do i report her??

[keelybooboo]

I'll keep it brief...

A childminder that i know is looking after 5 children under 4yrs.

I'm pretty sure its a temp thing but still....

trouble is she's a friend

would ofsted ever ok that?

i'm soul searching now and thinking about what a shit friend i am

She might be working without knowing what she is doing is illegal

But lets face it if she is breaking the law & is caring for uninsured children she does need reporting

I don't think you are a shit friend at all, how would she better off continuing to over mind and put the children at risk? I think the fact you wanted to put the childrens safety first is very important

I was shocked to find out that if I, in my private life, were to witness child abuse or a child protection issue, I am legally required to do something (report, contact SS/police) because I am a childcarer - this is part of the EYFS. Is over-minding on the same level - is it a CP issue, I'm not sure

I think in light of all the recent incidents and new legislation & reporting around safeguarding children being 'everyones responsibility' Keelybooboo's instincts probably made her feel as if she needed to raise a concern. It appears to me as if her instinct was put the needs of the children first.

I think her concern is to be commended. She did post here for advice before deciding whether it was a matter for Ofstead.

If it is something you have been able to discuss with your friend then great.

Keely you are not a shit friend, you didnt go behind her back, and that was the only issue I had with this post.
Can't understand why you are so shocked Katymac about reporting child abuse in your private capacity.. wouldnt anyone act if they saw real and solid evisdence of such things...
I dont consider overminding, on its own, as child abuse, yes its stupid and she is riding for a fall, but its perfectly possible for one person to care for more than 3 kids at a time, my mum in law had 7 kids, all close together and she was a super mum.

At our childminding coffee morning I asked about being part of a network and if that meant you could care for each other's mindees if 1 of you was ill. The course leader said that was fine. I said was it ok even if it put you over the numbers and she said that Ofsted wouldn't mind if a temporary thing.

Is this not true then? If not then it shows there is some dodgy information out there!

Keely - I definitely don't think you're a bad friend, its always harder to stand up to someone and question what they're doing than to report them, but in the end you've made a brave choice to talk to her.

I understand it to be that you can take another mindees children and go over your numbers in an emergency - ie - so the CM can get to hospital (or whatever) and for long enough to call their parents to come and collect them. Not just if the other CM has the flu and can't work for a day ... I think.

There are friends and "friends" - and even close friends might do things I completely don't agree with.

To answer thebody's question - if I knew a friend was overminding I might well report them. I think to some extent it would depend on the circumstances (which we didn't entirely know in this case). If they were new to childminding I might give them the benefit of the doubt and strike up a conversation to try to establish if they were just confused about the rules. But if they knew full well what they were doing - and you can't say that there aren't people out there who break the rules with a wink and a smile, almost boasting about how they're getting away with it - then I would report them. If Ofsted do an unanounced check and they don't have extra kids that day then it'll be a wake up call and hopefully they'll stop. If they are over numbers they'll get a slap on the wrist and be a little wiser the next time.

People blatantly disregarding the very basics of childminding - having more under eights than is safe, leaving kids with un-CRB'd friends/relatives/neighbours while doing the school run or popping to the shops - don't do childminders as a whole any favours.

there is common misconception on networks regarding going over ratio because you are someone elses's back up. I was told by 2 network co-ordinators it would be ok for one day but trusted my instincts and rung ofsted they said that I would be breaking the law to take the child on and that the only way round it is to speak to an inspector and see if they can agree an emergency variation which can take less than 10 mins. I decided not to bother as too much of a grey area but the point is she may believe she is being above board and legal not intentionally doing anything wrong.

well imo there are just friends, i dont 'grade' friends squirrel. Do your friends know which rank they are with you. I would never expect any of my friends to go behind my back and I wouldnt dream of doing that to them. If you have something to say then say it to their face. and thats what the poster did in the end. imo what comes around goes around, and if you do a totally mean and underhand act then watch your own back.