Should I make a complaint.....

[coralswhisper]

Hello,

About 8 months ago I was looking for a childminder, only had a couple of weeks and childminders were running low in my area.

I rang one up and she sounded great, perfect location really chatty....I thought this is the one! ( I have only had one childminder and then moved house and didn't really look into what childminders have to go through and keep up with Ofsted!).

I went to meet her with little one in toe, she opened the door she had undyed roots that had looked as though the last time she had it done was when she was about 12, she had no bra on and a very thin top (cold evening as well!) about 10 gold chains hanging off her neck tatoos and more gold hanging off her arms, she looked at me and was all happy to see me so I gave her the benefit of the doubt (sort of?) she guided me into the lounge which looked pretty clean, had pictures and things on the wall...homely ish feeling. Sghe started chatting, telling me that all my tax credits should go to her every month.... this was the first thing she mentioned, I put her straight and said that the Inland revenue and Tax credits is something that I deal with. I then explained my reasons for choosing a chilminder.... one to one, family home, one person to get to know etc.. etc.. I told her I would like my daughter to read her school book and finish or attempt any homework she may have. Still have play time but also educational time.
The childminder then laughed and said in the commenst voice ever.... "Well I guarantee that I will read with her to be honest as I don't have alot of time, I look after another one of that age and they read to themselves anyway, normally while I am getting the dinner on..do you know what I mean" I was thinking, No I don't know what you mean. While I was there around 8 people came into the house to visit friends all differnent ages and genders. The house is not the biggest so there was not alot of space left!.

I asked for a lok around the house whih finalised my decision ther and then. She had a flood in the kitchen and said that hopefully it will be done soon. Me at this time stepping over peoples crossed legs as they were sitting everywhere!!

I then went upstairs, so dirty! the hoover would have a field day.... really visable dirt!!!

Carpet coming away from the stairs which she warned me not to step on as I could slip down the stairs, ashe said this with a chuckle!

It wasn't long before I was out of there and searching day and night for another childminder.....found one and she is the best thing that ever happen to use....truly lovely!

Now I have let you all know the story, even though it was eight months ago I can't stop thinking about other children that she minds and that she shouldn't be allowed to look after children in that sort of enviroment!

I have looked into becoming a childminder myself and now have read up on it can see that she would 100% not pass ofsted!

Any ideas??

Coralswhisper

I n the bit below I missed the word did can't. She told me she can't guarantee to read with her!! Sorry about miss spelled words or words with extra letters LOL, am at work and trying to think & type extra fast!

Is there any way you could make another appointment, see if things have changed round there, and then decide?

Things could have vastly improved in 8 months.... If it is the same though, then I would consider reporting it.

This is coming from a woman who has no childminder experience though!

Did you see any certificates to say she was a qualified childminder?

Maybe you could just mention it to your local SC, they have a list of qualified childminders and their latest ofsted reports.

Well to be honest it does sound a bit unproffessional for a start when i have new people in to discuss if mum knocks i send her away as it is a business discussion.There is however nothing in the standards about not wearing bangles or having tatts or even wearing bras on cold nights lol.
At least she was honest about not having time to read from the start she could have said yes then not bothered.
However the physical environemt is another matter if it is unclean,or dangerous as the carpet sounds or the flood was then maybe it might be worth another look to set your mind at rest but you run the risk of a dont i know you comment and a potentially sticky conversation.

Hi coral,
I have had a similar experience when looking for a childminder a few years ago for ds, I visited a house where two childminders work together, The front garden was abit on the scruffy side but i thought well mines not perfect due to lack of time , the front window was not transparent there was that much muck on it, the living room was absolutley filthy. As for the chilminder well one looked ok but the other looked like her hair had not seen a blob of shampoo in years and likewise with her face, really grubby. anyway they came across as not knowing what they were doing, just literally sat there giggling and refused to show us the rest of the place. When I was getting inspected to become a childminder I mentioned it to ofsted and she told me to report it at once as they sounded like they were fraud childminders. If you have concerns regarding this childminder it would hurt to mention it to ofsted better to be safe than sorry. but agree that how somebody dresses is not a reason to regect a chilminder

As with everything, there are good and bad workers. Unfortunately, parents only have to meet one "bad apple" and might tarnish us all with the same brush! What I find really really scary is that some parents do leave their children with childminders like this!!

Given the length of time involved, reporting to Ofsted may not be very productive as they would need to take account that you haven't seen the place for 8 months. However on the other hand, it may also help any current investigation they have... so is worth a call to the complaints line - 0845 601 4772 - just to mention it... if you leave your details with them, they can get back to you if they wish to persue it further.
They will need to know as much detail as you recall - especially the Name and full address. Registration number is ideal, if you ever got that.

Alas there is no way for the public to check that a childminder is actively registered, at least not online. You can call the Ofsted helpline - 0845 601 4771 - and check the status of someone, but they won't tell you a lot, just confirm if they are a registered minder or not. Pity the Ofsted online system does not let you check this sort of thing... it does now tell you far more than it used to, but unless you know the postcode and registration number of the childminder, it's very hard to locate someone on Ofsted's public database.

Something to note: regular visitors to a childminders who are aged 16 or over, should really be CRB checked. Very strange having 8 visitors, some if not all of whom stayed, while the childminder had an appointment with you. Surely most childminders would let their visitors know that they were busy and ask them to come back later.