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Original poster

Can Anyone Help - urgent??

17 replies

mumtochloe · 03/07/2004 15:53

WEll I have finally gone back to work. I found a childminder who lives in the next street - useful as I can't drive due to a medical condition. DD seems to adore her and she takes her out and about loads to toddler groups, the park, to play with other kids etc etc. The only problem is her house is filthy. I mean as bad as How clean is your house filthy. when I went to see her before DD was enrolled the house was messy but now it is so dirty that I am starting to wonder if I am doing the right thing. The bathroom is disgusting as is the kitchen. Also DD seems to be really hyper when she comes home and I am wondering if she is being fed rubbish all day or if it is being out of her normal routine that is causing it.

Is there a minimum standard of cleanliness Offsted recommend? What can I do as I am worried every day but can't afford to leave work nor can I get to another chidlminder. Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks

OP posts:
jema · 03/07/2004 15:59

is she a register childminder ?
if so a quick word with the council, they can do spot check, they do have min stds, also I'd be concerned for your childs health---tummy upsets etc good luck

motherinferior · 03/07/2004 15:59

It does sound alarming, and frankly I'd doubt she'd pass another inspection. Is 'a quick word' not an option? Could you speak to the Early Years part of your council? The National Childminders Association (assuming she is a member)?

marialuisa · 03/07/2004 16:08

I'd be very worried. Inspectors expect untidiness (i.e. toys everywhere) but dirt in that league??

Original poster
mumtochloe · 03/07/2004 16:12

Hi

Thanks for advice. Am really worried but would rather do things anonymously. Do u think this would be an option or would I need to give my name? DD is the only child there at the moment with another joining next week.

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
mumtochloe · 03/07/2004 16:13

PS - yes she is registered

OP posts:
KatieMac · 03/07/2004 20:21

If you ring OFSTED anonymously they will investigate oneday. However if you give them you details they will take action more urgently.

A good childminder might have done a food hygiene course (I have !!)

jema · 03/07/2004 20:28

if youre nervous of reporting her, how about posting your first half of your postcode & see if there any one fro MN near by, they may be willing to ring in for you on some or other pretext, we were in volved in reporting a nanny who didnt strap babies in on behalf of someone else... people will help & understand your concern about loosing your childcare !

twiglett · 03/07/2004 20:29

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almost40 · 03/07/2004 21:06

I agree with Twiglett. Also, you should ask her what she is feeding your DD.

kalex · 03/07/2004 21:10

Have to agree. I moved dd for some of these reasons, house dirty, no idea what she was fed and she seemed to watch TV all day. At 2.5 she was calling out tennis results.

Have not looked back, Totally different child in Nursery

LIZS · 03/07/2004 22:07

Do you know the other family ? Could they ring Ofsted to express concern. How old is your dd, if she could be exposed to bacteria etc they could make her really unwell. I'm afraid I'd be looking for an alternative. There is a website which could help you find someone else. here

Tanzie · 03/07/2004 22:42

Is it ALWAYS filthy? I ask because my house was a disgrace yesterday when I asked a friend ound for tea, post kids' party, on impulse. The kitchen looked like the wrath of god - breakfast stuff still on the table, dishwasher full of yesterday's crocks, floor covered with crumbs and bits of pastry (we had been baking that morning). To add to the general scene of chaos, the cat had been sick several times on the floor (why can't they be sick in one place?) - several pieces of grass and a hair ball. DH and DD2 were asleep on the sofa (sitting room was oddly enough quite tidy and clean!). We had our tea in the garden...

Oh, and as friend and her 2 were leaving, I noticed (hope they didn't) that cat had also crapped in the hall for good measure

It really and truly isn't like that all the time, but I had hoped DH would clear up a bit while I was out. I am not really a filth packet, honest Is your childminder's house terrible all the time? Or has she had a few off days? If it's still the House of Filth this week, I'd say yes, do something about it. But she may have good reason for it looking dreadful for a few days.

PS Our loo is always clean!

zebra · 03/07/2004 22:50

I visited a CMinder with a filthy house, too. She had children in her care under 18 months, and a penny lying on the floor obviously in sight the whole time I was there (can you spell "choking risk"?). These things put me off. That and her 18yo son with his 18month old son, her other 8yo son who was off school because he had overdone it Saturday night skating and was still tired. 8yo son entered the room drinking a can of coca cola... And CM had terrible (as in, don't you know that dentures exist??) teeth. The bathroom was so untidy & dirty that my 4yo almost refused to use the toilet. Spoke to another mother who had her son minded by the same CM. The other mother said the CM was great... except her son used to come home smelling of cigarette smoke!

Not only was she a registered CM, she was a coordinator for a local group of CMs. SO I'm not sure if Ofsted is so picky as they should be.

I feel like such a snob when I list the drinking can of coca cola, but it's usually at that point in this description that people really throw their hands up in horror!

Toots · 04/07/2004 13:07

I'm not surprised she takes your dd out loads! I agree with others. This is not good enough. Bet there is somebody else locally that has your standards. You must get your DD out now, otherwise you are tacitly agreeing to these conditions, and who's to say they won't get worse.

Original poster
mumtochloe · 04/07/2004 14:32

Hi

Thanks for your advice. I called Offsted yesterday who told me I can complain but they would need to provide her with a date. Seeing as DD is the only child there it wouldn't be too hard for her to know where it came from. They also said they provide cm's with a 2 week window in which to do an inspection so obviously she would be prepared for it and would be cleaner than usual.

I t=need to have a serious think with a view to removing DD. I will keep an eye on it for another week but if it is still a state I will have to try to find another cm wothin walking distance. Have signed a 4 week notice contract though so am hoping this won't be a problem.

Thanks again xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
mumtochloe · 04/07/2004 14:42

Tanzie - sadly I think the answer is yes - the mess / dirt in the bathroom seemed to have been there for a while.
Lizs - no I don't know who the other family are as yet but will find out soon hopefully when their DD starts with the cm. Thanks for the link - the cm in question is actually on there already but will look into some others and make some calls.

xx

OP posts:
twiglett · 04/07/2004 21:53

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