Gutted

[Namechang44]

Had a chat with CM last night and she’s told me she’s giving up childminding.

She’s cared for two precious DC and we’ve made lifelong friends out of other families that attend. She was due to take another child of mine in a few months.

After listening to Ofsteds new video about how new inspections are carried out she’s decided that the amount of work and admin, training and the horrible inspections aren’t worth it anymore. One of the new gradings is “achievement” for babies and very little children.

I think due to a very stressful inspection last year where she had to challenge the inspector on some of the things they’d decided, that meant she wouldn’t get an outstanding. Although she got a good rating, we feel that her care is outstanding. We even offered to get in touch with Ofsted on a few of the things said in her report.

I’m at a loss as to what to do and would find it heartbreaking to leave DC in a nursery. I’ve asked her to think about nannying for us.

I’m so disappointed in Ofsted and their ridiculous out of touch standards, inspections, the state of childcare and underfunding, the consequences for families like mine can’t be overstated.

Sorry this is just a rant. I feel like I’ve been sucker punched.

To be honest, after many, many years I’ll be closing soon. I’ve just simply had enough of feeling ground down all the time. I’m so tired of the constant hurdles and poor pay. I love the children and welcome them into my family, I cherish and nurture every child who spends time with me and build close bonds with families. The ever changing landscape, Ofsted, the LA and the horrific underfunding is all a little too much now. just as I feel like I’m on top of changes they bring in a whole host of new ones, often with very little point to them.

I would get paid more for working in a supermarket, being able to leave my job at the work place, not having hours of background work and being paid so little for being responsible for the lives and education of the wonderful little people I look after. The work stress would virtually disappear.

enough is enough.

Good idea to ask her to be your nanny. Do they have ofsted? If not she might prefer it

Asking her to be your nanny is a great idea. You can also suggest the idea of a nanny share if she has another family in the same boat/you want to save money/she needs to earn more. She can look after the children of two families at the same time without falling foul of the law (anymore than two and you have to register as a childminder).

I'm due an inspection and feel the same, can't bring myself to even look at the new inspection framework yet. Why can't they let us just enjoy looking after the children??
I read yesterday about a previously outstanding childminder being downgraded for letting the child have a picnic because it meant they weren't safely restrained in highchairs!

@NuffSaidSam @TansySorrel I have my fingers crossed as she’s such a lovely caring person. I’m going to make as attractive an offer as I can!

@VikaOlson @Lillupsy I’m so sorry to hear of your experiences. It seems Ofsted is determined to make it difficult for you, at a time when good childminders are like gold dust.

@VikaOlson I hope you get a lovely inspector that recognises the latest buzzwords, ‘evidence’ of ‘achievement’ and other ridiculous things aren’t important.

We lost our childminder the same way last year. She was incredible but just couldn’t deal with the inspections and constant pressure anymore. Ended up moving to a nursery and while it’s fine, it’s just not the same as that personal care.