In shock after visit to childminders

[luw7797]

Just posting this cause I need a rant really but I just can’t believe what happened when my partner and I visited a childminders this morning! My DD is 10 months and we have decided to send her to a childminders two days a week as I’m doing a degree. We went for a look around at one that my friends little girl attends this morning. The lady seemed nice but she had a dog which actually tried to BITE my child. The dog was in the playroom with all the children and so I assumed it would be fine to let DD crawl up to it, she didn’t hit it or anything just put her hand out towards it and it snapped and had her hand in its mouth. The skin isn’t broken but there are marks, I can’t be 100% sure whether they are from the dog but I’m going to call the gp when DD wakes up from her nap. The dog then went on to growl at the other children so clearly it must do this all day long. I just can’t believe this woman keeps the dog around the children when it clearly doesn’t like it and one day it’s going to really hurt a child! She didn’t do anything when the dog went for DD, she just said oh did she fall on the dog and I said no the dog snapped at her and she didn’t say anything.

There were also about a million choking hazards floating round the place! Tiny little parts of toys here there and everywhere. You’d think a childcare setting that takes on children as young as 6 months would be careful to remove choking hazards surely?

I just can’t believe it, it’s really shaken me and made me question whether childcare is the right route to go or if I should drop out of my degree until DD is older. This was the first childminder weve visited so hopefully the next one is very different.

Oh gosh, definitely don't send her there. Was this childminder Ofsted registered? Ours is and she has very specific criteria that she has to meet for it including regular inspections, training and certificates etc.

That's pretty shocking but that is just one childminder, I am sure you will see a much better one than that, so no need to give up on having a job.

Report her to Ofsted immediately and hopefully they’ll do an emergency inspection

@TheBirdintheCave yes Ofsted registered, and I often see her recommended on the towns Facebook page when people are looking for childminders which is why it shocked me so much!

She ignored your comment that her dog had just snapped at your DD? Never cross her threshold again.

Have you reported the incident with the dog to Ofsted? That is a very serious incident and you need to act quickly to protect the other children there.

Report her to Ofsted - and keep looking for other childminders. This definitely isn't the norm!

You need to report this OP before a small child is hurt,
this isn’t typical for any childcare setting.

Thank you for the replies saying to report to ofsted, this was what we felt we should do but it’s nice to be reassured we are correct in doing so! My partner has sent off an email of complaint to ofsted and I will also try calling later.

Surely the dog shouldn’t even be around the children?

My dc’s childminder had a dog but it was kept separately from the children to my knowledge.

I know what you mean about it making you question childcare. I personally preferred a nursery setting but even then I had concerns about a couple I visited.

That is appalling - glad you have contacted Ofsted. I would also suggest letting the local authority early years and childcare service know.

Has she had the tetanus vaccine? DTaP.

I think it’s part of the schedule for under ones.

Obviously wouldn't send her there, but why are you calling the GP?

Rest assured not all childminders are like this! Mine has a beautifully well kept house and playroom and she’s fantastic with the kids- always taking them on outings and we get photos throughout the day. Keep looking!

glad you have contacted ofsted @luw7797 have you also informed your friend?

The dog was in the playroom with all the children and so I assumed it would be fine to let DD crawl up to it

For future reference, never make that assumption about any dog.

I love my childminder, she's warm, friendly and professional. She has a cat that sometimes says hi to the kids but is free to come and go. I'd be a little more wary of a dog but what you saw was completely unacceptable. If she's happy for prospective parents to see things like this then I would feel very uncomfortable sending my child there!

I would report her to Ofsted asap and also let your friend know aboutit since her child attends those premises.

What did she actually say to you when the accident happened?

That is shocking, but please don’t be disheartened. Childminders can be shit, just like anyone in any profession can be.

Reporting to Ofsted is essential when you witness something like this.

Keep looking. I’ve been a childminder with a dog for the past 8 years (lovely dog has just passed away unfortunately) and have always kept the dog and the children separate whilst I was preoccupied and couldn’t watch them 100%. When I was watching, I never witnessed any concerning behaviour at all and would have been incredibly concerned if my dog growled at a child, let alone bit one! I know lots of lovely childminder’s with safe pets too.

That’s awful and I’m glad you’ve reported to ofsted. I hope this doesn’t put you off other childminders and Nursery’s as there are some really great ones out there.
Are you going to tell your friend about today?
Did the childminder say anything when it all happened?

Reviews should always be taken with a pinch of salt with childcare as I think none of us are going to want to admit to ourselves that the childcare setting we’ve chosen is less than perfect! Sounds rubbish.

@Pinkpinkpink15 the dog wasn’t sleeping, it saw my daughter approaching and was not startled awake. She didn’t put her hand in its mouth, it snapped at her. It was luck that it decided not to bite properly and it’s a matter of time before it does.
The childminder knew my 10 mo was coming for a visit and the next youngest child there was 13 months so I do think she should have been more careful about small parts.

I'm a childminder and I still keep my dog separate unless I'm able to very closely supervise on the floor. There's no room for mistakes with other people's children. Mine is still a puppy and has his own space but defo wouldn't snap at a child