Childminder cancelled no notice

[Allaboutthetrilogy1985]

Our childminder has text tonight saying a complaint had been made against her to Ofsted and that she can no longer have our twins. She has been struggling with them the past couple of weeks and we have been a little concerned (but didn't make the complaint).

I'm really concerned she has made this up so as not to look after them anymore as she couldn't cope with them. She's offered to refund us our paid amount, but she obviously claimed our funded hours for this term.

Where do I stand with this. She's breached our contract (less concerned about this as we were we were gonna issue notice due to injuries (unsatisfactory explanation) and smelling of smoke) but surely she can't still claim our hours?

Also will Ofsted tell us if a complaint has been made or not?

Thanks

If you were going to issue notice have you already made another arrangement for childcare? Can you bring that forward?

Re funded hours it depends whether they've been applied to hours already delivered or hours not yet delivered.

What does the contract say about termination/notice period?

We have alternative childcare from September as I wasn't really feeling this arrangement was working out. We are only in two days a week and will muddle through or get a nanny until then. The contract says 6 weeks on either side. I just find it odd. My son had a significant head injury in her care on Tuesday. I gave her the benefit of the doubt but couldn't bring myself to let them go in on Thursday - now we get this text! Either someone has genuinely complained, in which case I'd like to know as my children may have been mistreated, or she's making it up not to look after them anymore!

The significant head injury will have needed reported by her of it if it required a hospital visit which I'm assuming it did. They may well have suspended her license pending an investigation in which case the contract of notice doesn't apply. I'm not sure what happens with the funding but you could contact your local authority and ask if it can be transferred to another provider

Contact ofsted and report your son’s head injury in her care.

There are many providers across the country that Ofsted is in charge of monitoring. I don't think they would have the man power to alert all the parents instantly of every complaint made. If it was something really serious, obviously they would inform you, and might shut her down, otherwise they will be working with the childminder on what she needs to improve, and will be happy that she keeps working while doing this. I image a report would be available if you wanted to look.

How old are your twins? What was the unsatisfactory explanation for the significant head injury?

Contact her and ask for a clearer explanation.
I would hope that she will be able to transfer your funding to your next provider.

Apparently he smashed his head off some play equipment on purpose. We weren't told until pick up and weren't asked to fill out an incident form. To be honest the head injury looked so awful I burst into tears. Alongside my other twin having an egg bump on her head from falling off a sofa. I appreciate accidents happen, and I'm not usually that mum, but she has text to say she was struggling with them as they were having a bad day and so we skipped work and went to get them. But no mention of any of this in the text

Another parent was picking up at the same time and was audibly shocked. I think it may have been him that complained. I just wondered if Ofsted would tell us if the complaint involved our child and whether we'd be involved in the investigation?

Are they non mobile babies or toddlers. Injuries to non mobile babies are a huge red flag.

Also, the fact she has not got you to sign an accident form is not correct practice. If anything, it protects her from allegations so I've no idea why she hasn't got you to sign anything. Unless she doesn't want to acknowledge that anything happened at all. Which is completely wrong.

I'm glad you have found alternative childcare. This childminder does not sound up to scratch at all. Which is infuriating as it gives all childminders a bad name.

They are 2.5 so mobile. But I find it hard to believe he hit his head on purpose. And that my daughter's injury was from falling off a sofa onto carpet. It all seems really odd. I assume Ofsted would contact us if the complaint related to our children?

I'd imagine the childminder will get an unannounced inspection and will be grilled on safeguarding. If there is anything out of place she will be downgraded or closed down.

I'm wondering if she gave you immediate notice so that your children are not there for any inspection and you would not be on her books for Ofsted to speak with you 🤷🏻‍♀️ There is nothing stopping you from contacting Ofsted yourself to ask if the complaint relates to your children and whether they would like to speak to you.

Honestly I think I would be making a complaint. Accidents happen but this could have been serious and she didn’t follow proper procedure.

At the risk of repeating myself (!) why don't you contact the childminder and ask for a clear explanation?

I agree that she is probably worried that an inspector might talk to you.
https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-childcare

Sorry I have text her back but no response

Oh I see, thank you for telling me and I really hope that you can get this all sorted out to your satisfaction

I can't imagine any childminder making it up because there's nothing stopping you telling others and then she has no more business.
She might have had to stop having children at hers as instructed by Ofsted or it may be that she is feeling unable to continue with the complaint hanging over her. Either way does it matter, because would you want your children going to her if she's not feeling up to it?
Re the funding I assume you are asking so you can have another setting claim the funding? Ring your councils early years funding team and just ask them

If a complaint was made then yes ofsted may have shut her down with no notice. I've been in that position with a nursery and it is absolute hell but it's done to safeguard the children because the provider isn't deemed safe.

i would call her or go to her house and say you are planning on contacting ofsted as things are not satisfactory. And the explanation she gave was not appropriate. She might explain further

If Ofsted instruct a setting to close, then they HAVE to. Immediately. They aren't allowed to carry on for a notice period.

🤦🏼‍♀️🙄

It depends where you are but usually if you contact the early years department of the council where your childminder lives then they may be able to transfer your children’s funding over to a new childcare provider for the rest of the term, as your current childminder can no longer provide care.

To clarify. Both your children had head Injuries in her care on the same day?

It sounds like the head injury was horrific, was there bleeding? Hospital consultation?

Kids have many accidents at that age but you’ve described it as a very serious one. Can you tell us more about the head injury?

Why didn't you complain to Ofsted as well? I would have done.