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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

According to my DD, she spends the whold day watching TV at her childminders!

157 replies

mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 21:01

Hi, my 6 year old daughter is home educated and has recently started going to a child minder one day a week. I asked on facebook if anyone knew any good CM's and a friend of my husbands family mentioned her daughter, who used to be a nursery nurse. She's only in her early 20's but I didn't feel we could really say no, so we though we'd give her a try. I sent my DD with a big bag of things to entertain herself, eg pens, paper, puzzles, books etc. When I picked her up she was asleep on the sofa. The CM said she'd been good etc. When I asked her what she'd done, she said watched cbeebies and a DVD. She didn't do any drawings or play with any of her things either. I noticed that the TV has been on every time we've visited, and if it's on, DD will watch it. She has an 18 month old daughter who DD has become very fond of, but no other CM children.
I'm not sure wether to say something very tactful to enquire about what she's been doing there, just carry on taking her, or what? I find these things really awkward! I don't mind her watching a DVD or some TV, but 6 hours worth is just too much. She goes on a day that's usually a chill out day, but even so, I usually encourage her to play games, read to her and involve her in what I'm doing.
Am I asking too much though?

OP posts:
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NonnoMum · 17/06/2011 22:18

And it seems you have no idea how unregistered CMs are illegal...

Why didn't you start the thread saying...

I sent my SEN child to an unregistered CM one day a week. She sat in front of the TV all day. Should I be concerned that Ofsted might be interested in the alternative provision I am providing for my child or should I just accept that I made a mistake in not sending her to school and need to bite the bullet and seek out a school where her needs can be met?

Just a thought...

clemetteattlee · 17/06/2011 22:20

Have you checked with the LEA that this will be accepted as part of her home education?

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 22:20

Her needs cannot be met at school. Her needs are met at home!!

OP posts:
clemetteattlee · 17/06/2011 22:22

How many childminders are qualified to educate 6 year olds? Nursery nurses don't study the needs of school aged children

BooyHoo · 17/06/2011 22:22

quite honestly mummyloveslucy, i would run far and fast from you aswell. you dont seem to give a fiddle who looks after your child. convenience matters to you and that is all. i am a mother of two exceptionally happy boys, owner of one dog and two cats, all extremely well cared for and loved and i have taken names from so many families already wishing to use my services when i do become registered. you opinion of me based on the fact that i have pointed out YOUR mistake matters not a jot to me. good luck. take care of your DD the way she deserves to be taken care of.

amistillsexy · 17/06/2011 22:23

OP, I'm more concerned about how you are managing to home-educate your DD, who obviously requires more than the usual attention (and most 6 year-olds require alot of attention!) when you work nights?
Surely you need to sleep during the day? Who is educating your DD then?
Hmm

lisad123 · 17/06/2011 22:23

My understanding of home ed is that the LEA cant force you to do anything with your child. I could pull my girls out of school, tell the LEA Im home eding them and then spend all day visiting friends, sleeping and doing bugger all! shocking.

lisad123 · 17/06/2011 22:26

where did she say she works nights? i missed that?

NonnoMum · 17/06/2011 22:26

And, to be fair, you had the balls to pull your child out of mainstream education (which - to be fair to Home Edders - takes some doing) but you didn't have the balls to check up on the qualifications of your babysitter/CM.

Hmm. You sound a bit inconsistent.

clemetteattlee · 17/06/2011 22:27

My understanding is the LEA can compel school attendance of the home education is not up to satisfactory standards: Nottingham example

amistillsexy · 17/06/2011 22:31

You are absolutely right, lisad123, and since the OP has written that her DD is "quite demanding", "very draining" and "a complex character",
it seems to me that this child will need more than the usual amount of care and supervision (something that was maybe lacking at school?), and therefore cannot be left to her own devices whilst the OP sleeps!

