he'd only been changed once. The tv always seems to be on in one room or another and they never seem to go outside, although I was led to believe they would.

I am going to raise the issue of nappy changes tomorrow, but I'm considering looking into other childminders. I don't want to offend her if I do decide to move my son somewhere else, and we don't have a contract with her at all, though I'd be happy to pay a notice period.

I'm new to all of this so don't really know what I'm doing, or if I'm being unreasonable to expect more care.

You don't have a contract? That's unusual for a professional childminder? Is she legit?

Are you in the UK? Is she registered with Ofsted? Hsve you seen her registration certificate/insurance documents/first aid certificate?

If you have no contract then even if she has insurance, if anything happens to your dc while with her then she is not insured, iyswim.

That also sounds like way too many children - we are only allowed (usually) 3 under 5's at any one time.

At the end of each day I give either a daily diary/message book to the parent with information covering what we have done, nappy changes/time done, food eaten, what the child has enjoyed etc. or I do have one child who only comes for one day and I give the mum a sheet of paper with the same info on as she kept losing the book!

You could try giving her a notebook and asking her to write down the information you want, it only takes me a few minutes.

I would also consider looking elsewhere as it doesn't sound very professional, ask her about a learning journey and the eyfs and how she implements them, is she ofsted registered?

nappies should be changed regularly

the children should have daily access to fresh air and exercise, preferably free-flow from house to garden (not always practical in winter months)

and all what the others have said

Yes she is registered with Ofsted, and I had good references from previous parents, who seemed to think she was great. I've never heard any mention of the eyfs.

Thanks for the responses, esp regarding the insurance (!). I'm going to follow my instinct & look elsewhere.

if you dont have a contract then why leave your child there??? fire proceedures?? sickness and holiday pay.???.first aid?? she doesnt sound registered to me or if was ..isnt now....what are you thinking!!!

Good luck looking around Lizlemon - there are some really nice childminders out there!

It is a recommendation by OFSTED and is a requirement for all NCMA registered childminders to have a written contract in place.

It is a legal requirement that she has your full-details - I use the NCMA Child Record Forms.

It is also a legal requirement from the tax man that she keeps a record of attendance. A contract is a form a proof and as someone has already pointed out, required for insurance purposes.

Follow your instincts. There are many good professional childminders out there. In my opinion, if a childminder is unwilling to enter into a written contract, then walk away.

(the NCMA has short-term contracts which are suitable for temporary arrangements, so no excuses!)