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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

Question for childminders - please read

12 replies

Broodymomma · 03/02/2009 14:30

My Cm is great in most areas but something happened last week that I am really not happy about and just wondered if i am over reacting and this is the norm.

Cm mentioned that she popped out to the bank whilst my son was in her care, i asked if he behaved and she said " oh "name" was here so she watched them for me. I dont know the woman ds was left with and have never met her in my life. I know the cm would not have left them with someone she did not trust but my opinion is i pay her to mind my child. Ofsted inspect her and her family not her friends. Is this something that other cm's do? The bank is in town so i would imagine she was gone 45 mins minimum.

I just cant get it out my head!

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ButterflyFairy · 03/02/2009 14:37

I'm a cm and never leave my mindees with anyone. It's very wrong that your cm did this. I would speak to her about it as you have every right to receive proffesional care for your child.

Original poster

Broodymomma · 03/02/2009 14:41

That is exactly what i think too, just needed to hear it from a professional thank you

OP posts:

mollythetortoise · 03/02/2009 14:44

I would be a little at this but would probably not say anthing unless it happened again. My CM use to occasionally leave the CM mided kids with her husband if she had to nip out. She always told us (sometimes after the event if emergency situation) and it never bothered me but I would not have liked her to leave the kids with one of her friends for example - not to go to the bank anyway. Perhaps best to mention incase she thinks you don;t mind and it does become regualr. With CM's,. I do think we have to trust their judgement on matters like this to some extent. She must have trusted her friend to have left other peoples children in her care.

no1childminder · 03/02/2009 14:48

im a childminder and in our policies and procedures i have to name who will be caring for the chidren and the parents sign to say this is fine. as i work alongside my friend, whose a childminder too, only her name is on the list along with mine.
childminders can have an assistant whenever they like but this person has to be CRB checked and Ofsted have to be notified. this assistant isnt allowed to be left in sole charge of any children, unless they are registered childminders too. if this person was just a friend, even the most trustworthy person ever, she is not allowed to be left alone with childminding children, even if she has a CRB.
im just wondering whether your cm would of told you your ds was left behind if you hadnt of asked how he behaved. any visitors, even loyal, trustful friends, have to be written in the visitors book saying what time they arrived and left and cm to sign. this book should be available for parents to look at at any time. does your cm have this?
if you are not happy about this, which you mentioned, bring it up to your cm what i have written here. im newly registered so all procedures are still fresh in my mind!
this is actually a case that has to be notified to Ofsted as your cm has broken the law!
i hope i have helped you

Original poster

Broodymomma · 03/02/2009 14:49

I think if it was someone i had met and knew then that would be fine its just the fact it was a complete stranger looking after my son. My CM is great though and tbh its probably my own fault as i give her free reign when she has him pretty much as i do trust her judgment. I perhaps do need to make it clear where my boundaries are and what i am not that comfortable with ie my child being left with someone i have not met. To be fair she lfet her own child too but putting myself in the position if i was being paid to look after someones child its not something i think i would do but then i have not been in the situation. I feel rotten getting so hung up on it as she is generally great and ds adores her.

OP posts:

ButterflyFairy · 03/02/2009 14:51

I'm sure there will be plenty more cm's coming along with the same view.

The only time I would ever consider leaving a mindee, is if I needed urgent medical attention. I would ask a fellow cm to assist with the mindees and the parents would be informed immediately. Otherwise they don't leave my care.

If I needed to visit the bank, and I do work full time, so needs must! I would take the child with me.

Your cm should be very understanding of your issue with this. I hope she can reassure you that it won't happen again.

Original poster

Broodymomma · 03/02/2009 14:52

Wow thanks for that information, you certainly know your stuff. That is pretty much what i thought in my mind regarding ofsted. I have never seen a visitors book, my cm is also new to the business she has just completed her first year. She will write on his sheet if her friends with children came round something along the lines og "played nicely with Kara who came to visit with her mummy" but nothing official.

OP posts:

ButterflyFairy · 03/02/2009 14:56

Yes a visitors book should be in place. I don't have mine on show as have no where to put it, and the kids would get hold of it. Parents are aware I have one by reading my policies.

I have had situations where family have visited or dh may be home, but I've never considered leaving a mindee with that person as I'm paid to do a job.

HSMM · 03/02/2009 19:52

She should only leave your DS with someone else in an emergency and all visitors should be recorded.

Chatkins · 03/02/2009 19:57

I'm a cm and it is seriously wrong to do this - your cm would be in lots of trouble with ofsted if they found out.

We are supposed to have a visitors book, and anyone who 'visits' too much, should be crb checked as well.

She certainly is not allowed under ofsteds regulations to leave a minded child with someone who is not crb checked, and without the parents written consent.

We are only allowed to leave mindees with checked assistants for short amounts of time too.

I would sit her down and discuss it all - perhaps as she is new she is not really sure of all the rules in place ?

ThePrisoner · 03/02/2009 20:09

I would only ever leave a minded child with someone else in an absolute dire emergency. "Popping to the bank" is not an emergency. If it was important, then she should have taken the children with her.

You do not have to have a visitors book.

Numberfour · 03/02/2009 20:44

a mother at DS's school offered to stand by the car with my two mindees while I popped in to school to take my DS in. I said, thanks, but no because the children are in my care and I will not leave them with anyone else. she said, i understand seeing that you do not know me so i replied that i would not even leave them with DH !

2 of DS's friends came to play one day over the weekend. i wanted to pop out for something and even though I was NOT childminding, i still rang the parents to check if it was okay! the one LO i do childmind and the other i used to!

No, your cm should not leave your LO with someone else unless in a very real and very extreme emergency!

I agree: CMs do not have to have a visitors book but for Safeguarding Children purposes it is recommended.

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