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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

cm's - do any of you have........

17 replies

lexiemum · 26/07/2006 20:53

a large swimming pool that stands 5ft high (or needs a ladder to climb in) in your garden that mindees use?

if so, what are your rules, protocols etc etc

starting to panic - my cm just got one and although they say they'll provide a risk assessment / rules etc - I don't want my dds (3 and 10mths - both non-swimmers) to use it.

so what are your rules etc (so I can compare!) and then I can make an informed decision.

my gut feeling is that at least 2 adults should be present if the pool in use - one in pool (or ready to go in) and one to look after those out side of pool.

and if i'm over reacting please tell me - my whole work life revolves around risk assessing so it does take over in home life some what.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

vix1 · 26/07/2006 21:13

Im not a cm, not yet anyway, it would be great aslong as its safe etc. obviously. And I personally would only take in the 10 month old, of which would of course be in arm bands, and carried, and 3 yr old, in arm bands. How many does she look after including your own children?
It just gets difficult when you have more than 2 children, especially if they are learning to swim and dont ware arm bands.
Im sure most cm wouldn't go in with anymore than 2 anyway, well I think. Maybe she is planning to do it whilst others aren't there or something

Original poster

lexiemum · 26/07/2006 21:21

oh no - got the impression this morning all charges would go in and she'd stand on the side.

atm -there's one under one (mine or another - we share the week); 2 under 3 and then 3 or 5 school age. made it clear my dd2 wouldn't go in unless with an adult and dd1 would be in a vest float (i'd provide) - so total of 8 max during the hols and after school.

cm did say they'd all wear armbands whether they could swim or not and that it was not substitute to learning to swim - but honestly how many 3yrs olds go in 4ft of water without an adult by their side?

OP posts:

Xena · 26/07/2006 21:25

Sounds worring to me and I'm a childminder. How was your childminder when you approached how was she did she take your worrys into account?

Xena · 26/07/2006 21:25

Have ofsted Okyed it and does she have a policy?

vix1 · 26/07/2006 21:30

Im pretty sure that that isn't right, I dont think Ofstead wouldn't say it was safe. Even if they are all in arm bands, you just never know. You need to have a chat about it, it wont be very fair on your children if they see all the other children going in, and they'd have to sit and watch, which isn't fair, and also not safe! I dont really know what to recommend, cuz she's not likely to say that she wont use it whilst your children are there is she?

vix1 · 26/07/2006 21:31

Sorry, I meant ' im sure ofstead would say it is unsafe'

Original poster

lexiemum · 26/07/2006 21:37

ofsted not involved - should they?

was bought 3 or 4 days ago.

its easy that it would not be used on my dds days (only 2).

its not accessible at the moment and will be gated so theres no fret of drowning.

didn't really discuss in detail this am - i think i ask too many questions or question practice in general that i didn't bother too much. but speaking with dh this pm, realised maybe I should worry!

i'll wait and see what the guidelines are and then I can ask re ofsted etc.

BUT on the otherhand I don't want to be too picky as I can't deal with notice being handed to me - there's limited cm's in my area that "serve" the nursery I need to use.

OP posts:

Xena · 26/07/2006 21:40

They don't like ponds (which is correct imo) if you keep one they won't often register your garden, you are supposed to fully supervise paddling pools and empty them when you have finished.

vix1 · 26/07/2006 21:40

Maybe then just say that you are happy, if you are, for children to sit in shade and play in garden, if it has to be used whilst they are there, or your happy for them to go in if there is an adult that would go in too. Just see how she reacts first

ThePrisoner · 26/07/2006 21:40

I know of a childminder who got into a bit of trouble a few years back when she regularly took lots of mindees to a relative's house which had an outdoor pool. I think one of the parents complained to Ofsted as she felt that there wasn't the necessary supervision. (It was obviously easier to fall into because it wasn't high up).

I can't remember the exact outcome, but there was certainly some requirement as to how many able-bodied adults should be present.

I've had a busy day today, with 8 children here - I wouldn't have been happy with that many children using a pool like this at the same time (with me being in or out of the water). If I had a couple of children, I would be OK with it, but with me in the water too.

Original poster

lexiemum · 26/07/2006 21:43

thanks guys - will defo ask if the new purchase has been passed via ofsted and defo my dd's will not be using.

OP posts:

Katymac · 26/07/2006 23:18

Why not ring OFSTED anonymusly and ask if they have any guidelines?

That way you can be sure

I have a little blue shell paddling pool and the inspector asked if I emptied it after each use, they are super careful (rightly so)

I worry about water & children (but maybe I'm just a worrywort)

Booh · 27/07/2006 09:02

I have a proper pool in my garden, but it is at the side of the house, has a fence which is locked with a padlock at all times.

No mindees have ever used it, as the rules from Ofsted are very very strict (I needed to have a life saving qualification etc) so it is just not used. We do go to an open air paddling pool in the next village - but had to have specific permissions from parents!

Ring Ofsted

Mindees don't really like it - but tough!

nannynick · 27/07/2006 09:40

Ofsted don't object to swimming pools as such, however safety precautions need to be taken.

Read this Childminder Ofsted Report as an example of how a childminder has a swimming pool which is an Educational benefit. It also contains information regarding saftey precautions taken.

Isyhan · 28/07/2006 13:39

Really- it should be classed as a swimming pool and have the same adult child ratios as a swimming pool. Which is one adult to 2 children and the adult should be in the water. She could take them to local baths but she would be expected to get in pool with them and have them in appropriate boyancy gear etc etc.

Original poster

lexiemum · 31/07/2006 13:14

spoken with ofsted - they said they look at each individual case and that anyone aquiring a swimming pool should be contacting ofsted first and presenting their risk assessment before getting parent permission.

spoke to two different people both of whom said there was no specific guidelines - mentioned booh having to have lifeguard qual but apparently this is not the case - they offered suggestion that maybe it was the local authority making this demand?

next step = need to get and read permission thingy megig from cm and then make my decision. ofsted say if unhappy that inadequate provision made for safety / supervision then I am to write formally to cm with my concerns and receive a written response within 28days. if this isn't satisfactory am to involve ofsted.

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 31/07/2006 18:45

I am surprised that Ofsted seemed to dither about this - they are really hot on ponds/safety, and it amazes me that they aren't more concerned about a five foot deep pool!! Actually, I suppose I'm not surprised, this is Ofsted.

I asked some nice, friendly RL childminders about this situation today and, without fail, they all said that they thought there would be some fairly heavy-duty guidelines that we should follow!!

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