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.

@Motomum23 I'm really shocked you've said that about the small parts. That doesn't sound safe at all. You think you can keep watch on every single child every second of the day to stop them putting something in their mouths? Yeah good luck with that

Childminder with a dog. Just no way.

I've been minding for 15 years - with huge age ranges. I have never had a child choke on anything. The worst things I have seen have been other people's babies at toddler groups.

Worst things I see at toddler groups tend to be childminders. 🤣 Too busy gossiping to notice the boy trying to escape or putting down a hot drink that any child could grab.

I'd agree with you - I don't go to toddler groups anymore because I'm sick of being the person that watches all the kids even the ones that aren't my responsibility. Before covid I fished a safety pin out of a babies mouth whilst his grandma was chattering away and I thought no more - I'm paid for these 2 kids but I'm watching 15. Now we have fun in our little group on the beach and in parks etc without the added stress of other people's responsibility.

Maybe you’re unaware of what happens now. The bar to suspend is set very low.

If Ofsted had suspended her, she would be closed down for 6 weeks. The suspension can be lifted in that time, or it may be extended for another 6 weeks, and another, and another…

While suspended, the childminder can’t work or volunteer with children at all.

Ofsted makes unannounced visits to her home as part of their investigation and to gather evidence. The visits are often traumatic.
Almost a year ago, a headteacher committed suicide after a normal inspection in her school, with staff to share the stress.
A childminder is alone and already under considerable stress. These visits are often more like interrogations.
Suicidal thoughts are common. If she seeks medical help, it must be disclosed to Ofsted. She’s then reported to social services if she has children and Ofsted uses it as further evidence that she is unsuitable to work with children.

During suspension, the childminder can resign. If she does, she’s barred from working or volunteering with children. She also loses her insurance and any claim for lost earnings she may have made.

After a few suspension rounds, Ofsted often attempts to cancel a childminder’s registration. All these unannounced visits and investigations are expensive and time-consuming.
If they succeed, the bar on working or volunteering with children is extended to her immediate family and her address.

Innocent or guilty, that’s probably why she resigned before Ofsted could suspend her.

I’m sorry if this upsets the dog owners reading but I wouldn’t send your daughter to any childminder that allows her dog to mix freely with the children. She is to all intents and purposes running a buisness and this should be done on a professional footing. Basic Health and Safety is being ignored here on several levels. I would report the incident with your child to Ofsted. Thank goodness your child’s skin wasn’t broken. It’s unlikely there will be any further ill effects at least. Ask your local Authority if they have any childminders listed that they can recommend. Maybe there are other alternatives they can suggest. How about a nanny for 2 days.It probably won’t be that much dearer. Good luck with everything.