Childminder looking after 5 children?

[Simic]

I live in Germany and have a 15 month old son who at present is being looked after by a nanny. I am not really very happy with her (really quite unhappy!). I now have the possibility of moving him to a childminder when he is 18 months. I have found a very nice childminder who is a trained nursery teacher. She seems to be very professional and organises a music session once a week with two other childminders, run by a musician, and she and the other two childminders rent a local sports hall once a week to play. Otherwise, they spend most of the time outside. My only problem is that this childminder would be looking after 5 children - three one year olds, one two year old and my son, aged 18 months.
That seems an awful lot to me. I think the range of ages must make it a bit chaotic and I don't know how she can prepare their food. She told me that she prepares as much as it as she can before they arrive in the morning, but that didn't really answer my question. I suppose I need to delve a bit deeper: what do they eat? My son would be there from about 8am until 2.30pm (as she doesn't allow pick up until 2.30 so the children's sleep is not disturbed by parents arriving all the time). I can't imagine that she can read books with 5 children etc. etc..
Can children be reasonably cared-for in this kind of a situation?

In England Ofsted would usually only register a childminder to look after three under 5yos at once, and only one of those would be under 1yo. For siblings/continuity of care they might be allowed to have two under 1yos or four under 5yos but they would need a good reason and solid plans of how to meet the children's needs.

Five under 3yos would definitely not be allowed unless two childminders were working together! Even in a nursery the ratio of staff:children is 1:3 for under 2yos and 1:4 for 2yos. Children of that age need a lot of one to one attention with things like nappy changing, feeding, comforting when upset - with five at once and mostly working by herself how could they all be getting enough of her time?

From what I recall if she has more than 3 children she needs to be registered with the Jugendamt. But I may be totally wrong. Either way it's probably worth contacting them for advice.

It does seem a lot of children, especially when compared to UK ratios.

Ask her lots of questions - she'll be looking after your child after all!

5 children under all under 2 years old, I personally find it a bit difficult to see how she can meet all their needs?

Does she have her own children as well?
How long has been childminding?

Trained nursery teacher (in a nursery enviroment she would have other staff to help with the children)
or not,
looking after, so very many little ones, would not be for me, not that we could in the UK, and if I were in your shoes would seriously think twice about her, but that my opinion.

Transporting so many little ones to and from the car to wherever she's going must be a logistical nightmare. If she walks everywhere, how does she plan this?

I have a variation for 4 under 5's, but in reality, I only need it at home for 20 mins a day. I wouldn't contemplate planning an outing as I think the Childrens safety would be compromised.