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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

Childminder has a swimming pool - am I being silly?

34 replies

AngeK · 13/04/2009 21:12

I just wanted to run this situation by people here to see if I'm being silly or not...

My DD has been going to a childminder for 8 months now and the childminder has just moved house. She now has a huge back yard with loads of room for the kids to run around, but they also have a swimming pool. There's no fence around the pool, it's simply just there in the garden with loads of inflatable balls, boats, pool pony. Now the childminder has 2 kids of her own, aged 2 and 4, my DD is 3 so none of them can swim.

I'm concerned that children can wander off sometimes; you just can't keep an eye on them every second and if anything happened I would blame myself completely. I've had a talk to the CM and she reassured me that she is always with the kids outside, they are never alone, but I do know that once DD walked out the back door once and they found her a couple of minutes later round the side of the house.

I'm from Australia originally and you have to have a fence around a pool by law, so it's a bit of a shock to me to have an unfenced pool with young children about. Am I being silly about this?

OP posts:

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snickersnack · 13/04/2009 21:14

I would think that probably breaches all sorts of Ofsted safety standards. I would say that was totally unacceptable for anyone with small children in the house, let alone a childminde.

lisad123 · 13/04/2009 21:15

im sure under ofstead rules it should be fenced in.

snickersnack · 13/04/2009 21:15

So no, you are not being silly in the least...I would remove my children.

eleanorsmum · 13/04/2009 21:15

you're not being silly. ofsted need to re-visit her new house i think. someone who know will be along in a bit, but if it were me the pool must be enclosed with a locked gate and there should be no way of them getting anything to climb over the fence at all. it is a very dangerous situation imho and what with ofsted being so hot on risk assessments at mo itd be nice to see what her risk assessments say for new house!

twinklytoes · 13/04/2009 21:16

my old cm had a pool as well but it was fenced off from rest of garden. it was used for cm children but she had to have at least 3 adults present before the children went in. also the under 3's didn't go in - they ahd a paddling pool.

she should have a risk assessment for safety of pool when in use and when not in use, ask to see it.

MrsWeasley · 13/04/2009 21:17

I would be very surprised that Ofsted allow the pool unfenced tbh.

Ask her about security ie does she keep the back doors locked to prevent anyone sneaking out etc!

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 13/04/2009 21:19

How difficult would it be for her to fit a low wooden/wire/bamboo fence? I mean is it feasible? If it is you might want to ask.
In italy most swimming pool are not fenced. My friend's is however and I think it is much safer. you are right kids do wonder about very fast.
I don't know... I hate being scared of everything but it seems quite risky. However one says they are with the children at all times I am not sure it is possible. Not for me as a mum of two, maybe cm are better at this. dunno.

ourlot · 13/04/2009 21:22

I think Ofsted would require her to have a fence of some sort. Call them and ask. It's for everyone's benefit if she can get it fenced off. We are advised for safety about buckets that can get filled with water outside, so a swimming pool completely unfenced is quite a big deal. Has Ofsted visited her new house? They have to in order for her to continue childminding as she HAS to inform Ofsted of any changes otherwise it invalidates her registration.
I'm sure she's lovely and the children will all be very safe if she's out there with them, but if something happened how would she handle 3 children under 5 in a pool at once?

CrushWithEyeliner · 13/04/2009 21:22

You are not being silly at all - would worry me big time.

Original poster

AngeK · 13/04/2009 21:22

I should mention that this is in Switzerland, but I have notified the CM Agency and am waiting to hear back from them. I'm not sure they know she has a pool, but they do tend to be a bit more laid back about Health and Safety here...

Thanks for your replies (and so quick too!) and it's good to know that I'm not over-reacting.

OP posts:

Stuffed · 13/04/2009 21:26

I'm suprised she didn't have someone in to fit a fence the day she moved in.

I remember when I was childminding, and I had a paddling pool out during the summer; I found it a pain to take all DC's inside every time I wanted to fetch a drink or something.

The whole idea of an unfenced pool makes me feel very uncomfrortable.

dizietsma · 13/04/2009 21:31

I don't wish to fearmonger here, BUT....

I read a book called "Freakonomics" recently, all about microeconomics. One of the examples the authors use to illustrate a statistical point is that most parents would be uncomfortable letting their kids play at a friends house if that household has a gun.

