Childminder double booked

robpw2

Ok having worked for ofsted on dealing with calls etc The national standards clearly state that they are allowed a maximum of 6 children under 8 at anyone time althought this decreases based on number of own children.
Usually on a ration 1 under 1 3 under 5 and 2 over 5 althought this can be requested for an ammendment for an emergency situation but is unlikely to be increased for Permanant .

There are some ways round this . 1. if the cm has a child that is 4 and attending 10 sessions of school a week then they can be considered a rising five so would fit into the 5-8 category.
the cm could get an assitant who would be able to work with them enabling them to increase the number of children in total to 8

I would suggest you get in contact with cm and see if there is anyway you could resolve this situation

Quillion

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your help. I met with the other childminder who is really nice and my lo is going to be going there from Monday. She has a lo of her own who goes to the same pre school as my son on two days out of the four.

Thank You everyone your help as always is very much appreciated.

:T :T

webbie

You might be interested to watch a programme at 8pm tonight (I think it is called "Whistleblower") which shows undercover footage of childcare at day nurseries, childminders etc. I can't wait!!

robpw2

i just seen this program and was quite shocked and interested buy its findings.
what did other people think ?


FYI . I no longer have any associations with ofsted

webbie

robpw2 wrote: »

i just seen this program and was quite shocked and interested buy its findings.
what did other people think ?


FYI . I no longer have any associations with ofsted

I thought the programme was most sad for the poor children!! I am sure the nurseries must be one of only a few "bad" ones - but they obviously exist!!

I am a registered childminder - and would say that it is not as easy as the programme made it look to become registered - it take around 6 months - but it is true that Ofsted don't come back and check their requirements - I just filled out a form to say I had done what they asked - and they haven't come back to me for four years!!

I would also so say I would never choose a day nursery. Not to say anyone else is wrong - but to me, I wouldn't want untrained, inexperienced teenagers looking after my child - and I know at least six local nurseries who all have such teenagers working there - and they have fab Ofsted reports. I am sure the teenagers love kids and do their best (and some are friend's daughters) - but I feel as a parent myself I have the best experience possible - and that is why all parents of my minded children have chosen a childminder.

misty

webbie wrote: »

I would also so say I would never choose a day nursery. Not to say anyone else is wrong - but to me, I wouldn't want untrained, inexperienced teenagers looking after my child - and I know at least six local nurseries who all have such teenagers working there - and they have fab Ofsted reports. I am sure the teenagers love kids and do their best (and some are friend's daughters) - but I feel as a parent myself I have the best experience possible - and that is why all parents of my minded children have chosen a childminder.

I know you weren't suggesting this wasn't anything else but your opinion but I think this is quite alarmist and the same kind of things could be said for childminders.

I chose a nursery because they have trained staff and stick to a strict staff child ratio. Yes they may inexperienced students training but they have to have enough trained staff per child. The nursery my son went to cctv in the rooms - and the range of activities and food they offered was great.

on the other hand - a childminder is one person - if they're ill - you're stuck. If they do something wrong there's noone to witness it.

Everybody has their own point of view and I think yours was a bit too subjective - as is mine!!!

chaseside

misty wrote: »

I chose a nursery because they have trained staff and stick to a strict staff child ratio. Yes they may inexperienced students training but they have to have enough trained staff per child.

Everybody has their own point of view and I think yours was a bit too subjective - as is mine!!!

I agree everybody has freedom of choice & it's up to the parents to decide where their child is cared for.

But I would just like to say that Registered Childminders are also trained carers & like the nurseries have to stick to the strict ratios set out by Ofsted.

Good look with finding a new Childminder Quillion.

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Recently Retired ( 1 week) Registered Trained Ofsted Approved Childminder Of 23Yrs ( & I'm missing my babes already)

webbie

misty wrote: »

I know you weren't suggesting this wasn't anything else but your opinion but I think this is quite alarmist and the same kind of things could be said for childminders.

I chose a nursery because they have trained staff and stick to a strict staff child ratio. Yes they may inexperienced students training but they have to have enough trained staff per child. The nursery my son went to cctv in the rooms - and the range of activities and food they offered was great.

on the other hand - a childminder is one person - if they're ill - you're stuck. If they do something wrong there's noone to witness it.

Everybody has their own point of view and I think yours was a bit too subjective - as is mine!!!

As I said - I'm not saying anyone who chooses a day nursery is wrong.

But.... I would ask your day nursery if ALL staff are qualified - I bet they aren't!! They are allowed to work there if they are "training" which can take two years - so they are "unqualified" for two years. So therefore your child will be looked after at some point by an unqualified person. Look at new staff - if they have never had children - how much experience have they had? Usually teenagers have none.

My point is childminders all now have to have a qualification (within 6 months max) and 99% are parents which is the best qualification you can have!

Yes - childminders are not "watched" - but how many times have you asked to see CCTV of your day nursery? Childminders are on display to the public everytime they leave the house, attend toddlers groups, in the playground, walking down the street. At least with childminders a child gets to build a relationship with one steady person - instead of whoever is assigned to a day nursery room that day.

webbie

chaseside wrote: »

I agree everybody has freedom of choice & it's up to the parents to decide where their child is cared for.

But I would just like to say that Registered Childminders are also trained carers & like the nurseries have to stick to the strict ratios set out by Ofsted.

Good look with finding a new Childminder Quillion.

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Recently Retired ( 1 week) Registered Trained Ofsted Approved Childminder Of 23Yrs ( & I'm missing my babes already)

Hi - I bet "retirement" feels funny after all that time!! People won't recognise you without a pushchair!!

I agree with what you have said - childminders have a much, much more favourable ratio of children to adult - which can only benefit the children!

bigburd

I'm a registered CM with the Care Commission. I always have a 'settling in' period for the children that the parents don't pay for usually two hours twice a week for at least a fortnight depending on age (baby I have came once a week for a couple of months so he was used to us and our home) this time is great for both the CM and the parents to decide if the little one will fit in.
I haven't ever experienced it myself but if I or my own children actually didn't like a potential minded child my own family would have to come first as it's our home. However, I would definately have a meeting with the parents and tell them the child wasn't settling in and suggest other options. Sorry....waffling on a bit..... what I'm trying to say is that a CM will probably find a tactful way to end a contract rather than telling the parent their child is destructive/bad mannered/foul mouthed/stealing things/wiping poo on the bathroom walls and dispite going over general house 'rules' making them fun and keeping on display etc etc......waffling again!!

I'm in no way suggesting that the OP's little one falls into this category only her CM would be able to tell her. I'd want a meeting to discuss how he settled in (beneficial if changing to another CM anyway).

My advice....just ask her!

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