Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Just walking in...

26 replies

callmedizzy · 20/06/2012 15:20

I have to leave my front door unlocked for my big children to get in (they would lose a key each!) between about 3.45 and 4.20 after school -they walk home-the rest of the time it is locked or on safety chain, parent seemed to have caught onto this and are letting themselves into my house without knocking, just walking in even when my dh was in kitchen a parent had let themselves in and walked past him saying just passing through! Is this normal or should I do something about it..... Been cming for years and never really had it before?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ripsishere · 20/06/2012 15:22

How rude. I don't use a childminder but IIWY, i would ask the last child in to put the chain on.

RealityIsNOTWarren · 20/06/2012 15:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
callmedizzy · 20/06/2012 15:28

They often need a wee and if the door is locked they shout at me, the CDs can't wander off because I have a playroom where we play and I don't let them out off my sight if the door is open, it's only for a short while then chain on when all in

OP posts:
Original poster
callmedizzy · 20/06/2012 15:29

Not CDs they can't walk I mean dc s

OP posts:
NatashaBee · 20/06/2012 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
callmedizzy · 20/06/2012 15:37

Because they need a wee often desperately by the time they get home! Think lunch is early and if they have a drink they don't get to go toilet til home, the c
Little ones can't get past me I have not lost one yet! I have a gate from playroom into the house and a door from playroom into the enclosed garden so often free flow indoor outdoor play.

OP posts:
RandomNumbers · 20/06/2012 16:05

Ok

Obv you cannot have folk walking in unannounced

Your dcs must be at least junior age to be walking home unaccompanied so are perfectly capable of toileting before departing for home.

So your answer is lock door and let folk in.

Not sure what ofsted would say about folk being able to access your setting without being challenged. Sorry.

RealityIsNOTWarren · 20/06/2012 16:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StillSquiffy · 20/06/2012 16:14

Am Shock that you think it is OK to have periods when anyone can walk in freely to your house whilst minded children are there.

I couldn't get into DCs nursery when there were children in it, and I can't get into their school when there are children in it. I'd certainly expect the same standards in a CM house, even if it did mean the CM's kids wet their knickers.

Original poster
callmedizzy · 20/06/2012 16:24

Just pointing out that my door is locked all day until home time so about half hour, during this time the door is closed so people can't just walk in willy nilly, my playroom has a stair gate so dc can't leave they are safe and well looked after, my older dc just walk home from school probably realising then they need a wee, I would never let people can't just walk in and take a child as is being implied I take my job very seriously safety is paramount to me ! I think I will have to rethink and let my older children wet themselves, thank you

OP posts:
RandomNumbers · 20/06/2012 16:38

Not putting the boot in but your premises have not been secured in the past, kinda suggesting that you hadn't assessed the risk of someone accessing your property but anyway.

You could use this as a launch point for reflecting on your practice; you have identified a potential security issue and will take steps to rectify immediately. You could think about how to communicate the need to knock and wait to parents (group texts/emails/via your newsletter) and how to accommodate your own children's needs (keys on a chain secured to their book bags? How then to ensure that they lock the door as they come in? Might be safer for you to always be the person to lock the door)

It's not all bad, utilise this experience to improve your practice.

lesstalkmoreaction · 20/06/2012 16:47

Just give your children a key. Mine always have one in their pencil case on a key fob or attached to a peice of string inside their blazers. Or could you have a secret place where you put a key in a pot in the garden. No one is suggesting your children wet themselves but leaving the door unlocked is not working for you so you need to have a rethink.

Yeahthatsnotgonnahappen · 20/06/2012 16:47

Got to say I wouldn't mind my CM having her door unlocked - I trust that you've got an eye on them! However, having been raised to have some manners, I certainly wouldn't traipse into the house. Even at my parents, I knock and holler

HSMM · 20/06/2012 16:49

Sorry ... I would lock my DD out and she would soon learn to wee before leaving school.

However ... I do think it's rude of people to just walk in!

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 20/06/2012 18:52

They're old enough to walk home alone from school, but don't have enough control over their bladders to not wet themselves in the 1/2 minutes it takes you to answer the door? Do they have any special/additional needs?

