childminders - can i have your opinions please?

[nailpolish]

bit long, sorry

hi

2 yrs ago my dd started at a childminders when she was 6 mths old. at that time the childminder had another little girl (who was 18mths) and also 3 of her own children (the youngest is 8 yrs old). a yr ago the childminder told me the mother of the other little girl was pg. so was i, we were due the same wk. i was a bit worried cos that meant that when our babies were born, eventually the childminders would have

a 3 and a 1/2 yr old
my dd, 2 and a 1/2 yrs
2 babies, both 6 mths

i was worried because i thought it would be too much for her, and also is it within guidelines?

anyway, it transpired that the other family (who live in a different village) had decided to send both their children to a nursery nearer to their house. i was quite glad.

but yesterday my childminder told me that they had become to not like the nursery, and they were looking to move to this village (apparently the school is better) so could they change their minds again and now bring the 2 children? i am very worried, this family has messed my childminder about and i dont know if she will be able to manage all the children, especially 2 6 mths old

am i worrying over nothing? is it within legal guidelines?

if she cannot cope, will my 2 children be the 1st to go, since the other child was there before any of my 2?

should i tell her how i feel or will she be annoyed?

thanks for reading

ps the other 2 children will be going full time, my 2 will be going 2 days a week

she also looks after 2 primary school age children after school, who she goes and collects

the other thing is the 3 and a half yr old goes to a playgp in the village they live in just now, and my childminder doesnt drive, so they have asked my childminders husband if he will pick her up at 3 every day. is this allowed? (its none of my business i know, just wondering)

thanks again

no you havent gone to far, dont be daft!

what about contacting ofsted anominously?

If you post later you will get more opinions KatieMac is a good one to ask

so if you seee her around then bump again

ok i will do thanks

im worried if i contact the authorities she will lose her registration and not be able to work

thanks rt, again

ok has it happened or is it going to happen?

has waht happened?

i think you mean does she have allthe children now?

she has both my children, but the other baby will start going april i think

deffo you could phone ofsted

If she has your 2 dds

and Mrs X 3 yr old

you still have time before april to report it but am sure you can ask annimously

ok i will do

ive just called them and they told me they dont deal with scotland so ill have to find out who does

RTKM....you much more careful than me I use one mat for up to 7 children but disinfect after each nappy change.

The fire thing worries me too but I do regular fire eacuations

We are allowed 6 under 5 and 3 under 1 so Ofsted do make exceptions.

I myself would be worried about having 2 x 6 months plus 2 x toddlers by myself

Her D will have had a crb check (as an adult in the household), and for less than 2 hrs a day anyone cnlook after children without reward - however I would not regard it as good practise.

I would ask Ofsted - but they probably won't give advise.

She might be able to have an assistant when she has all 4...?

Anything I've forgotten?

Must preview before posting - sorry

btw *all my babies (under 1) sleep in cots (or my arms) not in a pram/buggy.

older ones have some choice in where they sleep. Often they ask to sleep in a cot too.

but katie (hi btw)

should she not contact the authorties to get permission? ofsted are not recognised in scotland

apart from that i am worried she will not have time to

1 help my dd when she is potty training

2 feed my baby on demand, or give her cuddles or cuddle her to sleep

and how can i persuade her to use the travel cot i bought?

Complaints and concerns about day-care providers or childminders
We take all allegations very seriously and always investigate any incidents reported to us. Should you wish to contact us with complaints or concerns about a day-care provider or childminder, call your Ofsted early years regional centre on 0845 601 4772. You will be asked for further details about your complaint or concern, so you should be ready to give as much information as possible.

If you are a parent or carer with a child in the setting and you make a complaint we will send you a letter as soon as we have completed our investigation. This letter will include a summary of the complaint, how we investigated the concerns and any action we took or required the provider to take as a result of our investigation. We will send the same summary to the provider. We will ask them to make an entry in their complaints log, and also ask them to share this information with all other parents of children at the setting. We will not tell the provider your name.
If any other parent with a child in the setting at the time of the complaint asks for information about the complaint we will refer them initially to the provider. If they are reluctant to approach the provider we will, on proof that they had a child in the setting at the time of the complaint, give the summary of the complaint, but not the name of the person who complained.
If parents with children in the setting ask for a history of all complaints, rather than information about a specific complaint, we will firstly refer them to the provider. If this is not an option, we will ask them to apply to Ofsted for this information through the voluntary disclosure process.
The voluntary disclosure process
You can ask Ofsted to check whether childcare providers will consent to the release of information about any previous complaints. By law, Ofsted will not be able to provide this information without the provider's consent.

To make a request, you should use the disclosure of information form - download it here, or call your Ofsted early years regional centre on 0845 601 4772.

so katie do you look after 2 babies and 2 toddlers just now? do you find it ok? i obviously look after my toddler and my baby and thats hard enough as it is. cant imagine what it will be like for her, although i realise she has been doing it a long time

rtkm i did that but ofsted are nothing to do with scotland!!!!!!!

She will be regulated by someone - I'm checking who (with NCMA)

She will need permission to have 4 under 5

She will have to prove she has considered all the issues

I wouldn't like my 6 month old to be in that position.....but then she might be a fantastic and organised C/Mer

But I couldn't be that C/mer - when I have more than 3 under 5 I have another adult

sorry I posted before reading your posts

has she said why she hasnt used it?

I think she is mad not to

www.childminding.org/becomingachildminder-new.htm#howdoi

Can't do links but there is some info for Scotland here

yes KS sure they can

My DS is 9 and doesnt count in my limits

Children over 8 are not included inyour numbers however (at your inspection - presumably?)you have to show that the care of your under 8's is not affected by your over 8's

ie 7 13/14 year olds charging round the house could intimidate a 2 yo

i dont think she can be bothered using to be totally honest - the buggy is easier. but i discussed it with her before i bought it. if she has it up in the house there is still plenty room.

i just dont want my dd's to miss out on cuddles. and i think if it gets too much she will go with the other family cos they are full time. but also if they dont move to this village they will take their children away again!

I use my contracts for over 8's and my insurance cobers me

thanks for the link katie - very useful