Leaving older children in the car

[longdiling]

I just need to check something with other childminders. No point me trying to ring CSSIW because they never ever get back to me.

I have just taken on some after school children, one of whom is year 6. I have to do two school runs today, one, then home and back out 1/2 an hour later to do the other. I really struggled to get the year 6 child in the car, then he wouldn't get out the other end. Now, my own year 6 child I would have left at home because she's old enough to be left for 30 mins or so on her own but I feel this is a complete no-no with a childminded child. I'm right aren't I? Even with parental permission? If I'd left him in the car the other end he would have been out of sight for five minutes. Again, not something I felt comfortable with given that I don't know the child well enough to know how sensible he is. If in the future I get to know he can be trusted and the parent gave me persmission, I'm assuming I still can't leave him in the car can I?

I just want to be absolutely sure on this because I don't want to get into battles with children/parents unless I have to.

I've tried googling for guidance but it all relates to much younger children. Thanks!

If the weather's nice in the future there's a small park I can go to inbetween school runs which might help...although I reckon he'll still not want to get out the car.

Sorry, not a cm, but do the parents of the y6 child know they are paying for him to go back and forth in the car and being on the school run ?

How long is he with you after all the ferrying about is finished?

Yes. The child in question's sister is also at the after school club that results in the 2nd school run so the parent is more than happy. No other childminder would be happy to pick up one child then go back out to get the other. I'm very accomodating like that....

Oh dear, I pissed all over a potential childminder-bashing opportunity then didn't I?!

Not sure what the rules are about over 8s being out of sight and hearing, but I would get them out of the car. Can you distract him / make it more interesting for him / give him some sort of job to do while you're on the second school run.

You are right that not many CMs would do this, which would probably result in the younger child missing their club, so good for you.

You do need to chat with the parents - a non-complying child is potentially a worry. But yes I would think he needs to be in eyeline/earshot so staying in the car a no-no. What a tricky situation.

Thanks both. I'll definitely have a chat with the mum, hopefully she can talk him round a bit. I'll have a think about other techniques, he caught me out a bit to be honest, I thought older kids would be easier than recalcitrant toddlers!!

Never do this even if the parent insists! What would you do if your car with a child or children left alone in a 'safe' car park was reversed into? What if a child decided to get out of the car and wait outside? What if a child decided to take off the handbrake? No childminder insurance would want to cover the damages or injury as a result and I'm not sure if car insurance would either as you weren't there. I would also consider your reputation ... news of bad practice spread faster than a cold. I'm sure somebody would eventually pick up the phone and call the relevant bodies ....

You're absolutely right, thanks. Sometimes I just need a 'sanity check'. And you've articulated exactly what I would need to say to the parents.

Minded children (and it applies to children in the care of a nanny as well) must never be left alone in a car.

Could you tackle this from a different viewpoint - he is being difficult about getting in and out of the car, why? He is 10, not a toddler, so why is he creating trouble? You need to tackle that problem first as if he creates trouble whenever he has to go in a car, looking after him is not going to work.

I had to do several school runs this afternoon... collect from school A, then from school B then 1/2 an hour later from school A. It is a pain but it is what happens even with one family involved (I am a nanny working for one family). Once the children are at home they don't want to go out again and get their sibling... tough, it has to be done. By the end of term it will be second nature to them but for now they moan.

Yes I expected moaning, I get that from my own kids. I was taken abackby complete refusal to cooperate. Hopefully it's just teething issues.

My childminder does two school runs. I'm not sure what she does with the kids but I would be more than happy if she left mine in the car while she got another child, it's what I'd do.