I picked my Childminder so carefully but.....

[BeatrixRotter]

Now I am full of regrets.

We are giving notice anyway as we are moving so there is not much to do other than chalk it up for experience.

From what I can tell CM has TV on constantly, both DP and I have brought this up with her (as we specified when interviewing we did not want our DD to watch too much tv) but then we sort of gave up and became resigned to the situation and just made sure she didn't see much TV at home. DD was settling in by this stage and I didn't want to move her knowing we were about to move at some point.

This morning I find my CM has 8 children when she is allowed 5 (last week she had 6 at one point). What is that all about? She was taking some to school so would not be overminding for long but that is not the point. I feel so let down. If she is willing to flout the rules so obviously what else is she willing to do?

I felt that above all she was a loving and caring person so the odd little things like TV did not matter too much in the scheme of it but I never thought she would break the rules like this. I feel like I don't know her at all.

I'm sure some of this is mummy guilt. I felt very strongly that I wanted to use a CM and not a nursery and I met so many CM until I felt I really had found the right one but despite all of this I have still let my DD down.

I don't feel I would trust a CM again and it makes me feel sad.

very few CMs flout the rules and you got a bad 'un

Feel free to ring OFsted to report the over minding - 0300 123 1231 - and bear in mind that she has invalidated her insurance by going over her numbers

And you haven't let DD down - the CM has

[hugs]

Agree, HOWEVER, could any of the extra children be aged 8 or over? Just asking as we are allowed more over 8s as long as it doesn't affect the care of the other children.

As looneytune says, it may be legitimate. A colleague and her husband work together, most days they have 15 children in the house! They had 13 when Ofsted came, they both got outstanding - I think they deserved it!

Mine are all asleep at the moment, bliss!

There is a possibility that a couple of them are about that age (I think, but am very bad at judging) however it says on her certificate that she is allowed to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time, would that still mean over 8s were allowed?

I did try to ask her about it this morning but the other parent was trying to pay and it was all a bit awkward.

ah right, you need to read her certificate carefully, it will say x number of children under 8, y number under 5 and z number under 1

The limit for insurance purposes is at present 12 children I think, so she may well have a flock of over 8s

oh for crying out loud and I have been sat here all morning worrying myself silly about this.

(runs off to check cert at length)

It just says:

The registered person:

may care for 5 children aged under 8 years; of these, not more than 3 may be in the early years age group, and of these, not more than 1 may be under 1 year at any one time (Early Years Register, compulsory part of the Childcare Register)
must not provide overnight care (Early Years Register, compulsory part of the Childcare Register, voluntary part of the Childcare Register)

Does this mean she is allowed an unspecified number of over 8s?

Have to dash off now but will check back later.

yep

Yes it does. So if the others are 8 or over, she's fine as long as there are no concerns about her ability to deal with the rest

I'm an idiot then.

Going to check about the ages though to be sure.

I should say as well, thanks for making things clearer!

no its not an unspecified number of over 8's
Please check your insurance details.

NCMA allow a maximum of 12 children in the minders care - this includes your own.
so if you have your full quota of 6 under 8's you can have 6 over 8's

Please also note that Ofsted are very clear on the fact that the care of the overs 8's cannot impact adveresly on the care of the under 8's

Childminders who take over 8's should be on the voluntary register I think it is.

Pippin, I didn't know that about the insurance limit with ncma - do you know if there is a limit with MM?

I think its the same with MM but I am in no way 100% sure

OK thanks. I am never likely to want to have that many anyway lol. But its good to know so I can bear it in mind, if say MM was a lower number I would need to watch for. I will look into it properly when I sort my insurance out again.

I had 11 in my care for about 4 days one summer of varying ages. Bloody heck that was draining but lots of fun!

Lol I bet it was!