Childminder pets

[Happychildlfs]

I am writing for some advice. I have a 21 month old who has been with their childminder since 9months. I was advised at the time that they would be getting a puppy which wasn’t an issue as I have dogs of my own.
Over the past year their dog has chewed teething toys, bottles, beakers, numerous dummies, nappy cream, snuffle babe cream and now their shoes.
I have looked on the internet for regulations regarding childminder and pets where I have not been able to find anything that is clear. I appreciate childminder’s have pets as I do, however my concern is their dog chewing my child’s items and me being left to replace them.
I had a disagreement with them last week as my child was putting their hands in the dogs mouth. I was advised by the childminder that my child doesn’t listen (at 21months old) and that if their dog bites my child they will not be responsible. To some degree I agree as a child putting their hands in a dogs mouth is not a good things however they are only 21 months and do not fully understand. If they feel their dog could bite my child surely it would be best for both the dog and the child that they are separated during the day. Being a dog owner I know you can never fully trust a dog and should my dog bite my child I will be held responsible so why does the childminder think they are not responsible?
The childminder and myself have spoken and come to an understanding that I would work with my child being around my dogs which should stop them putting hands in their dogs mouth. We agreed that never the child and dog should ever be left alone so that we are not put in this awkward position, which seems to be working. However since this conversation their dog has chewed another dummy and now a pair of shoes as these items are left lying sound their house. My child is teething and finds comfort in their dummy which I am apprehensive about giving them when with the childminder. The childminder does not inform me their dog has chewed my child’s dummies or shoes these are left for me to find when at home.
I feel very uneasy leaving my child and her property with the childminder as I don’t know what her dog will chew next. Other than this I do not have any issues with the childminder. What would you do in this situation?

1. Can you text her? If so every time you find get an item chewed by her dog you need to text her and ask her why an item has been returned to you chewed by her dog.
2. Hand your notice into her and find another childminder.
3. Once you have sent a couple of texts and handed in your notice, report her to Ofsted. She is being extremely unhygienic even if she isn't considered to be putting your child in danger.

Report to OFSTED. CMs are supposed to tell them if they get a dog, so they can come out and check all the appropriate measures are in place.

Remove your child citing safeguarding concerns.

Back in the day there used to be an express mention of animals in the childminding national standards, as they were written specifically for childminders working from family homes. In the EYFS statutory framework, that covers all sorts from purpose-built full time nurseries to your more playgroup setups in church halls to childminders and it's more generic. You'd be looking at references to the premises being safe, and risk assessments. So the childminder has a responsibility to ensure their house is safe for children, and should risk assess things like having a puppy in the house. Childminders don't have to do written risk assessments, but if questioned they should explain the risks they've identified and how they are minimising/addressing them.

If a childminder has a dog when they register, or they tell the Ofsted inspector they're intending to get one, they would be questioned about what they intend to do to keep children safe and manage children and the dog together. But there isn't any set rule about it, and they don't need to actively report getting a dog. If you're concerned about how the childminder is acting and minimising things, you may want to raise that with Ofsted who would review if they need to go out and speak to her about the dog. It's not fair to the dog or children to put unnecessary risks together for someone getting hurt.

Thank you everyone for your messages. I am in the process of looking for a new childcare provider. It is written in my contact that I have to give 4 weeks notice before I can terminate. I have written all of my concerns in my child’s contact book and noted that I wish to make a formal complaint that will be kept on record. I have received a text message from the childminder today claiming the dog can undo zips and that my child will put their dummy in the dogs mouth. Clearly they are trying to push the blame to my child. They have offered to reimburse the cost of the shoes and will order new dummies only when they have the time to do shopping!! The outcome on the complaints form says that they hope as the dog matures he will stop chewing stage. I do not feel this is adequate response. I am stuck at the moment as I am tied into minimum 4 week contact which I will have to pay. I am a single parent therefore cannot afford to pay for two childcare cost this month. As soon as I confirm a new childcare provider I will pull my child out of their care and take the time off from work as sick until they can start at the new place. I will be reporting them to ofsted as I know this is not acceptable behaviour from a childminder when I am paying them to keep my child safe.

Now you have had a response step two is to frame a reply aying that you are not satisfied that she is making adequate precautions to keep your child safe toddlers are not capable of accessing risks or limiting their own behaviour and need constant supervision allowing a dog to undo a child's zip or grab dummies or the child to put hands in a dogs mouth and expecting a toddler to know betters not adequately protecting the child and you wish to escalate the complaint. Get legal advice on breech of implied terms that she will keep child safe and have due regard to welfare and contact Ofsted. Keep copies of everything especially whattsapp that can be deleted

How is dog managing to chew your child’s stuff

Isn’t cm keeping an eye

I would give notice and move

I’d def get a new childminder but i don’t think calling in sick in the meantime is a good idea.

Are you worried about your child’s safety in the meantime? Any chance a family member of the child’s dad could help with childcare?

I have two dogs op and we never leave them alone. with children although we have no concerns definitely report it

She has breached the contract - she is keeping your child safe- therefore you don’t have to give the 4 weeks notice.

