CM's and Smoking

[Balders]

I am after some advice please. Found a lovely CM who my DD has been with for a month, however I suspect she smokes. DH, being an ex-smoker has said that he thinks CM definately smokes and DD's school bag and clothes smell of cigarettes.

I don't know how to broach this subject with CM, and wonder what other (smoking) CM's tell parents prior to accepting mindee. Also how has the smoking ban affected CM's and are there any Ofsted regulations with regard to smoking while minding?

Any advice / guidance etc. greatly appreciated.

The statutory requirement under EYFS is:
"Providers must ensure that children are in a smoke-free environment."

Ofsted also expect (but it is not a legal requirement) "Providers should have a no smoking policy which ensures that no one smokes in a room, or
outside play area, when children are present or about to be present. If, exceptionally, children are
expected to use any space that has been used for smoking, providers should ensure that there is
adequate ventilation to clear the atmosphere."

I don't know any childminders who are smokers. You can read the full requirements Ofsted EYFS P.26/27

Thank you very much - didn't even know such a document existed! So thanks again.

Just now the delicate matter of how to broach the subject

They definitely can't smoke in the building whilst minding (like no businesses can now)

could it be that her partner or someone else in the house smokes?

I will admit it I am a CM and I am also a smoker BUT I never smoke while I am working (and besides i have never smoked in the house).

The guidance that you have been directed to should help you

Perhaps you could broach it with her by asking to see her No Smoking Policy or just very gently start by saying how happy you are with her and her service but you have noticed a smokey smell on your child and would just like to clear up the issue.

Agree with other posters, new rules state that no one smokes in a business premises infact their should be a no smoking sign in the house. If a CM does allow smoking when mindees are present in the garden for eg, the smoker should be out of sight of mindees also, if mindees are using the outside place it should be allowed adequate time for the smell to disperse.

I would like to add that i mind some children from smoking families and their coats, buggies, bags absolutely whiff, I try to seperate their stuff from the other mindees coats as if they are hung together the smell can transfer. I have apologised a couple of times to parents when coats have been inadvertantly hung together.

Have you asked your CM to look at her policies, she should have a smoking policy in with them that should clarify things for you, if you still have questions after looking at the policy I would ask. But then I would just come out with it anyway but then thats just me

I have a mindee whose Mum smokes and you can smell it in his hair and on his bag.. not nice..
I would be livid if anyone smoked in my childs vicinity, especially someone I trusted and paid to look after them.

As a cm I wouldmt take any of the mindees to any smokers house or allow anyone to smoke near them..

she should have a no smoking policy tbh if this was me I would see this as such a big deal and potential lack of trust in her I would consider notice.

It could well be the coats thing like AWNW suggests, I have one mindee whose mother smokes and even though (she professes!) she smokes nowhere near her child, it does get onto her clothing, outdoor clothing especially so like AWNW I have to hang her things up away from the others (with a liberal dose of febreeze)

LOL FooFighter, I ran out of febreeze and used

Also spend loads on airfreshners, my hallway really pongs 3 days a week