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

[mummyloveslucy]

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?

You never come over to me as an uncareing mother either, far from it there is not many mums that would give up their days to home educate your child. Good on you.

I can see why you chose to go with a family friend and I agree that you've had some less than polite/helpful responses (including critiquing your home-ed-ing) which weren't really called for. However (as a CM) it is frustrating when parents choose to use unregistered carers, then complain about the quality/lack of contract/insurance/clarity over expectations.

Don't let this put you off using a CM though. If you have a children's centre near you, most of them have CM drop-ins, where you can hang out and play with your DD, whilst observing how CMs interact with their charges. Or a lot of CMs near me go to the library drop-in sessions too. Meeting CMs (combined with reading Ofsted reports etc) is the best way to know if they'll care for your child well - I've found with most parents I've met we've all had a gut feeling that we would or wouldn't click. :)

I do wonder if your DD might be a slight odd-ball at a CMs though, not because of her SEN, but because she'd be the only older child there during term-time (will she miss out on not having peers there?). But, some CMs would probably love having an older one around - especially if she likes to help play with/entertain the little ones. Just something to consider, as you'd need to ask what provision they have for older ones (especially if they usually go to toddler groups during the day) and make it clear what activities you'd expect/hope would be provided.

Good luck with whatever you decide, I agree with redglow that you come across as a caring parent with putting your DDs needs first with the home-ed-ing and (now you've cancelled the unregistered childcare) trying to find the best childcare solution for your DD too.

OK, I appreciate this might be a naive question and please don't give me the horrible flaming you have given to mummyloveslucy but - if, as a parent, you're genuinely not bothered about all the bumph that childminders have to do (following EYFS, observations etc etc) and just want somewhere for your child to go every now and again, does it really matter if they are unregistered? Why does it upset all the registered people so much?

If you are paying someone to look after your child in their own [cm's] home then yes they must be reg'd.

It upsets reg'd cm's (although i realise i only speak for myself) because we strive incredibly hard to try and present a professional image that childcare is career choice to be proud of and not a job we do just for pin money or so we can stay at home with our own DC's and get paid.

We have to jump through dozens of hoops, set not just by OFSTED but many many other agencies also- whilst these unreg'd people do it for cash on the side with no monitoring and usually no tax being paid either.

If something was to happen to your child whilst in their care you would be the first to report it/sue them and they wouldn't be covered by any legislation to help you.

Also the Childminder name, dispite the person not being a childminder in the true sense, would be dragged thorugh the mud as i have seen in the newspapers before.

well said nicknaks.. cumbria its not the point whether a parent is bothered or not..its the law now that cms have to be registered... as stated its for everyones protection not least the child....

i do take your points but wonder what job you do?? would you like someone completely unqualified setting themselves up to do your job, calling themselves by your title and then undercutting you financially....

She was unqualified to have her in her own home. A trained nursery nurse has a lot more qualifications than a registered childminder. She did not advertise herself as a childminder.

Not necessarily, redglow. Most childminders have obtained or are working towards Level 3 qualifications - the equivalent of a room leader in a nursery. Some childminders have foundation degrees, full degrees and I know at least one with a Masters degree in childhood studies.

It's inaccurate to make such a sweeping judgement on the relative qualifications these days.

This babysitter was unregistered to have the child in her own home. Qualifications don't come into it.

Yes sorry I meant to say unregistered. Most childminders I know have only level 2 because that is all you need. .

Er, excuse me Redglow, I am NNEB trained, and a childminder.

As I have said to the OP, dont tar us all with the same brush

Redglow: "A trained nursery nurse has a lot more qualifications than a registered childminder."

Really? I'm a registered CM and have a BA (Hons) 2.1, MA and an Early Years PGCE. Which higher qualifications than those do nursery nurses have exactly?

MummylovesLucy - I just wanted to say that I am a CM ( & an Ex Teacher) and I home educate my son ( I actually Home Ed all 3 of my sons - but one is at work now and the other eventually got into an excellent school where he is immensly happy).

I agree that school does not suit some children and the difference in my children when they were removed from school and home educated was amazing.
I also think it is a good idea for her to have a day of 'non home education' as I do the same with my son now as he is studying for his GCSE's ( at home) and I give him a day a week where he does what he wants.... he tends to do his own art project or history project ( his 2 loves!)...

So I appalaud you for taking you daughter out when she was so unhappy - but wanted to say there are some very good, passionate and registered CM out there ... so don't give up looking :)

Well of course lots have childminders have more than the level 2. Lots of ex nannies I know have had their own children and set themselves up as a childminder. Another childminder I know is a trained nurse specialist. What I am saying is that all you need to become a childminder is level 2.

