How much would this put you off?

[fjalladis]

I'm looking at setting up as a childminder sometime next year. Have plenty of experience with kids although I'm currently working in social care. Dbs training ect not a problem have got all relevant info to book on courses ect but

I have six points on my driving licence from a stupid stupid error on my part in not checking my insurance had renued ( thought it was on auto renue) following a breakdown on dual carriageway (requiring police presence) it became apparent that I was not insured. Following later discussions with my insurers they did admit that they had made the mistake ( I had paperwork with renual info ect) but by this time I had had to accept the points and pay the fine. I cannot now appeal it to have points removed or find reimbursed .
Wondering what affect this could have on me wanting to childmind and whether it would put parents off?

Its not about helping with homework as such, but CMs could have to attend meetings with social services, health and education professionals and provide reports at these meetings. They are expected to write progress reports on children, including 2 year checks and transition documents to school. They may even have to make a referral to speech and language therapy
Its not just changing nappies and visiting the park

I can't believe what a bun fight this has become .

We have a CM, but DS doesn't do his homework there, he does it at home with DH and I. Do other children do their homework at their CM?

'Do you seriously expect a childminder to help with homework?'

I expect the childminder to be educationally able to help with homework, yes.

'Surely that's your responsibility as a parent?'

Yes. It's also my responsibility to care for my children, pick them up from school, change their nappies, entertain them, feed them etc. etc. etc. When you use childcare you delegate those responsibilities to someone else for a period of time. I don't think there is anything special about homework that means it can't be supervised by anyone other than me.

'So is it okay if an adult with SEN that limits their spelling ability becomes a childminder? Any objectors?'

Of course. You can see from this thread that many people don't care about spelling or education level when it comes to childcare. Those people would be happy to use such a childminder. I probably wouldn't use them, because the spelling is important to me. It's just the same as someone having a SEN that means they couldn't drive. I don't need a driver so it's fine. Someone who needs a driver would not be able to use that childminder. It's horses for courses, there is no need for people to be upset because we have different childcare preferences.

'Do other children do their homework at their CM?'

Yes.

I did wonder that too - why would the childminder be responsible for overseeing the homework anyway?
I've done a wee bit research on the subject of childminders doing homework and it seems that it's not usual for them to take that job on.
They seldom have the peace and space, don't tend to provide 1:1 and don't get paid enough either.

I offer a quiet space for children to do homework if they want to. I will offer help if I'm asked. I don't make them do it, or supervise them closely, or check their work. Parents know this before they choose me.

That sounds about right - that's the level of involvement and responsibility I would assume a childminder would take with regards to homework.

That would be perfect HSMM.

I know several childminders who do the same. It seems I'm in a very lucky area for childminders. Most are both kind, reliable etc. AND have moderate literacy. Most provide some homework assistance.

It's maybe because of the area we're in. Children tend to get quite a lot of homework (lots of private schools) and parents tend to work long hours, so most people want some homework done in the after-school hours. Otherwise you end up doing it all weekend or late in the evening.

If other childminders don't want to or can't or feel they aren't paid enough etc. then that is fine. I just won't use them. If there were no childminders that could provide that service I would look for alternative childcare. That's fine too.

I don't understand why my preference for someone who can spell is so upsetting. If I had a preference about driving or food or pets or something it wouldn't cause this much annoyance I'm sure.

If spelling/literacy/education level doesn't matter to you, that's fine. I'm not judging anyone. It does matter to me and it is something I consider when choosing childcare. It's also something that I've been asked at interview before, so I know it's not only me! I was simply advising the OP to spell check her ad. I also think that if two ads were identical in terms of what they were offering, charges etc. you would all choose the better written one, even if you claim you wouldn't!

'That sounds about right - that's the level of involvement and responsibility I would assume a childminder would take with regards to homework.'

So after all those insults last night, we're actually in agreement!

I see
Yeah look I'm sorry - I did get a bit wound up over nothing really.

all is forgiven!

We can be snoot-arsed together

Alrighty then.

In over 10 years of being a childminder nobody asked me about points. I wouldn't worry and wouldn't volunteer the information unless specifically asked.
I never helped with homework ... I believe it should be done with parents not a childminder. With 5 other children to supervise it would be very difficult to sit down with one to do it. I always provided a quiet place for the older ones if they chose to do it themselves.
Yes, it does annoy me when people misspell words especially when they can't see the difference between 'there' and 'their' and English is their first language. Childminder's spelling doesn't bother me to be honest. She's not a tutor or a teacher.
Just to make it clear ... I'm not a childminder anymore, English is not my mothertongue and I'm not university educated.

"Ohhh ha ha ha - love the poster there snooting about poor spelling as she misspells 'licence"

It totally made my day

(I don't think the points will be an issue, just explain

Ooohhh some people really need to get over themselves!
Going back to OP's ORIGINAL question......in 15 years of minding, I have never been asked about my driving licence...or insurance...or MOT...in fact 99% of parents are not remotely interested in any paperwork-they just want to know if you've got any vacancies and how much you charge! If someone asks,then tell them the truth. it was an oversight, not mass murder.
FWIW-I don't help children with homework unless they can get on with it themselves.That is the parents responsibility-I don't get to sit with my own daughter and do homework until the minded children have gone home, so I'm not sitting with other people's children and doing homework with them!

If you were driving my children around, this would be a deal breaker. If not then I couldn't care and wouldn't even have asked to see your licence!

If I thought to ask if you had a clean licence, it would bother me and I would wish to establish why you had received points. If a car were required for school runs etc I would also be concerned that another set of points would make it impossible for you to continue as a childminder and I might have to source an alternative at short notice.

I would assume that no-one would accept undeserved points for a clerical error [challenge it at a minimum] that their insurance company had made, not least as your insurance premiums would rise if you attempted to switch insurers. I would therefore assume that to be a cock and bull story from you, which would make it a total deal breaker.

A lot of my colleagues spell the odd word 'incorrectly' but they are often writing in a second or third language and usually far better able to help my DC's (very difficult!) homework :-)

OP.. If I didn't need you to drive I would never have asked.. far more likely to come up with a nanny because of insurance.

Also LAUGHING LAUGHING LAUGHING at 'boils my piss' poster.. hope that has taught you not to be so smug.

I would assume that no-one would accept undeserved points for a clerical error [challenge it at a minimum] that their insurance company had made, not least as your insurance premiums would rise if you attempted to switch insurers. I would therefore assume that to be a cock and bull story from you, which would make it a total deal breaker.

Yes - exactly this. It's a serious offence and I wouldn't be happy to take that at face value. Similarly points for driving without due care and attention, or driving while on the phone I wouldn't be happy with. One set of speeding -maybe ok, anyone can get caught. More than one and I'd be concerned.

To be fair to OP she says, "I have six points on my licence from a stupid error on my part". She doesn't blame insurance company.
She obviously didn't check her direct debits were going out. My insurance company sends out paperwork each year and it is automatically renewed; we don't sign anything again unless there is a change.
So those saying its a cock and bull story are being harsh and I hope never make any mistakes themselves.

I thought car insurance being auto renewed was mandatory so I'd look for a different cm to be honest.
As PP said I'd assume the tale was bullshit

I'd judge the spelling too if I saw the same errors as in OP.

I think the problem is that you're setting up. If you'd been minding my kids for years, and then this happened and I knew you well etc etc, I might be more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt. If you're just starting out, so I don't know you - maybe not so much.

I'd suggest not offering school runs where you need to drive until the points have dropped off your licence.