CM and Visitors

[chocices]

I've recently started using a CM, who my ds really likes, and seems to get on well with. He goes for an hour after school every day so is not there long at all.

However, every day when I collect him, there are other adults in the lounge with my ds, talking to the CM dp. The CM has not commented on who these people are or said anything about it. When I was doing the paperwork before starting she said that her dp would be there by the time I get home, but not the other people.

If you have mindees do you have to verify visitors in the house? What's others thoughts on this?

you should be introduced at the very least, and it's a bit off that it's not mentioned, not even in the daily diary.

The Cm must ensure that the children are not left alone with an unsuitable person, and it's good practice for the CM to hold a Visitor's Book to sign vistors in and out

Who are the other people? I don't suppose that you know. Might be family?

Ask the Cm who they are - you ought to know who else has contact with your child

I have no idea who they are - there tends to be one/two people at a time, but they are different people, both men and women.

No mention of a diary has been made.

ah, right, an after-schoolie, no need for a diary

I don't think it would be unreasonable to say 'who is this please?' to the CM

Personally as a CM I only have close family (parents and sister) and friends who have children with them (eg playdates) in the house while I am working. I always introduce parents to any adult member who is in the house when they arrive.

I would be uncomfortable using a cm with lots of different adults around if I didn't know them or who they were or whether they could have unsupervised access etc

I guess if you trust the cm you should be able to trust that she would not let unsuitable people have unsupervised access. But personally this would make me uncomfortable.

I think you could have a word with cm and say that you are uncomfortable with lots of people being around and what steps is she taking to ensure that your ds is safe etc and can she introduce you to people who are there when you pick up etc. I don't think you can dictate that these people are not there. At the end of the day if you aren't happy with the service she provides you would have to look for alternative care.

Are the other people parents of other children in her care? Even so, it would still be polite to introduce you to anyone who is there. You also have a right to question who is there and why, to ensure your son is getting appropriate care. You may find there is a perfectly simple explanation?

wierd.. should introduce you to them thats simply good manners. personally I would want to know who my child was mixing with.. as a parent and a cm i think her behaviour is strange actually.

Most of my parents have met each other now, but occassionally we get some who wibble days around and meet a parent for the first time, I always introduce them saying this is X's mum/dad etc, it's good manners and if my dd was with a CM I would want to know who was their and why etc.

Most CM's have a visitors book which records when, what time and reason for visit its good practice and I reckon will prob be compulsary soon anyway. I also ask my visitors to wear a badge.

Your DC should never be left alone with callers. I would just ask outright (but then I'm a shameless hussy .

I asked DS conversationally, and he said he knew one was her dp, but didn't know who the others were, but were friends of the family, and knew everyone, but he didn't know what their names were.

My dh collected tonight, no one else there, he didn't say anything.