I visited Dua’s childcare setting and, at first glance, found it to be clean, organized, and welcoming. Dua was friendly and professional during our meeting and mentioned that she had multiple spaces available for my 1-year-old daughter.

However, I ultimately decided not to go ahead as I didn’t get a good vibe from the setting. One concern was the presence of a large glass fish tank, which I worried could pose a safety hazard if my daughter accidentally tipped it over. Additionally, Dua has a 2-month-old baby herself, and while I respect her ability to manage both roles, I had reservations about whether she could provide the focused attention my daughter would need.

Shortly after my visit, Dua contacted her mother-in-law, Iris (another childminder who had cared for my daughter earlier that day). Not long after this, I received a message from Dua saying, “Sorry, another child has filled the spaces.” While this is understandable, the timing and circumstances strongly suggested that this decision was influenced by Iris, rather than availability.

This situation raised serious concerns about professionalism and confidentiality. By discussing my private situation with another childminder without my consent, Dua may have breached the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, which require childcare providers to handle personal information securely and respectfully. This left me questioning the safeguarding standards of the setting.

While there were positives about Dua’s setting, these issues ultimately made me uncomfortable proceeding. I encourage parents to carefully assess both the environment and the provider’s approach to confidentiality before making a decision.