Childminder double booked

Quillion

I have just started my lo with a child minder and he has settled really well. Today she called to say she has double booked and has had to ask ofstead if she can increase her occupancy to 1 extra to accomodate this oversight. If they say no i have to find a new child minder.

Has anyone had any experience of asking to do this are they likely to say yes or no?

It took me ages to sort this out in the fist place and i was so stressed by it not looking forward to doing it all again.

Nicki

Would you really want to leave your child there with so many others and only one carer though?

How many is she already looking after and what ages are they. Potentially, she can look after up to 6 children without help, depending on their ages, without needing an Ofsted exemption. I would not want my child to be one of 7 tbh, especially if this included one young baby, two toddlers, three five year olds and one other of unknown age!

Threadhead

I'm a childminder in Scotland - we have the Care Commission instead of Ofsted.

To be suddenly "double booked" sounds a bit strange. Has she maybe had a better offer - ie. more hours? Has the other child been with her a while, or a new start? Maybe I'm just a cynic...

I know a few childminders who've had their numbers increased if there's going to be an overlap of children for an hour or so. It depends on the ages of the children concerned. As I say, I'm in Scotland, and it seems to work slightly differently in England.

misty

To be honest - I think it is unlikely she really has double booked. This is her income - how can she not know how many children she is looking after when she is relying on this income to earn her living? How long is your son there? Is it full days? It sounds to me if she might have somone for longer hours - and therefore more money and she is trying to drop the one who is there the least in that age group. Maybe I'm just over suspicious.

I wouldn't be overly confident in her now even if she can still take him - however, I can understand it's unsettling for him after he has got used to her. It will depend if this is a long term double book or a cross over say after school. If she's up to her full complement that's a lot of kids - a lot of childminders don't go up to their full amount because of the sheer logistics of it.

Quillion

Threadhead wrote: »

I'm a childminder in Scotland - we have the Care Commission instead of Ofsted.

To be suddenly "double booked" sounds a bit strange. Has she maybe had a better offer - ie. more hours? Has the other child been with her a while, or a new start? Maybe I'm just a cynic...

I know a few childminders who've had their numbers increased if there's going to be an overlap of children for an hour or so. It depends on the ages of the children concerned. As I say, I'm in Scotland, and it seems to work slightly differently in England.

She will have 4 under 5 but one of these is her own child. and only have 4 for an hour overlap.

The other child is on a retainer at the minute not due to start untill 17th. It will be just an overlap of about an hour but not sure about the times when it's school holidays.

I have spoken to a new minder my current childminder reccomendation and am going to see her tomorrow she sounds nice on the phone lets see what tomorrow brings.

Quillion

misty wrote: »

To be honest - I think it is unlikely she really has double booked. This is her income - how can she not know how many children she is looking after when she is relying on this income to earn her living? How long is your son there? Is it full days? It sounds to me if she might have somone for longer hours - and therefore more money and she is trying to drop the one who is there the least in that age group. Maybe I'm just over suspicious.

I wouldn't be overly confident in her now even if she can still take him - however, I can understand it's unsettling for him after he has got used to her. It will depend if this is a long term double book or a cross over say after school. If she's up to her full complement that's a lot of kids - a lot of childminders don't go up to their full amount because of the sheer logistics of it.

Hi Sarah
I am too suspicious and i get where she would be coming from i could never do that though.
Yes he does only do two mornings as i work part time just so frustrating and would prefer to be told the truth, if that is really the case.

webbie

If one child is on a retainer until the 17th - have they asked to change the hours slightly - which she didn't know beforehand?

I am a childminder - and parents can request very short notice changes to hours, or find that their job circumstances change and need to change hours - which can cause overlaps etc which other parents don't even consider.

Ofsted are usually ok about such a short time, if she can prove how she will manage - eg. lunches already dealt with, not leaving the house, one will usually be asleep etc. I have had 4 children under 5 before - and I wouldn't do it for more than one hour again!!

Alternatively - (and I don't mean to offend) but you may find your child is not a little angel and is causing conflict with others - and she just doesn't want to say this and deal with the hassle. It has been known to happen!

Elliesmum

Quillion wrote: »

She will have 4 under 5 but one of these is her own child. and only have 4 for an hour overlap. quote]

Sorry but I would look for another childminder - 4 under 5 (the fact that one is her own is irrelevant) is a real handful, even for an hour. My childminder has only ever had 2 pre-schoolers as she said herself, she can then give them the right attention.

HTH's

EM xx

Threadhead

4 under 5 can be a lot, or not a lot, depending on the ages of the kids, how well they all behave, time of day (ie. lunch time/school pick up, etc).

How long has your lo been with her?

Good luck with the potential new minder tomorrow!

Quillion

He has only been this week for two sessions 8.00 - 12.30.
He is a handfull Webbie but for her he has been the total opposite. (not offended) I told her about how energetic he is and she was quite happy that she could cope. I don't know maybe i just want to see the best in everyone perhaps should take off the rose coloured goggles and see what tomorrow brings.
If she thought he was a little monkey would she have reccomeded a friend to look after him? Not so sure but will never know!!.

Threadhead

Hi Quillion
Any update?