POOR COMMUNICATION AND POOR EXPERIENCE
My experience with Ade was ok. She contacted back in September to offer her services. She seemed ok, despite having very little experience, I wanted to give her an opportunity to show me her personality, approach and then decide.
I replied to her in Oct to discuss her services for our family. Following an informal phone conversation, Ade invited me to her setting to meet her and her assistant to get a better understanding of her service. This was again, average.
My children seemed to like the setting and other child, so I was open to a trial session. This was arranged after a few days, my kids seemed to have fun.
She had communicated through our conversation her willingness to accommodate collecting my children (school was further than her local area).
As she had two assistants working alongside her. This seemed like a good fit for our family. The children like the setting, they made friends easily and were respectful.
I decided to go ahead with Ade. After a couple of weeks I decided to go ahead and set up a start date. Unfortunately due to service issues, the first day of collection my text message didn’t get through to her. I was due to send her a map with images of parking locations and school system. This caused ( in her words slight delay and that she understood these things happen).
I apologised for my error. And we seemed to overcome that snag. However, when I came to collect my children she asked me that it would be better to change their school as it was closer to her setting. Bare in mind she agreed two weeks prior that it wasn’t an issue as she drives and has staff to support while she collects my children.
For me as a mother it was slightly odd to ask me to accommodate my lifestyle to her services rather than the other way around. If that was the case, I would have surely found another childcare provider who could.
I work in retail and my contract was flexible and subject to rota which was provided a when I decided to go ahead.
On day two, on collection she said I was late to collect, even though I let her know via message ( which she said was fine as long as she knew)
That evening she terminates my contract via text message and the next day sent me an email informing me of that and she would continue to look after them for 4weeks (until I find a new childminder). I was stunned!
You can imagine it to took me four weeks from contact to meeting and verifying documents to validating her. As a mother it’s difficult to find people you can trust to look after the most precious people in your life; Your children.
She doesn’t have the experience to understand how to deal with parents, their requirements and their needs.
From this experience, I now must take unpaid leave to find a replacement.
I would not recommend working with her as the lack of experience with communication, compassion and understanding.
She is unreasonable and doesn’t allow you to express yourself without her immediately terminating contracts.
Things can happen that are out of our control and it’s important to find a childcare provider who shows compassion and understanding. She is not reliable.
I would not recommend her!
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Response from Ade
Responded
Thank you for your negative review which are all lies and slander.
I contacted you in October like you stated in October and you came back to me in November after your unsuccessful search for childcare. During our first meeting, you informed me you found childcare but 5his breakdown due to the childminder picking up the children late from school and not being professional. This should have have being an alarm bell but I discarded it.
We discussed your requirement, to which you informed me you will need some weekdays and occasional weekends. Weekdays care between 3pm and 8pm and on the weekends you work from 10am -8pm
I informed you my opening times are mon - fri 7am to 7pm and I do not work on weekend. I then agreed to extend my opening hours to 8pm to accommodate your requirement.
I did suggest changing the children’s school as you live in abbey wood and children attends school in Charlton but you explained the reasons why you will rather keep them in their current.
Like you stated I have two assistants working with me and to accommodate the school pickup I increased the working hour of one of my assistant, I did understand and accommodated your requirement.
Your children came on three occasions, two of these occasions, you stayed with them and your exact words were “the setting is different and has a lot to offer children and you liked the fact that the setting is well set up @nd adequately equipped”.
You signed a contract for 5hrs per day from 3pm - 8pm on flexible days as you work on a rota basis and there was no conversation of you needing childcare after 8pm
Your children started on the 1st of November and on that same day. You did not provide the children’s classes or introduce me to the teacher, I had to figure this out on the afternoon to which you apologised when you picked up later that day.
Reason for cancellation
On the 2nd of November 2022, you picked your children at 8.45pm 45mins late. You sent me a text message at 8.06pm informing me you will be 20mins late, there was no mention of your late rota which finished late. When you picked up the children 45mins later, you then mentioned you usually get to abbey wood station at 8.15pm and on these days you will need care until 8.30.
On the spot, I informed you I do not work past 8pm, and we agreed to end the contract at the end of the week. This was agreed verbally and done face to face and not by text message.
I sent you a formal notice confirming the termination at the end of the week and in my notice , I stated that if you are not able to find childcare at short notice, I will continue till end of November as long as children are picked up by 8pm and any breach of this will result in immediate termination of contract and payment in lieu will be application.
You replied and was insulting and and slandering the setting which resulted in me cancelling the contract with immediate effect
You have being dishonest throughout the process and you still have it on your profile you need childcare until 8pm, however, you are aware you need childcare arrangement beyond 8pm.
You requested and paid for hours for a lesser period and your intention was to text you are running late each time
The children were both asleep on my Sofa when they were picked up 45mins after the contracted hours. And on the two they had two cooked meals, one with the other minded child and second meal with my family.
You stated I am inexperience, I have being a providing care for over 10years and all my minded children are with me until they are in year 7 or if parents move to other areas.
The children in my setting are mostly recommended by parents I am already working with. It’s a shame , as I believe your children would have benefited from my nurturing environment. However, a long lasting relationship is a two way thing and based on sincerity and trust. Which unfortunately was absent during my dealing with you.
My setting is very clean, hot healthy meals served daily and communicates well with parent. We work in partnership and we go out of our ways to support our families.
I would advise anyone dealing with this parent to ensure they obtain the true picture of their need and have it documented
Wishing you all the best in finding childcare.
