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Alice
Childminder
London Borough Of Bromley

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2 stars

Dumped

Reviewed

My six year old daughter with down syndrome has been with Alice & her husband for almost two years. We were one of the first on their books.
Below is the email received after collecting my daughter the same evening without saying anything of the intention of ending it all..

'Hi **name**,
I didn’t want to discuss this in front of **name** and I’ve thought hard about this. I’ve had **name** for nearly 2 years now and I’m very fond of her. However my childminding has moved on and I’m finding it hard to meet all the needs of the children. It’s not fair on **name** if she doesn’t get the individual attention I used to be able to give her.
So goodbye and good luck, I hope you can find another suitable carer/club which will support her,? Chucklebox??
Best wishes,
Alice'

I am a single working Mum and Alice has not given me any notice. Always paid and collected on time. There has been no transitioning period or understanding communicated to the child to whom my daughter had built a rapport.
We saw Alice from a distance the following day, collecting/ being with three children who joined her services after my daughter. If she was finding it too hard, why take on more children and dump one of the originals who happens to be the only one from the side of the school with additional needs? A kick in the teeth for my daughter who is confused by it all & now has a daily reminder.
My daughter played up a little in terms of getting ready to go home. Didn't want to place on shoes/ socks etc. On at least two occasions we had the front door closed upon us; one of which the six year old had only her knickers on and was left on the open porch with me to dress her in public view.
There had been cracks forming as I had also received a WhatsApp message a few weeks before to say, 'do you think **name** will change as she is getting too big for man-handling'.
Another recent event; belongings school bag and lunch box had been placed on the outer wall, front door open and Alice leaning against her radiator with folded arms. When asked if all was ok upon pickup, I was told my daughter was refusing to get dressed.
I can't help but feel we have been dumped and it would have been much appreciated after two years for both myself and my daughter to have been spoken with face to face of the 'ending' or to try and work something out if Alice was finding it too hard.
Wasn't going to write a review but felt other parents/ carers needed to know especially if there is any type of special need to be accounted for.

Don't get me wrong we liked Alice, she has a nice home and it worked well for some time. It's unfortunate it's ended in this way.

Response from Alice
Responded

Thank you for your feedback,
I appreciate this has been difficult for you and a shock, however I felt I had to let you know as soon as possible so that you could make other arrangements.
As an independent childcare provider I make constant risk assessments to ensure those in my care are safe.
As you know your daughter's behaviour can be unpredictable and she has not been listening to me.
On consideration of my experience with her last week I decided that it would be best for myself and the others in my care to stop her place.
I am happy to write her a letter to explain why if that is helpful to you both.
I don't feel an open forum like this is the way to manage situations such as this.
I hope you find a suitable carer to support you with her ongoing childcare.