Is this acceptable ? Numbers / supervision

[EezyOozy]

Hi,

I have concerns about our childminder. I’ll try to be as brief as possible but there is a lot of information... I’d really appreciate some perspective please as I can be an anxious parent. The CM has helped us out a lot in the past (eg taking DC1 when I was in labour with DC2) and is very very convenient to get to, but my concerns recently I think are outweighIng the plus points...

Concerns include:
-CM always over numbers. Last week had 1x7mo, 3x 2yo,1x 3yo and 1x4yo at each pick up.
-DC2 starting soon (will be 11m) and CM will have all above children on one of the days (poss not the 4yo)
-Several times recently I’ve worried that children are not being properly supervised. I won’t list all examples but the WORST one was when I picked up DC1 (16mo at the time) and CM was throwing a party for ex-mindees and their parents. Loads of people in house , couldn’t find CM for ages (she was in garden) and found my DC climbing and bouncing around front room clutching a punnet of whole grapes and stuffing them into her mouth. (I did raise this with CM). There are other more minor examples.

I can provide more detail if needed -how does this all sound so far? I’ve made a point of trying to be factual.

Thanks so much

The other thing I wanted to mention is that I’ve seen CM at playgroups with lots children and a baby. Baby tends to get left crying on floor or in pram while CM chats. I also didn’t feel she supervised the other kids enough - but the baby crying was not nice to see . According to the CM she can’t pick them up all the time and they need to learn - I get this but surely if you’re able to sit and chat you could have the baby on your lap? I’m really trying not to CM bash here , I have a l out of respect for the role but I feel as though our CM has started putting money over quality of care. She has expressed that she has long term plans to do something else . I am due back to work soon and due to send DC2...

Being so over her numbers is unacceptable and why is she having a party during her work hours?

I’m it sure why she thought this party was ok. It was anparty for ex mindees that had started school that year and a couple of her friends kids , parents were all there. If anything like this happens again I’ll relive my DC immediately from her care but the more recent concerns have been milder (but still concerns).

Re. Numbers - there are no siblings (yet) and not aware of any special dispensations ... is it common to go over numbers in this way?

My daughter is often coming home hungry and I’m concerned she’s not getting enough support / supervision at meal times.

Daughter is always clean and happy when comes home though. And I know they do activities and go to park.

I say “happy” - recently she has been very desperate to get out the door a soon as I arrive to collect her , says “home home home” and races to door . Not concerning it itself (CM house is v busy and must be tiring for her) and she’s happy enough when we actually get home .

None of these children are getting g the care and attention they deserve from this childminder. I would be tempted to report her. Ratios exist for a reason and she is ignoring them deliberately. I could understand a one off but consistently doing this shows she just doesn't care. I would remove my DC and tell her exactly why.

Thank you - i have considered this . It would cause great difficulties with my return to work however of course my children's safety comes first . As mentioned I can be v anxious as a parent so wanted to get others input.

I would not be using this childminder!

Which boy concerns you most ?

Sorry but why the hell are you still sending your child there?! Even one of these issues would be enough for me to pull my daughter out of this setting. Ridiculous!

Boy = but 🙈

Bit! Jesus , autocorrect

She is regarded locally as being a fantastic CM, was highly recommended , several families I know have sent 2/3 kids and been v happy. I have listed mostly bad points - there are good ones that have encouraged me to keep my eldest in her care whilst closely monitoring things. But the consistent high number of v young children has become a real concern. Any CMs on here ? Wondering if any of what I have listed could be considered normal ? Thanks

Ok....so in exceptional circumstances you are now allowed to self vary....with a maximum of 6 children under 5 and no over 8s.....but....you must risk assess, be confident you can not only keep them safe but also meet all their needs and support development...it must not be an oncoming situation i e once a child leave you don't replace them. Examples given include but are not limited to a sibling of an existing child, a parent needing unchanged days so continuity of care, the childminder giving birth.....it's not supposedly be in order to increase income. But interestingly these changes came about when 30 hours came in and sustainability issues were raised around the low funding rate, previously the government had proposed raising the ratios, providers fought this as it was felt it would lower standards.
Have you asked her why her ratios why her ratio is so high? I know if one who employed an assistant and ended up having to pay maternity leave so kept existing children who were leaving soon for full time school with the help of childminder friends who were under ratio.

Sorry meant no 5 to 8s so always no more than 6 under 8.

Thank you so much-she appears to be working to this as her constant ratio-six children under five at all times! There are no exceptional circumstances Involved and I believe it really is just to maximise income

It sounds like she’s exploiting a loophole, Designed to be used under exceptional circumstances but just treating it as the acceptable ratios

I have 6 under 5 3 days per week but I employ an assistant because no matter how good you are it's impossible to manage that many with that ages spread. General play time is fine and often easier with more bit there are flash points in each day.

You're looking at probably 4 in nappies or only just toilet trained so that's at least 12 changes a day. Meal times, they will all be in high chairs, then hands washed, then food served, then clean up time.
Nap times, taking each child and settling them.
Giving bottles.
Just being available when a little one needs to snuggle for a few minutes. Most littles need a good snuggle time at least once per day!!

I would be concerned, especially as your baby will absolutely put her over legal numbers, so invalidating her insurance and terms of registration.

Speak to her, double check she doesn't have someone else helping. If it is just her, look for alternative care.

Thanks Glen - it’s absolutely just her and she’s at this level of kids most of not every day x

Look for someone else....do you know her complaints procedure?

Yes I do Jarnier. Thanks

I’m a cm, jannier is correct, cms being allowed to vary their own ratio was never really meant to allow cms to have 6 under 5 every day, but it seems some cms think this is acceptable. I occasionally have 4 little ones and honestly it isn’t that much harder than having 3, but Nevertheless, it’s hard work and it’s tricky to make sure each child gets a bit of me. I can’t see how she is managing to care for that many dc, making sure they all get a cuddle when they need one. She might be meeting basic needs (ie fed and changed), but I’d be very surprised if anything else is getting done.

Thank you for your input @Maryann1975

No more than 6 children under 8. If she goes over 3 under 5, she must make sure their care is not compromised.

Thank you. This self varying thing sounds really easy to exploit? She could argue that she isn’t breaking any rules and could argue that all children’s needs are being met and how could anyone challenge this if the children are fed/basic needs met? Parents aren’t there during the day to see how much meeting of emotional needs etc there is. My stomach churns at the thought of my baby in such a crowded and understaffed environment so am looking for alternatives but it’s possible I won’t anything as there really isn’t much around here ! (Which means I can’t return to work).