Warning others about a bad experience with a childminder?

[YankNCock]

My friend called me extremely upset today and told me after 7 years they are finding a new childminder as things have completely disintegrated with their old one.

There are quite a few reasons for this. There is some 'creative accounting' (friend's words) where hourly rates change frequently and they are billed for things that do not happen, poor quality meals, the house being a building site with kids herded into one room for months at a time, childminder's relatives being allowed to stay when they are ill but friend's little boy sent home for a snotty nose.

To top it off, when they gave their notice, the childminder left them in the lurch by taking the money and then saying she wouldn't look after the boys at all anymore. I'm not sure of the details of the contract, but my friend is out £1000 with no childcare now and has had to scramble to find someone else.

I remember one incident a few years ago where my friend's son came home (about age 4 I think) talking about 'X and Y being naked in the swimming pool' and it transpired that the minder and her husband were naturists and went on weekend naturist retreats. I have no problem with naturists, and they were not doing this around the mindees, but how did the kids find out about it?

Anyway, my friend now wants to know if there is anywhere she can review this childminder and warn others to keep away. She is already making a complaint to Ofstead.

I don't use a childminder, so no idea really if such a place exists where you can recommended/warn against specific childminders? Any ideas? Friend knew I used MN and specifically asked me to find out if anyone on here could help.

I find very alarming that anyone would consider leaving a negative comment on childcare.co.uk, especially as in this particular case the dispute is muddied by so many issues- allegations of 'creative accounting', building work at childminders, childminder being naturists and a fall out over the notice period- all after 7 years of ?good enough?service!
I actually find it difficult to think of many valid reasons for leaving a negative feedback, bit like giving a negative reference, it really shouldn?t be done especially as parents have a course to follow if they believe they have a complaint, firstly they should always talk it through with their childminder, every childcare provider with have a complaints procedure which will include informing ofsted if the complaint is serious. The parents can also phone ofsted if they do not feel their issue has been resolved. But to call ofsted about any issue after giving notice and in the middle of a financial dispute often means that ofsted will not become involved because they will see the complaint as being malicious ?just trying to get out of paying. Of course there are very valid reasons for putting in a complaint to ofsted and removing your child immediately- if they have been put in danger- but otherwise the best thing is to follow the complaints procedure which is there to protect the child. If the parent feels the financial dispute is justified they can go through the small claims court.
If a parent left a negative comment on childcare.co.uk without good cause surely it could be libellous? Much better to leave the ?warning off other parents? to the regulator- Ofsted

(they are pretty formidable)

minderjinx, I appreciate that being a naturist is not a sign of depravity, and it was me who brought it up and not my friend. I found it concerning that their weekend activities were being discussed in front of the children, when parents might not appreciate that. My friend brushed it off, I am the one that thought it was odd that a four year old seemed to have heard a lot about the minders being naked. I shouldn't have even mentioned it.

moogster, if you actually READ the OP you will see there is a lot more to it than that. Declining standards in quality of meals and the house being a building site for months at a time with the children herded into one tiny room were also mentioned!

They are not trying to get out of paying and giving appropriate notice. They gave notice because they felt they could no longer overlook the declining quality of care (which they excused for a long time because CM had previously been decent), and THEN the CM demanded the money much earlier than the contract dictated, and on receiving it THEN refused to look after the children during the notice period.

Worszel, I think I've said many times they were happy with the CM at the start and the quality of the care has declined slowly over the years, now to the point they have made a difficult decision to remove their children from the only childminder they have ever had.

I think my friend had a misplaced sense of loyalty to the CM, and now it has come back to bite her, because the only thing everyone is focused on is 'why did she stay so long', and not the actual complaints that finally forced her to leave.

Anyway, thank you for the advice. I knew at the start what my friend wanted to do (warn others about her bad experience) probably wasn't going to happen, but at least now I can tell her I've consulted the entity that is MN and the consensus is concerns about child welfare go to Ofstead, financial dispute goes to small claims court, and that is basically all that is reasonable to do.

Believe me, I wouldn't have started the thread if she hadn't begged me to help and specifically wanted to know if mumsnet was a place where such information/reviews could be exchanged.