I dont think childminders need a level 2 to register unless its a new requirement?

Thanks Leesax.

Are you actually a CM redglow?

It's just tht you don't really sound as if you know what you are talking about.

No I am a NNEB. Tell me then nicknacks what do you actually need to become a childminder? Maybe I am wrong.

Also NNEB in 2000.

I reg'd as a cm 3 yrs ago and had to complete the first unit of Level 3 Home based childcare. This is proposed to change and have all CM's up to full level 3 by 2012/2015 (changes with the wind and government!) The name of the course changes quite frequently so newer CM's might know it as something else but essentially its the same thing.

Also paediatric first aid (same as nursery staff) and safeguarding (again same as nursery).

It doesn't sound a lot as it is only the basics to get you started (as we all know experiaence usually counts for much more!) and OFSTED and LA's expect to see continued professionally development and many are already qualified to much higher before starting or go onto complete higher qualifications alongside the job.

It's fair to say its a sweeping statement that all cm's are qualified to a certain standard when it varies so much. As parents, if this is an area that is important to you (as i said before, usually experience is a much better teacher!) then make sure it is a question you ask a potential cm and see certificates if appropriate.

Hope this helps.

I recently got registered with ofsted which shares the childminder course and it was an 18 week course which they said was the equalivent to a NVQ2, we could now go on to get the NVQ3.

Do you think it is different in different parts of the country?

All i know is we all still meet up I was the only nanny on the course and they are all doing childminding. We all did the first aid too.

Surely a childminder needs more training than that? I am sure they have more than a few weeks training.

Hello OP I didnt have patience to read all the anger that people post here, just came to say that my 4 year old DD always comes back from school, playdates, birthday parties saying that she didnt do nothing at all....
If your daughter seems happy on this one day a week, and if you think she is enjoying being there so dont worry too much. I personally know some unregistered 'childminders' ho do a far better job than some registered ones graded good bt ofsted. It is easy to fool an ofsted inspector, you just need to have a good ammount with certain papaerwork done (even with fake dates or signatures in it) and say the right thing. Just trust you gut feelings.

Registered childminders are inspected by Ofsted. We are CRB checked and so are all the other adults who live in our home. We do first aid training. We have public liability insurance. We are required to risk assess our homes and any outings we do. We are obliged to offer toys and resources to support childrens learning and development through the Early Years Foundation Stage. We observe and plan activities for children. We attend training and keep up to date with the latest news on children's development and learning. We keep records of when children are on our premises, get you to sign for any medicine we administer your child. We provide parents with a daily diary of what the child has done, as well as photo observations. The list goes on...

We invest a lot of time and our own money in ensuring the care we provide for your child is high quality.
Unregistered childminding is illegal, and if anything was to happen to your child in her care you would not have much of a leg to stand on.
As a registered childminder I have a Television policy which states that children will watch no more than 40 minutes television each day.
You need to sort this out.

How many times are you inspected though ? I personally think that risk assements are a complete waste of time, just loads of extra paperwork.

Having just googled how to become a childminder it seems redglow you are right. I would go with gut instinct and references.

hangon - I know things have changed recently and I dont know what is required to be registered now. I do know that for a long time including when I got registered it was a case of completing i think 6x2 hour courses and a CRB check - not much i know. This is probably the problem with peoples view of childminders being low status(there is another thread going on re what to call c minders cos we do more than just care)- being a registered childminder does not make anyone better at looking after a child than unregistered. It just means we work within a framework to adhere to and there is insurance in place - however we all know there are incompetent workers who are registered.
Nursery staff I think have to do an NVQ3 - so appear to be more qualified. I have a degree in something else - I did the NVQ3 and its a total waste of time TBH it was so basic.
If I was looking to place my child I would have to look at who exactly was doing the caring - def registered but qualifications?? Who needs them when you do the job daily??? - children need love, patience and stimulation. Training courses can help but the willingness to reflect on how you are treating the children and making sure you are doing your best everyday with the children is the best qualification!

Agree with you AMY but if I had to choose beteween someone unregistered but kind, honest and ecficient and a registered desorganized, rude shit person I would defo chose the 1st one. Why do childminders need insurance anyway? just to get contratcts and other papaerwork they are not able to word themselves. I never heard of anyone who needed insurance for anything else tbh

yep, I would choose the unregistered minder too! Insurance is that if the worst happened you could claim- you may need your house to be wheelchair accessible etc. But for everything else, i feel being registered is misleading parents into thinking we are anything else other than registered. That goes for nurseries too (which in my personal unqualified opinion are worse ) (dont know anything about nannies)