concerns about Childminder - please help.

[thefudgeling]

I'm thinking of sending my child (13mo) to a childminder who on my first visit seemed everything I'm looking for - firm but also warm and friendly, interested in children, homely environment etc etc.

BUT, her ofsted report a few years back was unsatisfactory as she left children with her husband without him being registered. This seemed to have been remedied by the next report (3 months later) and he is now registered as her assistant, and children are left with him for short periods of time. I met him and he seems very nice.

My question is - would you consider this a problem in choosing/recommending someone as a CM? Also, could this have been a mistake in that she did not know the rules, or will it have been a deliberate flouting of the regulations?

Thanks :)

No, I absolutely wouldn't consider it a problem. Anyone who lives with a childminder will have had a CRB, so there wouldn't have been a child protection issue here. She was probably just doing what seemed logical and in the children's best interests given the situation at the time (I'd hazard a guess, maybe leaving a sleeping baby at home with her dh while going to pick up others from nursery, something like that?) You could always ask her what the circs are when a child would be looked after by her dh if you're concerned.

I personally wouldn't have the slightest problem with this as a parent (assuming that I basically thought the dh seemed like a nice bloke), even if he wasn't registered as her assistant - it's just that Ofsted have all these regulations about everything. And in any case, now he's registered so it's all above board. So I think you'd be completely mad to write her off on these grounds! If you like her, and you think she'd be a good person to look after your child, then ask if you can speak to other parents and get a reference. Hopefully that should put your mind at rest.

thanks, january, I'm quite an anxious person wrt my dc (for reasons of family history) and this has unfortunately been heightened by the fact that the evening after visiting this CM I started receiving anonymous texts saying how beautiful I am from someone who knows my name. Wasn't going to mention this but am interested to know if it changes your answer at all? I feel so paranoid about all men at the moment!

Am going to ring her to get references, thanks for the suggestion.

I would ask her about it. She will be aware that potential customers will be likely to make careful checks. I would be honest - say you've turned this up and that it concerns you, ask how it happened and make your decision based on how she responds.

thanks minder. Do you think I should mention the texts to her?

I'd be concerned if the situation hadn't been rectified. But it was very quickly and you are happy with everything else. Just ask her anyway so it puts your mind at rest and so she knows you're on the ball.

as far as cm I would not be concerned, but you need to contact the police asap with regards to the texts, they will give you a refrence number and this will allow your phone company to place a trac on your phone to get the number of the calls or texts. that is worrying.

hi dangerous, I know the number the texts are coming from, and have told the police. I don't know who the person is, though. Thanks for your concern. I am angry with this person for making me so paranoid.

Firstly could the texts be just sent to you by mistake?? Gettin the wrong person perhaps, if they keep on just go to the police..

Now regs cm, I have just given up after 4 years and can tell you that I got my dh registered as occasionally I had a sweetly sleeping child who would have had to be dragged out in the rain for a school pick up..

I could have easily left child, parents quite happy for me to do so, but played by rules..

I suspect the cm did this and told ofsted inspector in all innocence and was penalised, ofsted don't call completely unannounced and usually phone the week before so it's unlikely she was 'caught in the act'

If it's just this one thing that put you off then dont worry.

no, thebody, they know my name.

Oh dear thats horrible for you,, what did police say and have you any idea who and why?

no idea! Police wanted to phone them and tell them I'd reported them (including giving them my full name!), which I didn't want because
a - I'm scared!
b - I'd tried phoning them myself and they don't pick up (even when blocking my number).

So I'm just leaving it. They have stopped now anyway and I'm calming down a bit.

Do you think I'm being OTT to let this affect my decision re: CM?

not OTT just obviously concerned, I think any one would be looking to make conections but im pretty sure it is just a coincidence.

Im pretty sure that is not what the police should do in this case, they should be finding out who the phone is registared to any paying them a visit. which is why you need a ref nymber to conatct your phone provider to investigate who the phone is registared to and pass that info over to the police.

My instinct is that the texts are a coincidence. I wouldn't mention them and tbh I wouldn't be too worried if the gist of them is as you say and not threatening at all. I have had a fair few "odd" texts over the years. I think it may be kids messing about. Having said that, I don't suppose your CM has teenagers does she? It would be just the sort of thing some might find amusing if she has left your details lying around at home.

People do the most stupid things, prank calling is a bloody nuicence but rarely dangerous stalkers do this as why would they use a mobile phone that police can trace..

I don't think u paranoid at all, leaving your child is very difficult and you need to be very sure but as I said last post I think it was an oversite on her part not sinister..

I do leave a little one of mine with OH very occassionally and only in his best interest,not because it's easier for me!Although OH isn't registered as my assistant,he is of course CRB checked, the parents are fully aware of the fact that i leave their little one and are absolutely fine about it.LO absolutely HATES the cold-he has actually cried all the way to school and back because he's so cold(no matter how well he's wrapped up) and i really can't see the point in taking him with me;likewise if its pouring with rain when the afternoon school run comes round-he's usually fast asleep and i have to wake him-I really dont see the point in waking him just to drag him out in the rain to go to school and back!

I am very curious to know how Ofsted found out that she left the children with her husband? did they just turned up and the CM was not there?
I am also struggling to understand how she had a new report with the new grade after only 3 months?

If there was a complaint of disregard of standards investigated and upheld by OFSTED it would be recorded alongside her then current inspection report. There is no reason she would not then have a "routine" inspection three months later, by which time she had addressed the issue.

lisa please don't do this

your insurance will be invalidated for a start, and what about if first aid was needed

gobsmacked actually

sorry

yes, as jinx says, if an issue is found then a follow up inspection is performed to ensure that remedial action has been taken

hi, just to update on this - I had a chat with her and it was apparently a rule change by OFSTED which caught her out. Her DH is now a registered childminder too.

I haven't had any more texts either so am hoping that's an end to that story.

Lisa, you're playing on dangerous ground... this is not allowed by OFSTED for good reason, and could potentially be dangerous should an emergency occur while you are out... and insurance would not cover the child at all. For an answer to this.. why not register your DH as an assistant... he'd do paediatric first aid etc.