Over stretched
Please make sure you are very clear about how many other children Serpil will be splitting her time amongst before you leave your LO with her-especially if you have a baby. We were really let down by Serpil and I believe she has compromised the quality of care she can provide by filling her books with as many children as she can.
When we met we explained what we wanted-a small adult to child ratio. Someone who could be available for our 11 month old as she built the confidence and independence to explore and play. Serpil was just starting out and had no children on her books but listened to what we wanted and appeared to understand and agreed that that's what she would like to provide.
However, 1 month before our LO was due to start Serpil added more children to her books than I was initially comfortable with but as the age ranges varied (only 1 was as young as my LO) and my LO had already bonded with Serpil we decided to stick with her-I did voice my concerns with Serpil and she reassured me Adi would still get the same level and quality of care.
Two weeks before Our start date Serpil took 2 more 11 month old children on bringing her total to 8 part time children including four 11/12 month olds, a 2 year old, two 3 year olds and a 5 year old. She didn't make it very clear to the parents when each child would be with her and I wasn't the only parent to be surprised when I finally saw a timetable.
Although all children except our LO were part time on at least one of my LO's days she would be with 3 other 11/12 month olds, a 3 and 5 year old.
As Serpil is in a 1st floor flat the logistics of getting this many small children in and out safely without leaving them is impossible, even when using her assistant. As importantly, I don't believe that she is experienced enough to provide quality care for this many small children. On one of our settling in mornings, 1 week before I was due back to work, I witnessed enough evidence of this that I decided I had no choice but to find alternative arrangements for my LO.
When I wrote an email to Serpil explaining how we were having to make other arrangements and explaining how let down we felt all I received in return was a request for money for the 1 half day that I'd left my LO with her.
Serpil has a lovely and natural way with children and her nannying experience was evident. However after our experience with her I feel like my initial impression of her, which was that of someone who put the needs of children first, was wrong.
Response from Bounds green
Responded
Dear Parent,
First of all,thank you for your review and checking my profile everyday.
1-2 days before/after you wrote this review I had an inspection from Ofsted and the inspector checked all my documents and the place,Her comment was "everything is fine and impressive for a childminder who just started off†at my setting.After September 2012 the EYFS changed so before writing comments about someone's services,please
I have nothing to hide and everything I do is legal,I have been child minding for more than 20 families for over 4 years and I did not choose this job because of money as it is the biggest responsibility,when you buy something from a shop you could ask for refund/replace but when it is about child care you can not ask replace so I can not let a parent stay with their child at my place 9am-5pm everyday for settling in period
We did settling in for you for “free†almost a month which is what the other child care providers (nursery/childminder) would not do...but it was just before the actual start so I did not mind you coming for 1 hour but stay all day,I am a Childminder not coffee shop owner,the children are more important than having tea with an adult …
For CHILDREN’S SAFETY I can not let anyone in my flat day time anymore and please contact me if you need details about safeguarding children,I can give you some documents to read and contact numbers that you can get more information)
I am more than happy to look after someone's child for free in settling in period as it is NORMALLY only 1-2 hours not all day…I did not want to talk/write about this and hadn’t done but I have just read your comment you are being unfair and all your comments are not right at all...
I hope you will find the right person(I think nanny would be perfect choice,you might think it's expensive but for "one to one attention" the childminders wouldn't be able to afford to pay their expenses only working with you) and asking for payment is a part of our businness otherwise why would we take all responsibility of a child for free ? I guess you wouldn't do it either...
I look after 4-5 children so not 8-9 “ and the details of number of children I look after is;
Monday 2,Tuesday 4,weds 4,thurs 2 and Friday 4 but one of them attends half day
but maybe when I open my nursery it will be more than this also I do not look after them by my own have an assistant who is “Ofsted registered†she is lovely,patient,have experience as she is mother of 3 children who are grown up now….
I give all details about my setting and give copies of all documents about activities,meal plan,weekly schedule and policies to parents and have never had any complaint about the ratio or the service I provide…
Best luck with your search…
Serpil
