Unreliable, look elsewhere
My son went to Karen for approximately 6 weeks, and although Karen is caring and good with children I feel that communication and reliability was a big issue for us which is why I had to find someone else. Messages would not be replied to for hours on end, and trying to arrange time and days beforehand was always more stressful than it needed to be. Karen actually cancelled on us on the most recent occasion, then did not offer any alternative day or time and we were still charged for the day, which is not acceptable.
When trying to resolve the issue, she was very rude and told me to go elsewhere, which of course I did as I had already been looking for someone else by this point.
Within the first week she told me she could not do an agreed upon day as she was in Paris, and only told me once I had contacted her first, which meant I had to take two days off of work.
She would also leave my son with her husband when she had to run errands, and he is not a registered Childminder so this is not acceptable for us either.
She would not attend Childminding groups or take the children out to soft play as agreed at the beginning of the contract. It was never clear what my son had eaten that day, and communication throughout the day was lacking so I had to chase for information.
The additional costs we were charged were not mentioned in the contract and Karen charges 5 pounds per drop off within Stevenage, which was not agreed upon at the beginning of the contract and is expensive on top of her £6 per hour fee. She was aware we needed drop offs twice a week and sometimes was either late or would be ‘busy’ with other children so we had to make alternative arrangements to collect our son, but still be charged.
The last thing I want to mention is that my son came home with a very bad bruise and bump on his head, which Karen said over the phone was a ‘little bump’ I completely understand that children especially little boys hurt themselves at this age but when I saw how bad it was I was angry and feel it could have been avoided with more care.
Overall I would not recommend Karen as a reliable Childminder and would advise to look elsewhere if like me you need clear communication and reliability.
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Overall
Setting-
Cleanliness
Food-
Communication
Response from Karen Ch
Responded
In life one should always look for the positives – I scored 5 stars for Setting and 5 stars for cleanliness. The other criteria at least received a star.
I have enjoyed the profession of childminding for over 20 years now and only had rave positive reviews about my care. Most of the parents I have been associated with over these years are still close family friends.
My Initial response was that how could anyone sit down and write such a review? For the sake of good measure, I will deal with the points.
• Paris was for my birthday and of course they were informed – why not?
• We go out most days weather permitting but due to covid we visit parks and other places of less risk. I never requested any remuneration for trips out. Despite the lunches etc.
• My husband was on several occasions asked for a lift.
• He arrived with a bump to his head, and I was told this happened at his relatives.
There are always negatives one can bring up if a person if so minded – he often came without a coat, and I would lend him one so that we could go out.
Let us put this into perspective I have childminded on a full-time basis for over twenty years – this was 8 part time days, and the child was often late.
The care was indeed for six weeks but unfortunately the child did not attend for two of these weeks.
One was the Christmas holiday week and I failed to receive payment and the other being the last week when they had family difficulties and again I was unpaid.
This was a young family who I wanted to help in life. When Danielle initially came to see me, she was absolutely frozen as she had walked pushing the pram from the town centre to Great Ashby. I drove them home to save them another cold journey.
As any child minder will tell you these opening weeks are to settle the child in and to make sure they adjust accordingly to the new setting.
In this case the settling in period was not easy.
We spoke at length many time and agreed to continue and monitor the situation.
It was further complicated by the fixed days changing most weeks. Monday became Tuesday etc
.
At my setting I have never offered collection or drop offs all the children are dropped off and collected by the parents.
Due to my initial kind gesture on the first day, I was then requested to drop him off home. I didn’t know what to say a cab for this distance is £10 one way, so I halved it and hoped that would cover the petrol for both there and back. That same initial week I was requested to take home on the second day which I was not paid for. I must point out the I didn’t even receive the five pounds as it was always rounded down to £4. If I was owed say £16 pounds in fees, I would receive £20. They were young I thought and just looked the other way.
But I stopped the lifts when this happened for a second week. Relatives eventually arrived late but again I never considered any charge. Now reading the great review - lifts were expected for free!
On the last week of this escapade Danielle rung me minutes before the arrival time and said there had been some sort of altercation at home and the partner was not around to bring the little boy over to me. Then I was offered £10 to collect. I was unable as the car was in for its service.
We must remember I am a child minder not a free taxi service and this could potentially impact on other children. Subsequently the child did not appear at all that week and no payment was forth coming.
As the situation was becoming intolerable, I rang a child-minding colleague explained the situation and she kindly agreed to take over. This information I duly gave to Danielle when she made contact the following week and childcare remained seamless.
I have never sort to collect the four unpaid days or for that matter the unpaid lifts as they are a young family at the beginning of there lives and I wish them all the best.
Yet despite my kindness I received this review. I do hope prospective parents will put these eight days into context when reading other reviews from my 20 years of childminding.
