Complaining to Ofsted. Do I need to refrain from using certain words?

[HopingForTheBest]

Hello,
I am writing a complaint letter to ofsted about our childminder. She is not fit to be a CM. She must be inspected by Ofsted unannounced, very very soon...
Apart from not providing the care she was contracted for, the main issue here is I believe she has mental health problems, she may have Aspergers and she has massive meltdowns and temper tantrums. When she is challenged, she gets extremely angry and defensive and has to let go of her anger (poison) and lashes out verbally... Not a grown up behaviour.

I am not leaving my child in her care so tomorrow will be giving our notice to terminate the contract from our end. When I write to Ofsted about her, i definitely want to mention that she may have mental health problems and even may have aspergers. I am not medically qualified to diagnoise aspergers but I know few people with that condition and I recognised it in her.

My question is: is it correct procedure to use that phrase (aspergers) to accurately express my opinion of her? Or is it classes as slander or whatever?

Also is it better to put "without prejudice" at the top of my letter and then mention aspergers... Is there any benefit in putting "without prejudice" phrase on top, in legal terms to cover myself?

I am very upset about incredible poor quality and her getting away with it so long unnoticed.

Thank you in advance...

I am giving my notice to her tomorrow but not giving my child to her... i meant to say.

Concentrate on what she as done. Give specific examples.
Don't speculate about the underlying reasons/causes.

Thanks SarkSpanner... I understand what you mean. I am rethinking and thinking again what I have written so far... and will keep doing until later.

If you write all that you will just sound buyer and nasty. Stick to the facts without giving opinion.

Thanks mnistooaddictive.

I think that saying that your childminder has mental health problems is the behaviour of the playground. WHO are you to diagnose autism or any other mental health condition. Quite rightly OFSTED would take such a letter with a pinch of salf.

You need to write a letter of formal complaint to your childminder. Your childminder is expected to have a proper complaints proceedure and OFSTED would expect her to respond. She would also be expected to keep a letter of complaint on file.

If you are unhappy with her response then write formally to OFSTED explaining that your complaint has not been resolved. (Ie. the chidminder has done nothing to resolve her anger management issues or has ignored your letter.) Then OFSTED would be more likely to step in and take it seriously.

Hi reallytired. I spoke to the local council childminding coordinators and the person in charge there, wanted me to make a formal complaint through them, there and then, by taking details of my concerns on the phone. She said after I give them the details they will pass it onto Ofsted and I told them I would rather make a complaint to Ofsted directly myself, instead of going through them. I haven't yet spoken to Ofsted, so far I have been busy gathering my thoughts and compiling my list of events, checking and re-checking what I wrote.
I will speak to Ofsted too. I think it's the best starting point in terms of what to write and to whom.

FWIW I don't think you will get very far with this. At the end of the day it is just her word against yours. Ofsted can reinspect her but they will probably never get to see the side of her that you have seen. I has a similar situation several years ago and all that oftsted did was to ask the CM to write an essay. They couldn't prove that she was crap at her job so they asked her to write an essay saying how she would be less crap.

I'm not saying don't complain - you definitely should, but be aware that she is unlikely to be 'told off' in the way that you would like.

I would cc your complaint to the local co-ordinators. IME this is likely to have a greater impact. Rightly or wrongly local reputation is vital to CMs.

And keep in mind that this whole sitation may have an impact on your ability to find a new CM. She will inevitably find out that you have made a complaint and depending on how she is viewed by other CMs in the area this can affect their view of you.

Thank you SarkySpanner. I appreciate your message.. I am already unable to find a cm as the area we live, is dire in every aspect, but in any case, I feel there should be some sort of justice and cm'ers who are only motivated by greed and no other value whatsoever, should be flagged. I am certainly making a complaint as I cannot swallow what we have gone through in the last week or so. It is unbeliveable. I did not want to write too much detail as the cm migh see herself but let's simply say "completely forgetting to give food to the child" is one of the issues that I raised in a civil and calm manner and got verbal abuse as a reply. No wonder local childminding coordinators wanted to log complaint there and then, yesterday...
Thanks for understanding my issue.

Finding decent childcare is an utter minefield and I feel there should be stricter controls who can set up as a childminder. I find it shocking that all you need is a clean criminal record and proper childcare qualifications are not necessary. My son went to an awful childminder for two days and I sympathise.

Incidently if you do write a letter of complaint to the childminder then she is required to deal with the matter confidentally. It is unprofessional of her to slander you to her childminding pals.

Do you have the option of a nursery?

If you are going to complain, do it by describing simply and factually the individual incidents or events that have concerned you, preferably with dates.

Don't try to explain what you think any underlying issues may be -- you aren't qualified to do it and it's not directly relevant to the substance of your complaint.

reallytired and HerdOfTinyElephants, thank you. Nursery is not a possibility in my area but I will keep looking into finding other childminders and even try to find a nanny if I can.

If I write to the childminder she'll either deny it in writing or will twist and change it in her reply and I will get nowhere with my complaint, it will be my word against hers and will only will make her aware of the complaint.
At the moment, I do not think she expects me to complain, to be honest. I am very heart broken and feel bitter that my child was seen by that woman as a mere commodity who brings some cash and do not require much effort from the childminder... so I must complain officially to a higher body and that's why i thought of Ofsted, and especially yesterday when the childminding coordinator mentioned that they are happy to log it on my behalf and pass it to Ofsted, it reinforced my desire to go through Ofsted route.

I will not be writing to childminder, it'll only allow her to dilute the problems in her way and will give her chance to prepare herself, whereas I want her to be inspected unannounced, that's the only way to break her arrogance and compacency and see the poor provision I myself discovered. I owe this to other kids in her care too. She is definitley not fit but you are all correct, I will not mention any diagnosis. Stick to the facts with dates.

"that's the only way to break her arrogance and compacency and see the poor provision I myself discovered"

again, I think your expectations are way too high. This is NOT going to happen. Even if Ofsted take what you say as gospel, she is not going to magically realise that she is a crap CM. She is just going to think that you are an idiot partent with unrealistic expectations.

There are plenty of fabulous CMs out there, and (IME) a handful of really awful ones. And that is just the way it is. Chances are that most of the CMs in the area know what she is like.

I really do sympathise. I've been where you are. I let myself dwell on 'getting justice' for far longer than was good for me.

And FWIW I've since had two fabulous CMs, both of whom I found via friends. I advise you tell everyone you know locally that you are looking for a CM. Word of mouth is everything.

Yes SarkySpanner, perhaps I have high expectations. I know she will not realise she is a crap childminder, but i would have thought it would make her adjust her provision for inspections sake, then Ofsted can also reduce the mumber of kids she is allowed to take on board as she cannot cope and herself gets meltdowns. And having a complaint logged about her and this being on her records, probably would make potential parents wary... She is one of thousands of childminders Ofsted deals with, I know. But at least I will do what is right. There is "karma" I believe.

Hi guys
Just a quick question please
If a parents ain’t happy with ofsted investigation against a childminder
Where next they can complaint.
They first send a complaint email to the childminder and then complained to ofsted : but still not happy with ofsted answer
Can a parents complain about cm somewhere else
Any advices much appreciated
Thanks

Prob best to start a new thread. Your question is tagged on to a thread from 2011

When do people do this 😑😑😑😑