concerns about a person - (possibly a childminder) suggestions please.

lindos90

My husband has just told me about something, and Im not sure if he should mind his own business, or actually do something about it.

Every morning he takes the same route to work and sees a lady he believes she is a childminder (based on information from a colleage at work)

This lady has 7 children with her, all of varinging ages, the tallest two wear the local infants school uniform, (so he assumes that the other five smaller ones are pre school age).

Of the five younger ones, two are in a double buggy, and the other three walk infront of her, sometimes upto thirty or so yards away:eek:, one of them who looks about 4 (based on the size of our daugher) holds on the reins of a younger toddler:eek:. (this is the thing that worries him the most) I dont see how she can be minding them safely with three of the younger ones so far away from her.

He now says that when he reaches the stretch of road where they usually are, he lowers his speed as he knows any of them could run out into the road!

The thing is, this person may not be a registered childminder, and therefore not have to work by rules or regulation, but if it were my children being 'looked after' by her, I would certainly want to know.

He is also concerned that he would not be able to live with himself if he heard something happened, particularly to the toddler, if he does not do something.

The childminder my children went to had inspections and adhered to ratios etc, she never had more than three under school age children, which I believe is the childminding association guidelines.Whenever she went out my son held onto the pushchair with her, and he also had reins on that she held, just incase he letgo and tried to run.

What do you think, should he do something about it? If so who should he approach, would it be the local education authority?

winnie81

Well if it was me who had my children with her I'd want to know! That doesn't seem right to me but I know nothing of childminders regulations?

Have you looked on OFSTED to see if she is registered there or the local council if shes registered with them? To be a childminder I *think* she should be registered with both at least. I would put a concern/complaint with OFSTED at least and see what else they recommend,

Sorry I can't help further,

Claire

RadoJo

To be honest, if you don't know who she is or whether she's even a childminder or not, then I don't see what you can do? Is it not possible that they are all her children? Is the colleague who told you that she is a childminder in possession of any more facts about her? Without a little more to go on, I think you might be in danger of jumping to conclusions, but if you're concerned then do a little unintrusive digging and see if you can set your mind at ease.

Bitsy_Beans

I am a CM.
With regards to her numbers she could have applied for a variation for her under 5's - providing continuity of care for siblings that sort of thing. It might be a case that one of the children is what's known as a rising 5 - a child that is 4 but one that has started reception year so is in school all day.

With regards to the children being so far away - it doesn't appear to be good practice in order to keep them safe. You can report her to Ofsted, their number is on their website but unless you know where she lives or her name they're not going to be able to help you much. But if you can find out this information and you report her they should visit and perhaps that will be enough to make her take more care of the children in her care.

This is assuming they're aren't her own kids of course!

brians_daughter

sounds like my neighbours lol. No, seriously we live in a small street 12 houses or so and 4 kids all go to the same school,and have smaller siblings.Mums take it in turns to take the kids to school so other mums can go to work eariler, or do the housework etc.

Personally if what your hubby reports is true then i would consider them to be at risk as i cant see how 1 adult can look after so many kids, i have problems with 2 at times-and they are mine!

If your oh is concerned, and it seems he is, and you have a contact who knows of this woman it may be worth trying to get name/address and contacting relevant authorities just to see if infact she is regsitered. My local authority has all the childminders listed with them so you could start by checking with them. Or maybe simply googling the address would bring up something?

In all seriousness i would also be worried if your hubby is having to alter his spped etc just incase she ' looses control ' (for want of a better phrase)

lindos90

RadoJo wrote: »

To be honest, if you don't know who she is or whether she's even a childminder or not, then I don't see what you can do? Is it not possible that they are all her children? Is the colleague who told you that she is a childminder in possession of any more facts about her? Without a little more to go on, I think you might be in danger of jumping to conclusions, but if you're concerned then do a little unintrusive digging and see if you can set your mind at ease.

Yes I agree with what you are saying, thats why I wanted some feedback, he thinks his colleague used thsi childminder in the past.
I'll tell him to check his facts with her, and then take it from there.

Just stumbled on this old thread too which has some similarities.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=544357&highlight=childminder+scooter

iamana1ias

Your post title is wrong. It should be "concerns about a person - possibly a childminder".

Your concerns are real, but you have no idea if the woman concerned is even a childminder.

lindos90

iamana1ias wrote: »

Your post title is wrong. It should be "concerns about a person - possibly a childminder".

Your concerns are real, but you have no idea if the woman concerned is even a childminder.

Yes you are quite right, I did struggle to find a suitable short title that reflected things, thank you, your suggestion is a very good one and i will amend it now.

euronorris

Hi Lindos,

Just out of interest, which area is this? Sounds scarily like the childminder my sister used to use (before she removed her daughters from this woman's care, reported her and became a childminder herself).

But, I know that the childminder is still operating, so just curious if they are one and the same.

Kay_Peel

No-one wants to see a child at risk of being run over and I can understand your concern. It would be terrible to be wise after the event - after a child has been knocked down and an enquiry was called for - but at the same time I don't see what you can usefully do until you have more facts.

She may have five children and the two who are riding safe and secure in the double-buggy are the ones that she minds for payment. All the children might be related to her as nieces an nephews and she's not a childminder at all. If there was cause for involving the authorities then I would expect someone with more facts to report it - like other parents at the school-gates, a lollipop person, a teacher at the school and so on. If they see this procession of children every morning then you would have to ask why they aren't as concerned as a passing motorist.

It's a difficult one without knowing the full picture.

lindos90

euronorris wrote: »

Hi Lindos,

Just out of interest, which area is this? Sounds scarily like the childminder my sister used to use (before she removed her daughters from this woman's care, reported her and became a childminder herself).

But, I know that the childminder is still operating, so just curious if they are one and the same.

Would be quite a coincidence wouldnt it, doubt it though,We are in Derbyshire.