Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

childminder left girls in park with another woman

41 replies

booyhoo · 25/05/2010 00:00

today i went to the park with my own two boys. my cousin's two girls were there with CM and her other mindees, i am not sure how many were with her. i spoke to the girls and then played with my boys. the CM was standing chatting to another woman. after a few minutes the CM said, "you two stay here with X (other lady) while i run up the road home." she took 2 other girls and put them in har car and left. she was away for about ten minutes and then left with my cousin's girls and 2 more children. the other lady stayed with her dcs.

should i mention this to my cousin or would it be seen as interfering? if it was my dcs i would want to know who they were being left with.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
atworknotworking · 25/05/2010 06:12

Erm your cousins daughters were left in the care of their CM's friend, while she nipped home

Was this other lady a registered CM? and if so has your cousin signed a consent for her minder to leave her mindees in the care of a registered named person.

If not then I would tell your cousin immediately, a responsible and professional CM would never do this.

SilveryMoon · 25/05/2010 06:56

I would mention it, that's a little shocking I think.

grapeandlemon · 25/05/2010 07:06

That is awful, really worrying. You need to tell your cousin.

OnEdge · 25/05/2010 07:26

Needs addressing, what other corners is she cutting?

HSMM · 25/05/2010 07:44

Not right, unless your cousin already knew about it, or it was an emergency (which it doesn't sound like it was).

StarExpat · 25/05/2010 08:23

You should tell her. I'd want to know if this happened to my ds. If I already knew about the arrangement, I'd just say to the person reporting it to me that she had my consent/I knew the lady...etc. But I'd want to know.
I wouldn't want my ds being left with someone that I don't know. Anything could happen.

looneytune · 25/05/2010 08:46

Unless the other person is a registered assistant and parents have given permission, it's a massive no no. I once left something at the park (literally a minute away) and took ALL children back with me rather than leave them with dh for a minute. This was before he was my reg'd assistant. I'd definitely ask your cousin if this is something she was aware of!!!

wannaBe · 25/05/2010 08:51

it's wrong, but I don't know a single childminder who hasn't done this. So tbh I think it's a far more regular occurrence than parents are aware of.

StarExpat · 25/05/2010 08:54

wannaBe
I trust that my cm doesn't do this. I would be furious.

HSMM · 25/05/2010 09:00

wannaBe - you know at least 2 CM now - me and looney! I have never done this in 11 years of minding.

looneytune · 25/05/2010 09:00

I'm at wannabe's comment - not round here it isn't!!! We HAVE to have all our mindees near enough to see or hear them at all times!

StarExpat · 25/05/2010 09:06

Are you a cm, wannaBe? I hope not.

StarExpat · 25/05/2010 09:07

Sorry, just reread your post and you did say it was wrong. So, cross out I hope not
sorry.

Original poster
booyhoo · 25/05/2010 09:22

i have no idea who the other woman was so i cant be sure if she was a registered asst or another CM. thank you all for responses, that is what i was hopping you would say as i dont think i would feel right not saying to my cousin.

OP posts:
frakkit · 25/05/2010 09:25

Definitely mention it, possibly in the sneaky 'oh does your CM have a new assistant? I saw the girls in the park with her the other day' then either she does and it's okay or she doesn't and your cousin gets confused which means you can elaborate more.

Or you could just come straight out and say it which is no more than the CM deserves but might give your cousin a heart attack.

majafa · 25/05/2010 11:11

Err, excuse me, Ive never left a minded child with another adult
And wouldnt dream of it either, However I do know off those that have done!!

JennyPenny23 · 25/05/2010 12:08

I know a CM that regually does this. But I don't know anybody else that does. It has been reported but unless ofsted catch them in the act then there isn't much they can do as its your word against theres. But your cousin should def be aware of it, and if she would report it then it would at least be on her file.

I am a CM and would never do this. DH is a registered assistant for the very reason of just popping somewhere for 5 mins and not needing to drag all the mindees with me.

StarExpat · 25/05/2010 12:13

if a cm had been reported doing this, why wouldn't parents remove their dc from her care?

Original poster
booyhoo · 25/05/2010 12:39

when i think back on it, she didn't bring the 2 girls she took away, back with her so she must have a registered asst at home, which makes me think that this other woman probably wasn't an asst.

have texted cousin in a chatty way today saying "hi, thanks for lovely birthday present, saw the girls yesterday at park having loads of fun. has X got a new asst?"

OP posts:
seeker · 25/05/2010 12:44

Once again, I am the odd one out. I thought that the whole point of having child minder care was that it was as near as possible to being family. I wouldn't have aproblem with a friend or relation who was looking after my children doing this, so why would I mind if a child minder did?

frakkit · 25/05/2010 12:49

Well from the CMs POV her insurance is invalidated.

Secondly I assume you choose your CM in the same way you'd choose a friend or relative to leave them with. In this case it's the CM choosing and they may not have the same standards as you do. Would you really not be annoyed if, say, your sister was looking after your children and then left them with her friend who you've never met for 10 minutes while she went and did something?

coral · 25/05/2010 12:56

As a registered childminder we have to have our minded children in sight or hearing of us at all times - we also have to have public liability insurance - if either of those girls had had an accident in the park whilst the childminder was not there (assuming that the other adult was not an assistant) then the childminder would not be covered by that insurance.

Seeker - whilst you would be happy with people who you know looking after your children these are adults who you personally know and trust, would you be happy with a childminder leaving your children with someone who is effectively a stranger to you?

Coral - another cm who has never left any of her minded children with another adult - not even her husband! when those children are in my care they are solely my personal responsibility as they parents have trusted me to look after them.

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/05/2010 14:44

Yes def needs to be mentioned to your cousin

nannys are different from cm. I have left my charges with a friend while gone to pick up eldest from school/tennis etc

difference is that I can do that and my MB knows and trusts my judgement

I also know if a cm who has done this. Was at park with her and she went back to the car to get a nappy leavning her mindees with me and another mum

I am not saying it is right but seems silly/pointless to put children in buggy etc and walk back with them taking double time

I did point out to her what would the mums say and she said she had cleared it with them on another day

so does that mean she had permission and can legally leave with someone esle foe what was about 3 mins?

Missus84 · 25/05/2010 16:01

As a nanny I would do this in a situation of for example leaving one child with a nanny friend while taking another child to the loo (or leaving a child with another nanny and going to the loo myself) in a park or cafe. But, actually leaving the building/area seems a bit much without prior parental permission.

Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 25/05/2010 17:25

Agree with Blondes and Missus - I am a nanny and would leave a child with a friend - again my boss trusts me with her child and knows I will/would make the right descisiions etc at the time.