Childminder's husband doing school run - dodgy or am I paranoid?

[slev]

That's it basically. Went to see a potential childminder and she said that as she doesn't drive, her husband would be doing the school run (I get the impression he works nights). She might be able to go with him sometimes, depends how many children she's got.

This just didn't sit right with me, and I don't know whether it's quite normal and I'm just being paranoid, or whether I'm right to think it's not okay. She's OFSTED registered and said that he was CRB checked, but I'm still not sure.

Annoyingly, she appears to be the only childminder who's even prepared to do the school pick-up (we've been kicked out of our nanny share so quite desperate!) but I don't want that to blind me to what's acceptable.

Any views on whether this is okay or not? Thanks.

He will be crb checked. Adults living in cm houses have to be. But if he is not registered as an assistant he can't be in sole charge of the children. Insurance/ofsted would not like it at all. I'm a cm and it is a real pain when it is raining/snowing etc and I have to take all the children out to do a school run, but there isn't a way round it unless he gets registered. We have ruled out my DH being registered as it is such a faff for the few times a year he is actually here to help.

I feel for you as it does sound as if you have limited options for childcare.

My husband is registered as my assistant, has CRB checks, first aid certificateand insurance. He occasionally helps me take the children to school or pick them up, for example if it is snowing, and either he will wait in the car while I drop off/pick up or vice versa. I did recently ask one family if they would mind if he picked up on his own one day (for a particular reason) and they said no, they thought their child would be nervous of DH if I was not there. Frankly that is rubbish, as this "nervous" child frequently leaps onto him and hugs him when he comes in from work, pesters him to play with her and so on, and is 100% comfortable with him. I did not argue the point, but did feel a bit insulted on his behalf. People say they want a family environment - well families include men.

Thanks - good range of opinions and definitely some food for thought. As a number of people have said, I think it's a gut feel thing, and the fact he's not her registered assistant is definitely part of that (and he's definitely not, I asked) - I'm very boring and like everything to be documented, and so anything slightly below the radar worries me.

The CM herself is quite new and English isn't her first language so it wasn't the easiest conversation when we met up yesterday as I think she's still finding her feet (and why I suspect she's prepared to take on a school run that she can't actually do herself). I need to go back with a proper list of questions and with enough time to talk them all through and make sure we've understood each other - yesterday was more of just a chance to see the environment etc. and then I got the curve ball about her not driving.

I think nannynick also makes a good point - the not driving has wider implications for the way DS is likely to be entertained - not saying a CM has to be out of the house the whole time, but apart from a park, there isn't a huge amount to do around where we live so that's something to think about too.

This childcare thing is ruddy difficult. Nursery was a breeze in comparison...

You need to ask questions:

Is he first aid trained?

What experience does he have?

Is his language skills good enough to communicate to your child, incase of emergency?

Is his CRB clear?

YOU NEED TO.SEE HIS CRB CHECK, HIS FIRST AID CERTIFICATE TOO!!

If he couldn't provide these, my answer would be no..

If he is not her registered assistant there is a whole load of implications.

1. his car would need to be insured for business purposes otherwise he will be driving them illegally, and this insurance would cost quite a bit, so if she hasn't mentioned that then she probably hasn't got it in place.
2. if there was a problem of any kind you I am sure her own insurance will be invalid

Its a tiny tiny risk that something would happen whilst he was driving, but ramifications if something did happen would be huge.

I would also check her own registration carefully as if she is prepared to do this without signing him up as her assistant, then she may be cutting corners elsewhere too.....

Good point runoutofideas. Why did she register for school children if she can't do school runs?

I would be concerned about him working nights too - how will that impact on his driving, also when at home will there be an expectation that the children need to be quiet so he can sleep.

If he is def not registered then ask why she is allowing him to do school runs

Agree also if working nights be wary of driving (tho I work nights and ok) but also does he need a quiet house?

It really shouldn't be an issue as such.

As a childminder you have to be crb checked yourself PLUS everyone else in your household over the age of 16 is required by OFSTED to be crb checked too.

As her husband he can be registered with OFSTED as her assistant and that may offer you some comfort.

However - putting ALL of the above to one side my personal opinion is to go with your gut feel when choosing a cm - at thebendcif the day you have to be totally comfortable and confident with your childcare solutions.

I have only had a quick scan down through these responses, but has no-one pointed out that unless this gentleman has up to date paediatric first aid training he is definitely not allowed to be in charge of the minded children - An assistant to a child-minder (unqualified) is allowed to be in charge of children for up to 2 hours but only if a) properly registered as an assistant, b) has the appropriate CRB thingy, and c) they have the first aid certificate. Never mind the insurance nightmare - both car & CM....If she bends these rules what else does she do?

many of us have said if he is not registered then he cant do it, that means the first aid/crb or dbs as now known as, and obv insurance wont be valid

op - you can either carry on using cm and say that dh cant/isnt allowed to take ds in car or find a new cm

If she's prepared to cut corners or do things deliberately under the radar then I'd be concerned about what else she'd be doing.

In general, I've found if a child minder or nanny want to do things in a dodgy way, they've not been great at other things either, and once you enter into a dodgy arrangement with someone you lose the high ground and ability to say no to other 'stick it to the man' type things.

It may not always be the case but I've found it a good rule of thumb, even if it's really tempting.

Can you use any other type of childcare? It sounds like you've not got many options?