Staceisace · 20/06/2012 20:23

Maybe you could just try trusting them with a key??

My mum gave me a front door key when I started secondary school at 12! I was pretty responsible I guess but even so, if you're in the house and need to have the door locked for the sake of your mindees you could at least give it a go. They might surprise you by not losing the keys.

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 20/06/2012 21:05

How about asking your children to use the back door instead?

redglow · 20/06/2012 23:28

Leave a key under the mat. But also agree with holy batman.

Original poster
callmedizzy · 21/06/2012 09:58

Thank you for your replies, I have to say I do risk assess, it is something my coordinator is very hot on, I only look after 1 minded plus my lo at any one time and only work til 4 2 days a week, (my choice as i like to get out and about alot)so in reality my door is unlocked not open for just over ten mins of my minding time, thereis a gate to my playroom which is closed and I do not leave dc unattended so anyone would have to get through me to get to the dc t, I live in a small rural town not a city, I would never leave my door unlocked if I thought there was a danger to anyone, I didn't think that my door being unlocked for such a short time was a danger and I am sorry you feel this way

I have however come to 2 conclusions from this post
1 I will sow some elastic with a key to the bottom of my dc school bag
2 that I won't ask for help/advise here again as I hardly slept last night feeling sick worrying.

P.s my children do not have sen, they have a drink at lunch time, don't think about going to the toilet before leaving school, by the time they get home they are desperate, they can off coarse hold on and do when I forget to unlock the door but it is un pleasant to hold on as I am sure you are aware.

OP posts:
nokidshere · 21/06/2012 10:37

I don't lock my door. Parents knock and come in. I am never away from the children and my house is not big enough to not know someone is at the door ;)

Flisspaps · 21/06/2012 10:50

callmedizzy why would you not post here again? If you felt sick last night then surely that's just because issues or solutions have been raised that you hadn't considered - and that's ok, no one person can have all of the answers to all of the problems.

Better that people suggest giving your kids a key and locking the door than someone you don't know wander in, or something happen to you and your mindee wander out?

If nothing else it's incredibly rude of these parents to just walk in. It's not just a workplace but your home, sometimes that gets forgotten because of the work you do.

And surely your children can take 2 minutes to wee at school before leaving so they're not busting by the time they get home?

ChitChatFlyingby · 21/06/2012 12:03

In your post you said the door was unlocked from 3.45 to 4.20 - that's over 1/2 an hour - or course people will say it's unsafe. It IS unsafe.

I can understand your concerns about your DC and wetting themselves. But just one unpleasant accident by not making it to the toilet in time and they will certainly remember to go to the loo before they leave school afterwards.

If you felt sick all last night, then it's because you realise that what you have been doing is wrong. Why is it MN's fault??

ChildrenAtHeart · 21/06/2012 13:31

EYFS Premises & Security:
Specific Legal Requirements -
'Premises both indoors & outdoors must be safe & secure'
'Providers must take steps to prevent intruders entering the premises'

So by leaving the door unlocked you are not complying with the EYFS & so breaking the terms of your registration
No brainer really

Jodidi · 21/06/2012 13:43

My cm has her door unlocked in the mornings for drop off time and in the evenings around pick up time. I always knock and shout, but they've usually seen me coming up the drive from the playroom window.
I personally don't think this is unsafe as long as you are with the minded children while the door is unlocked. Ofsted do not mind this set up either (my cm was inspected a few weeks ago and was graded outstanding even though her front door is unlocked all the time they are there) As long as you can ensure the childrens safety you do not HAVE to keep the door locked.
So from my point of view as a parent I think your main problem is the parents walking in unannounced. You need to speak to them and explain that they should knock and wait as it is your home.

IloveJudgeJudy · 21/06/2012 16:24

I sympathise, OP. My DC were not allowed to go to the toilet before leaving school/at home time. They just had to leave. If I picked them up and sort of begged, then they were allowed.

The parents are being incredibly rude by just walking into your house. Our front door is usually open and you have to positively lock it with a key which we only do at night. DS2's friend walked in a couple of times, as did my niece/nephew. I didn't allow it more than twice, though.

Don't flounce off here, though. It's a very helpful place and sometimes getting the answers you didn't think you would, gives you a different perspective on things.