I took my DS out of a childminder with no notice when I felt the relationship between CM and my son had clearly broken down and I was not going to send him somewhere he clearly wasn’t welcome. I just emailed and said I was withdrawing him with immediate effect and would not be paying a notice period due to serious breakdown of relationship etc.

Found another excellent CM (who has a lovely family dog!)

Sorry, didn't get a notification. Its from a downloadable pdf file which I can't link. It is for a pre ofsted approval but assume the same rules still apply. Try childcare.co.uk

Find a new childminder.

The chewing is a disgusting hygiene issue and is symptomatic of the owners inability to train the dog. The fact that she doesn't offer to replace the stuff is appalling.

As for saying if the dog bites your child it's not her fault I'm gobsmacked. It's literally her number one duty to keep your child safe from harm when in her care.

I'd snitch to ofsted and give notice.

@ToughTittyWhompus

Report to OFSTED. CMs are supposed to tell them if they get a dog, so they can come out and check all the appropriate measures are in place.

Remove your child citing safeguarding concerns.

This is not true at all, ofsted don’t come out to inspect appropriate measures are in place when I childminder get a dog.

They would expect the childminder would risk assess appropriately.

It sounds like a dangerous environment, and trying to sow the seeds to blame your child is outrageous. I would report to ofsted as talking to her hasn't got anywhere, refuse to pay the notice period- she cannot guarantee she is doing everything as reasonably practicable to keep your child safe in her care, she isn't holding up her end of the bargain so why should you? I'd remove immediately, although I know it's not that simple in reality.

I think it's really worrying that the childminder is trying to preemptively 'blame' your child in the event they are bitten by saying the child would be at fault for putting their hands in the dog's mouth.

The law doesn't work that way when it comes to dogs. She is legally responsible for the actions of any dogs in her care, so in the event that the dog bit your child (regardless of whether it was deemed provoked), she'd still find herself the one held responsible not a toddler ffs.

You're absolutely doing the right thing by moving your child to a different childminder. This one sounds like she's not supervising the children and/or dog sufficiently if belongings are being left somewhere to be chewed up and the kids are close enough to the dog to be putting their hands in their mouth without adult intervention.

She’s not a good childminder or a good dog owner. Sounds like neither the children or dog are supervised correctly if property is being destroyed and the dog sounds like it is bored and not well trained. It would make me worry about what else she is lax about. My childminder has dogs and we have never had these problems. The biting issue is also very alarming. I would find a new childminder ASAP. This isn’t at all OK. I feel sorry for the dog, too.

@Amammai

She has breached the contract - she is keeping your child safe- therefore you don’t have to give the 4 weeks notice.

I took my DS out of a childminder with no notice when I felt the relationship between CM and my son had clearly broken down and I was not going to send him somewhere he clearly wasn’t welcome. I just emailed and said I was withdrawing him with immediate effect and would not be paying a notice period due to serious breakdown of relationship etc.

Found another excellent CM (who has a lovely family dog!)

Agree. I don't think you need to give the four weeks notice. Let her take you to small claims court - I would love to see her tell a judge about it!

Reading issues like these make my blood boil. I am a childminder and I also am a dog owner, she is putting both the child and the dog at risk here by not acting responsibly and keeping them separated.
I will never understand why anyone would put either the child or dog at risk.

I would say she's in breech and pull your child with immediate effect and I would notify Ofsted.

I never leave my dog with children unattended because I don't trust either of them it only takes a split second for things to turn. Whenever I've been inspected and my dog has been in the presence of the children the inspectors have always been happy with how I've managed both and can see that I separate for all meals and if the children or the dog needs a break.

I'd also suggest talking to other parents to see if they are also having the same issue.

@Pixiedust1234
Childcare.co.uk are not Ofsted this is Childcare.co.uk's hints on what they recommend you do not an Ofsted requirement you will not find it in the EYFS

I'm a childminder, and welcomed a new puppy into our house a few months ago. He does have contact with the children, who love him and he loves them because I think if you separate them all the time then the dog could start to resent them. Right from the start, the dog was trained and so were the children! His breed is known for chewing things, however he's never chewed anything that belongs to any of the children, because he was taught not to ( I don't leave the children's belongings lying around anyway), and he's given his own toys to chew. He's never left alone with them, is supervised constantly and has his own space to escape to if I think the children are getting too much for him or vice verse.
Your childminder knows her dog is a chewer but seems to be doing nothing to stop it happening- she just keeps blaming your little one and sending home her chewed belongings without even telling you or offering to replace them. I would be absolutely furious, give immediate notice stating breakdown in your working relationship, and go elsewhere.

How ridiculous to blame a child. The dog needs to be properly trained and kept away from the minded children until it is controllable. The childminder sounds incompetent at her job and as a dog owner in my opinion, I am a registered childminder also.

@WeAllHaveWings

I was advised by the childminder that my child doesn’t listen (at 21months old) and that if their dog bites my child they will not be responsible.

My child would not be going back after that statement.

Find another childminder.

I totally agree with you! Absolutely ridiculous CM