Childminder suspended by Ofsted

[Felford]

I've just found out our childminder has been suspended by Ofsted while they investigate her.

I have yet to hear from the childminder who has closed the setting and gone AWOL - not responding to calls/ messages and only found this out via another parent who had been contacted by Ofsted.

I've now moved my daughter to alternative childcare but had paid up front for all of October. Does anyone know if I am likely to get a refund in these circumstances? I am now about £400 down as a result of having to find alternative childcare . My contract doesn't mention anything about Ofsted suspension, and doesn't seem to cover the childminder closing without informing parents so I don't think it relevant in this instance.

Anyone been in a similar situation? And did you have any luck getting your money back? Give me some hope please!

As you haven't received the service you paid for you are definitely entitled to the fees refunded for the dates she has been closed.
Whether that will happen or not I really can't tell you, you may have to take her to small claims or something?
I'm a cm myself, I tookon a child last year when her cm was suspended, however this parent paid weekly in arrears so she wasn't affected financially

Sorry you are out of pocket. I guess the small claims court might be the way to go.

I’d also though be really worried about what she’s allegedly done to be suspended. That would worry me as much as the money

I have been in this situation but luckily hadn’t paid upfront. You should be able to get your money back but might need to threaten her with small claims court.

Oh and you might never find out the reason for suspension. Ofsted refused to tell me…just said my Dd had not been harmed.
.I found out through village gossip though.

Thanks for the responses everyone, I think small claims will be the way to go.

Unfortunately I don't know the nature of the complaint. I am trying to keep an open mind about that as I don't know how Ofsted work - if they do any preliminary investigating before suspension or not. My main issue is the total lack of communication about it.

I would think that, under the circumstances you’ve posted, you are entitled to a refund of the fees for care not provided.

Do you know who has provided the contracts this childminder uses?
If it’s a PACEY or Morton Michel contract, you can contact them for advice on where you stand and how to get your money back.

If an accusation is made unfounded or not or a child is abused even if elsewhere the childminder is suspended pending investigations ( even 8f abuse has been at home or elsewhere) once investigation finishes the setting may well reopen if they are not at fault....
Malicious complaints are common and force closures sometimes so distressing the childminder gives up even if they are not at fault as it'd awful having investigation they even look at your own children.
Until you know if it's a permanent situation I would wait a few weeks if you can before asking for a refund if shes not at fault its a horrendous situation

Ah this is stressful! Yes I believe you will be entitled to a refund, but please tread carefully.

Suspension happens when a serious allegation is made, usually before any investigations take place. Malicious allegations do happen, or even sometimes just misinformed ones. It is a terrible, awful thing to happen to someone if they’re innocent and as someone who also tends to bury my head in the sand when I’m under immense stress, I don’t necessarily think the fact you haven’t been able to contact her means she is guilty. She also might have been instructed by Ofsted not to disclose/speak with parents.

In your position I would send her a message with a fixed period of time for her to contact you before you decide to escalate things. I would word it kindly, and without judgement for now. X

@Enwi thanks. I do understand it is potentially awful for the childminder if it is a malicious complaint, and there's nothing she can do.

My issue is with the total lack of communication. We have not been informed by her that she has been suspended or that the setting is closed, we had to find out via another parent then contacted Ofsted ourselves for confirmation. Ofsted said the childminder should have given them our details but didn't..

Still no response at all from the childminder so sadly I think we will have to go down the small claims routs.

Why don't you go around and knock on her door?
I would if was owed £400.

@malovitt

Why don't you go around and knock on her door? I would if was owed £400.

She isn't at the business address as it's closed, and I don't have her residential address.

Not sure I would go to the door anyway, wouldn't want to leave myself open to being accused of bullying/ harassment if things escalate.

@Felford
Childminders live at their business address if they don't they are not childminders. So is it a nursery, preschool or childcare on non domestic premises?

[quote jannier]@Felford
Childminders live at their business address if they don't they are not childminders. So is it a nursery, preschool or childcare on non domestic premises?[/quote]
It is a house, she used to live in it (and childmind there) but now lives elsewhere and uses the house just to look after kids. I doubt that changes the situation though

Unless she has changed registration someone must be living there....that someone must know her address.

To be a childminding premises it must be a home if no one lives there she needed to change registration to childcare on non domestic premises and go through planning permission she should have advised you of this.

I wonder if this use of a setting outside her home be the subject of the investigation?

'It is a house, she used to live in it (and childmind there) but now lives elsewhere and uses the house just to look after kids. I doubt that changes the situation though'

My guess is that's why she's been suspended!

@jannier

To be a childminding premises it must be a home if no one lives there she needed to change registration to childcare on non domestic premises and go through planning permission she should have advised you of this.

Interesting, thank you. This has been a learning experience!

There is no record of her applying for planning permission to do this on the council planning portal so I suspect she hasn't done it. I wonder if she is still declaring herself as living there.

Sorry to derail op..
jannier, I might be being a little dense here, I had an idea about renting a house in our road and childminding from there, so childcare on non domestic premises, I guess? why would she/I need planning permission? Could you explain please.

@RedElephants
Childminding is always from a domestic premises if you have nobody living there you are changing the use of the property to business use.
Childminding is counted as working from home not running a business from home. Many houses have covenants on restricting use to domestic only.

jannier
Thankyou

* I have yet to hear from the childminder who has closed the setting and gone AWOL - not responding to calls/ messages and only found this out via another parent who had been contacted by Ofsted.*

^Tells you all you need to know about your childminder. Disgraceful