Truth is, statistically, that the child is at far, far greater risk of accidental death visiting a house with a pool than visiting a house with a gun. 500 children die in pools every year in the USA.

Given this information, I think you have every right to insist on a fence. I imagine, hope that sharing this statistic with your CM will probably make her think twice about leaving her own kids in such danger.

greenelephant · 13/04/2009 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spicemonster · 13/04/2009 21:34

Not silly at all - I'm a very laid back/don't panic parent but there's no way at all I'd be happy with that

SammyK · 13/04/2009 21:38

Am shocked she is so laid back about it really

Security to get out of the house to begin with

then also the pool not having a fence around

both issues would worry me and I would want to sit down with childminder and have a proper discussion about it. (Am a cm and a parent BTW). In England Ofsted would be down on her like a ton of bricks (not a fan of ofsted in general) but this is a ajor safety issue!

Flibbertyjibbet · 13/04/2009 21:43

I would remove my children from somewhere that has a swimming pool whether its fenced in or not.
Nursery near us got shut down a few years ago after a child drowned in just a garden pond, never mind a swimming pool.

My aunt in california had a swimming pool. When my cousin married and had children, her husband refused to stay at my aunts with the children until her pool was fenced in and a locked gate installed.

A childminder should absolutely not have any body of water that children can access.

Kitsilano · 13/04/2009 21:47

I am a pretty relaxed parent. I love swimming and have taken both my kids for lessons from 6 months old - 3 yr old can swim a length unaided easily. Still in this situation I would remove my child immediately. Toddlers and swimming pools are not a good combination.

pooka · 13/04/2009 21:49

Definitely should be fenced in. Would be a requirement of ofsted over here, is a legal requirement in all private pools in France (or the pools need alarms that will go off if a child falls in).

If I had a pool I would have it fenced in, and am not looking after other people's children. In fact, my BIL has a pool with fence round it. And even with that I would be slightly unsure as the back garden is pretty remote from the main day to day rooms of the house.

HSMM · 13/04/2009 22:03

Even our tiny garden pond had to be made child proof for Ofsted, so I'm sure a swimming pool should be fenced in (with child proof access).

frannikin · 13/04/2009 22:20

Really pooka?

Our pool has neither fence nor alarm - but it does have some snazzy cover that won't sink if a child falls onto it and it's always covered if not in use.

I'd say if the pool doesn't have some form of safety (fence/solid cover) then you're not being silly at all.

pooka · 13/04/2009 22:26

To be fair, nephews are older and better swimmers than mine (who are not confident in water yet). I just think that if I had a pool I would want the main reception rooms and kitchen to be overlooking the pool or nearby rather than some distance away (is big house, amssive garden).

I am perhaps paranoid, but I appreciate the fact that dcs (5 and 3) can potter in garden while I have a pee, potter in kitchen, do stuff inside. While the pool (uncovered for much of summer) in question does have a fence, it also has an eminently un-childproof gate and while I trust dd not to wander ds is a different kettle of fish. I want to be able to relax (all of us) at home. Having a pool distant to the main rooms, with no alarm and get-at-able by youngish children would not be conducive to my relaxation

This is all an aside. In the case of a childminder's property I would expect there to be a definite barrier to prevent children accessing the pool area.

JenniPenni · 13/04/2009 23:30

Definately has to be covered/fenced in!!!

Julesnobrain · 13/04/2009 23:37

Remove your child immediately until the pool gets either a child prof cover or is properly fenced in. My DS fell into a pool at one year old. DH was right there and pulled him out within about 5 seconds but it was amazing, he just sunk, straight down, no sound, no ripple, no splashing. made us realise how easy it is for toddlers to drown.. quickly. Don't risk it.

PixiNanny · 13/04/2009 23:53

If she's only just moved, give her the benefit of the doubt and ask her how soon she plans to have it done and if she will be letting the children outside during this time. If she says she will be, remove your child. If she plans to have it done immediately and keep the kids inside at all times, then it's fair enough to deal with it for a few days (though I'd be supicious if she took any longer than a week to get it done, who'd want their own kids around an unfenced pool?!)

nappyaddict · 14/04/2009 00:02

I would be wanting a fence and gate or cover installed ASAP.

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