lisad123 · 17/06/2011 22:31

"When a child is educated at home it is the decision of the parent as to what and how the child learns. The education should be such as to prepare the child for life in modern civilised society and enable them to achieve their full potential. There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, which applies only to maintained schools"

amistillsexy · 17/06/2011 22:34

lisa123

mummyloveslucy Fri 17-Jun-11 21:45:22

Thanks cat. BooHoo- I do work nights, my daughter also has special needs which can be quite demanding. She isn't naughty, but it can be very draining

lisad123 · 17/06/2011 22:37

thanks
Im terrible for skim reading Grin

clemetteattlee · 17/06/2011 22:37

Lisad, if you read on to section 9 (I can't c&p from the iPad) then it says it still has to be "up to standard". TV all day at an unregistered childminder is not going to cut it.

amistillsexy · 17/06/2011 22:37

I have recently removed my DS, who has ASD, from the school he was in as they would not make reasonable adjustments to meet his needs. He has very complex needs and is certainly 'draining'. I educated him at home for 6 months before the LA could find him a suitable place in a school willing to take him on.
One thing I do know, I could not have done what I did and worked nights as well! Believe me, having my ds at home all day for that length of time was like having 2 full time jobs in itself! I've never been so exhausted.

HSMM · 17/06/2011 22:40

I am a (registered) CM, I considered HE for my DD and I would take on the care of a HE child with SN. I would not sit them in front of a TV all day (unless it was some kind of SN requirement). I would also not expect you to bring any activities with you for her to do.

You need to have a look around for someone who can provide the specific care you require. If the person you use at the moment is a Nursery Nurse, she must have some level of common sense and will either register and provide what you need, or be happy to let someone else do it.

Just say that you understand you should be using registered care ... and take it from there.

AMYJ1234 · 17/06/2011 22:40

mummyloveslucy - you've prob got more than u bargained for posting this! I can totally see why you would use someone not registered to look after your child but through a friend of a friend. You need to trust someone and its totally over whelming to get a number out of a phone book and pick a Cm without knowing them at all - unregistered care obviously will have its downfalls - however back to your question...there was nothing wrong with providing things for your child to do - I always think its nice when a parent gives me something their child enjoys doing. Also you dont know for def your child has done nothing all day - i pick up children from school who say they've done nothing! Ask the lady in front of your child - if she's 6 years old she wont be able to lie!
Take it from there
x

NonnoMum · 17/06/2011 22:41

Good on you, ami (and yes, you are)
I hope the new school meets his needs better than the previous one. although of course, no school is perfect. Hope it's going well, now.

AMYJ1234 · 17/06/2011 22:42

your cm wont be able to lie i meant! x

amistillsexy · 17/06/2011 22:51

Thanks NonnoMum. The new school is full of wonderful staff who treat him as an individual and are able to accommodate his quirky ways.
The Deputy Head has told me she loves him. He loves her too. I think I'm a bit in love with her as well Grin.

But, although it was very tempting, I wouldn't have taken Ds to a childminder-especially not one who was only experienced in nursery aged children.
Children with additional needs require adult carers who are experienced and able to meet those needs.

An (ex?) nursery nurse with her own 18 month old to care for is likely to struggle (at best) to give the OP's DD the care she needs.

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 23:26

Hi, I just wanted to mention that while I sleep during the day, my husband has our DD and takes care of her home ed. He is self employed, so we work it out between us. She only does 1 hour a day of formal learning and the rest is spent playing games, gardening, cooking, learning to ride her bike, playing ball games, making things etc, etc.. there is sooo much! She also has a full social life with many after school clubs and meets up with friends for educational visits.

OP posts:
NonnoMum · 17/06/2011 23:29

Oh well - if she's so busy, let her have a day in front of the telly with an unregistered CM.

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 17/06/2011 23:30

Thanks AmyJ1234, I'm glad someone understands! I was very wary of having a stranger looking after her. She takes a long time to get used to new people as well. She already knew this lady, and fell in love with her baby! I thought it'd be a good experience for her. (As far as she's concerned it was too!)

OP posts:
PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 18/06/2011 09:23

mummyloveslucy, do you have a contract?

I use Morton Michel contracts and you have to put your ofsted number on it. Would that be an easier way of finding out if she is ofsted registered?

Good luck with finding a good childminder, there are lots of us about!