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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

CM leaves children with her teenage daughter

25 replies

Chandon · 21/12/2008 18:19

I have noticed that the CM often goes out to do errands, shopping etc. and leaves the little ones (2 aged 2 and one aged 3) in the care of one of her children if they are home (eg in holidays, after 3:30) etc.

She has a 13 year old girl and a 15 year old boy.

Is this normal? Have only just started using CM recently...

I asked her straight out:
"When I called your home you weren´t there. Did you leave the children with Ian today?"

And she said:
"what? Oh, they all had pasta for lunch"

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

27 · 21/12/2008 18:24

That isnt normal at all. You are paying for a qualified childminder to look after your children, not a couple of young teenagers .

tattycoram · 21/12/2008 18:24

Not on. I would look for another childminder.

SleighGirl · 21/12/2008 18:28

is she a registered CM???? If she were what she is doing is against Ofsted I believe. If she is an unregistered CM then she is operating illegally anyway as you MUST be registered.

That is my understanding anyway.

In an absolute emergency it would understandable but this clearly wasn't the case. If he is under 16 he would not be held legally responsible if anything happened to them whilst in his care.

It's outrageous behaviour.

LOONEYsingingachristmasTUNEy · 21/12/2008 18:31

It's against the rules for anyone to leave the children with an unregistered childminder or assistant and if she had an assistant, she should have told you. This is not on at all and if it's her own children, they are far too young in this situation!!!

I'd say she's being sneaky and if I were you I'd get out as she can't be trusted!

LOONEYsingingachristmasTUNEy · 21/12/2008 18:32

I'd say she's being sneaky and if I were you I'd get out as she can't be trusted!

littlestarschildminding · 21/12/2008 19:24

After she said "they all had pasta for lunch" did you not pursue it further.....?

When you called on the CM and she wasn't there...surely you knew she had left the children with Ian as if she wasn't there and the children and Ian were then you wouldn't need to ask her???

Am I missing something?

If I was using a cm and I called to find my child there with one of the CMs children I would be livid and would be talking to the cm about it straight away. I would have to consider withdrawing the child unless the cm could reassure me that it wouldn't be happening again!

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 21/12/2008 19:27

My CM does this, am not very happy about it but no choice unless I pack up work.

Orangutan · 21/12/2008 19:44

Her response sounds like something my ex CM would say Find another CM!

BradfordMum · 21/12/2008 19:45

Of course you have a choice too. Find another childminder

TotalChaos · 21/12/2008 19:48

sounds very dodgy. find a new one asap,

NanaManchester · 21/12/2008 20:36

The new EYFS Statutory Requirements state that a childminder registered on the Early Years Register (For children aged up to 5 years) can leave the children in the care of an assistant with agreement of parents, to do school pick-ups, for example. Childminders registered on the Childcare Register (For children over 5 years) may not.
However, the young teenagers you describe would certainly not be considered 'assistants' at that age.
What you have described is probably serious enough to consider cancellation of this childminder's registration.
You should report this to Ofsted, telephone 08456 404040
If a child comes to harm because you didn't report your concerns, you may well be called to account for your negligence at any subsequent enquiry.

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/12/2008 21:03

if i were a parent and using a cm who did that, i would flip!!

you are paying for her care, and not for her to have her child looking after your child

i would report her to ofstead

underpaidandoverworked · 21/12/2008 21:10

I'm a cm and would never, ever do this, it is in breach of our registration. I would be seriously questioning her suitability - have you seen her registration and insurance documents? If she isn't on the premises and (god forbid) something happens to the children then she isn't covered. Please report her!

ManyThanks · 22/12/2008 10:51

This is terrible!

Did you not pursue this further when she tried to dodge your questioning? These two young teens are far too young under any circumstances to look after three cildren of those ages, I would be looking for alternative childcre if I were you.

FantasticMissFox · 22/12/2008 20:19

Just to give a different view of this, my mum used to childmind and leave up to 3 children in my care when she went on the school run. This is slightly different I suppose because she would never be longer than 20 minutes and mostly the younger two would still be asleep. Also I was a mature 16 not 13.

If you're not happy then you should speak to your cm.

TheOtherMaryPoppinsJingles · 22/12/2008 20:45

If this is indeed true then get those kids the hell out of there and report her. Unless someone is Registered Assistant ( which they obv won't be) then it's illegal to do that and she can have her Registration stripped ( is she registered?)

And Stripeyetc - to say you have no choice is a complete cop out, you have the choice and are making it by leaving them there. There is always a choice. Same above to you, get your kids out and report the CM>

NumberFour · 22/12/2008 20:45

A mother of one of the little ones at my son's preschool offered to wait with my two mindees of 14 and 20 months while I went in to fetch my son. This would save me getting a double buggy out, two toddlers strapped into the buggy, then into the school and back to the car. Then to get a 4 year old DS and two toddlers back in the car for the trip home.

I said no, because the children had to be with me. They are my responsibility when I am childminding them and I would not even leave them in the car if my DH was with me.

What your CM does is appalling - illegal, unethical, immoral and down right bloody neglectful.

chloemegjess · 23/12/2008 10:46

I would never do it, but I know a CM that does and I have never agreed with it. I actually clicked on here thinking it might be her. It is not on and please report it to Ofsted.

thebody · 23/12/2008 11:36

absolutely awful, would never ever do that. Not only is she putting your children in potential danger she is also using her own children, report her and get rid, she doesnt care...

NumberFour · 23/12/2008 13:14

one childminder i knew would leave her kids with her mother when she went to antenatal appointments and smoked (while pregnant) in front of her childminded kids

she has a Good rating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TheOtherMaryPoppinsJingles · 23/12/2008 13:59

I hope you all report other CM who behave appallingly, it's part of our responsibility as a professional imo. To not report them is to condone it basically.

bookendspurley · 23/12/2008 19:03

I would NEVER Dream of doing this. I also would not be at all happy leaving my children in the care of a CM that does this as part of her practice... Not a good advert for Childminders AT ALL!!

no1childminder · 09/01/2009 15:39

this is against the law! even assistants arent allowed to be left alone with the children let alone 2 teenagers. she could be struck of the register for this!

MadamDeathstare · 09/01/2009 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RachieB · 09/01/2009 17:34

OMG shocking!
report her
remove your child/ren from her care

do the other mindees parents know she does this ?!!

i am appalled

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