Reported CM to Ofsted

[cupofteandcaketa]

Please don't flame me but I've just had to report my ex CM to Ofsted.

We've had a number of issues of the last year, which were never really dealt with properly and I've since found out that she was leaving the children in her care, including my DD with a neighbour while she went shopping/do the school run. this neighbour has no professional experience with children, is not first aid trained or has a CRB check. This happened on at least a dozen occasions and I only found out because a friend of the neighbour happened to mention it to me.

I've spent weeks trying to decide what to do about it and feel I've had no choice but to report her. I feel terrible though. Have I done the right thing?

I think you have, yes. This is a really serious issue and you're not in a position to sort it out yourself given that a) she has form for not dealing with issues and b) she's not your CM any more. If this is just malicious gossip then hopefully Ofsted will clear it up quickly, if it turns out to be true you've saved a lot of children from potentially being put at risk.

I've been in a similar position recently but from the opposite side - a CM having to report parents to Social Services. I felt and do still feel terrible but where you're talking about children potentially not being looked after properly you can't just turn a blind eye.

Yes

She has commited an offence by not complying with the terms of her registration, assuming your child is under 8

Yes of course you have done the right thing.
Hope OFSTED can do something.

I feel awful though because it's her livelihood and I hate getting people into trouble but on the other hand, I feel really let down by her. I trusted her to look after my DD and she's betrayed my trust.

What will Ofsted do? I suppose they'll have to take action of some kind.

They may turn up unannounced to see whose with the children but they may just write to her, she will then have to report to them her findings of an investigation into the allegations.

Yes you were right to report but am a bit puzzled why on earth a neighbour would want to act as unpaid child cater for your cm so she can swan off to the shops.

Sounds like malicious crap to me but ofsted will be able to work this out.

I would have done the same. It might be the CM's livelihood but it's your child. You have to know exactly who your child is with when they are not with you.

It all sounds suspiciously like tittle tattle 'a friend of the neighbour happened to mention it' but you have done the right thing because if it is true then the children have been put at risk. But Ofsted will be aware that its third hand information.

No, it definitely happened although I've since found out it was mostly when she had to do the school run and didn't want to put the younger kids in the car.

I absolutely made sure I had my facts straight before ringing Ofsted. She was also paying this young neighbour too.

I'm sad that you'd think anyone here would flame you for taking action. You had the best interests of the children to consider.

From what you say, this childminder is breaking the law and can't imagine any of us would condone her behaviour.

You did the right thing, OP.

Yes you have done the right thing. Childminders can only leave children with authorised assistants who have been CRB checked and parents permission would still need to be obtained first. This is not a one off its happened several times so you should not feel guilty.