Latest news with #childminder
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I'm worried about a clash of interests between jobs but I need the money – please help!
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives her expert career advice to a reader who has been left to present a stressful project alone after her colleague took a last minute holiday. Q: I work part-time as a teaching assistant in a primary school, and I recently asked if I could increase my hours to full-time. I need the extra money, but I've been told there isn't the budget to do this currently. So, I've been thinking about working as a self-employed childminder on the days I'm not contracted at school, but I'm worried the senior leadership team might be annoyed if I approach parents with details of my childminding, in case they think it's out of order or a clash of interests. I don't know how else I would find potential clients, though. Please help! Kia, via email A) It's fantastic you're taking the initiative to boost your income – it sounds like becoming a self-employed childminder could be a great fit for you, especially with your experience. Since your employer can't offer you more hours at the moment, it's absolutely fair for you to explore other options. However, before you do anything else, I would check the school's policy on outside work or speak discreetly with your line manager. A quick, honest conversation can help clarify boundaries and prevent misunderstandings. Apprentice star Karren Brady terrified after burglar launched FOUR raids on £6m home in 16 hours taking designer gear If promoting your services directly to parents at the school feels tricky, try alternative routes, such as Facebook groups, childcare platforms, community centres or word-of-mouth through neighbours and friends, as these can be effective. Childminders need to ensure they are registered with Ofsted and you will need to declare any self-employed income to HMRC, so do make sure you keep accurate records. With your skills, you're in a strong position – just be sure to keep your school role and any private work as separate as you can. Best of luck with your new venture!
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Conflicted' mum considers giving up £70k job as maternity leave comes to an end
A mother has admitted to feeling "conflicted" about returning to her £ 70,000-a-year job after having her second child. Although it would mean a "big financial hit," she was "struggling to see the benefits" of returning to work when her maternity leave ended. Despite having childcare arrangements "in place", she was loving the idea of being around her kids more. READ MORE: Judge tells lying mum 'your decision to fall pregnant was silly' Taking to Mumsnet to share her dilemma, she said: "This is my second mat leave with my baby. My older child is 4 years old and starting school next year. "I love spending time with both of them. However, my older child is in preschool term time only. "My maternity leave is coming to an end soon, and I am feeling so conflicted about going back, though I was always clear that I'd go back. "I got this job after working for 15 years and it's a good role for my future and career path. "I will also be finishing a degree from work soon when I go back and it will be helpful for my career. "But, at this point, I am struggling to see all these benefits when I think about going back to work." The mum continued: "I love the convenience of being at home around kids and picking them up from preschool, taking them to parks etc. "Husband works full time and doesn't take much time off due to being self-employed. "I am on £70k, hence giving up my job would mean a big financial hit. "Baby would be going to a childminder who is 5 mins walk from our home, so she won't be far. "I am feeling very conflicted still despite having all arrangements in place. Any advice is appreciated." One supportive comment read: "It's really hard. I actually found returning from second mat leave even harder than first time round. "Could you explore flexible working requests/or part-time at all? That might make the balance feel more appropriate." The mum replied: "I will be going back to only 2 days a week for couple of months. "And I can work flexibly. Still, finding it bit hard to think about going back." A second forum user added: "Going back to work was definitely the hardest thing for me, and I still don't have the balance down yet (house work has definitely been taking a hit)."
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My mum wrote a letter in defence of a family friend she thought had been wrongly accused of sexual abuse - little did she know, he regularly raped me from the age of three
A woman has bravely spoken out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her childminder's son - and told how her own mother came unknowingly to write a letter in his defence. Rachael Smith, 23, from Hertfordshire, was preyed upon at the tender age of three by evil predator, Steven Freitas, 34, who raped and sexually assaulted her for three years. Until the age of six, Freitas raped Rachael in his family home when she went to stay with her childminder, threatening to do it to her younger sister, Katie, if she told anyone. Unbeknownst to Rachael, when she was six, Freitas was arrested and convicted of sexually abusing two other girls under 13. In a shocking twist, not knowing of the abuse her own daughter had faced, Rachael's own mother, Steph, 43, wrote a character witness in Freitas' favour, declaring that he'd 'never do something like that' and said she believed the victims' claims were 'untrue'. It wasn't until over a decade later that Rachael discovered the statement and told her mother about the traumatic abuse she'd faced as a child year earlier, leaving her horrified. Rachael has bravely waived her right to anonymity to encourage other survivors to speak out against their abusers. The recovery worker said: 'For so long I kept this terrible secret. When I found Mum's statement I felt sick to my stomach he'd had other victims. 'Steven had managed to manipulate my own mother into thinking he was innocent. When she found out about what he'd done to me, she was beside herself with guilt. 'I'm just glad he's finally behind bars where he belongs.' In June this year, Freitas was jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault by penetration. Rachael was just four months old when she started being cared for by her childminder, Freitas's mother, who was a close family friend, and said she 'loved' going to her house. Rachael remembers: 'I saw Steven's mother like a second mum. I loved going to her house and playing with the other children.' However, everything changed when Rachael turned three. One day, in 2004, Freitas, then aged 11, coaxed her into the downstairs toilet, in the guise of taking her for a wee. She says: 'While inside, he took off my underwear and started touching my privates. He told me it was "our secret". 'I was only young so thought it was normal and agreed.' The abuse escalated and Freitas began making Rachael sit on his lap, naked, and making her touch him too. Just months later, he raped her for the first time. She recalled: 'I just remember how painful it felt. I wanted to get it over and done with and go back to playing.' Most weeks, while she was being looked after, Freitas took her into the toilet multiple times to abuse her, which also included oral rape. Afterwards, he would offer to plait her hair or play games with her. Rachael said that if she ever told him 'no', he would threaten her, saying he would make her younger sister, Katie, then two, do it instead. Another time when she tried to resist, Freitas said he'd tell her mother to 'hate' her. Rachael (pictured) has described her torment when her mother unknowingly wrote a letter in defence of Freitas 'Desperate' to protect her younger sister, Rachael kept quiet, but remembers: 'It was awful'. Once, aged six, Rachael refused to go with Freitas to the bathroom, but he forced her inside and raped her again. Soon after, Rachael stopped going to her childminder's house. Unbeknownst to Rachael, Freitas had been arrested for sexually abusing two children in his mother's care. In September 2008 then aged 17, he was convicted at St Alban's Crown Court of seven counts of sexual assault of a female child under 13 in respect of two victims, aged 7 and 9. He was sentenced to an 18-month Detention and Training Order. His mother's business subsequently shut down. Over the following years, Rachael blocked out the abuse but when she learned about sex education at school at the age of 10, the memories all came back. At school, aged ten, she learnt about sex education. She says: 'Everything came flooding back and I realised what had happened was wrong. 'I asked my teacher questions like, "how long does sperm live inside you?" and "can kids get pregnant?". I was terrified. 'They should've picked up on those signs, as they're not normal questions for kids to ask.' Afterwards, Rachael developed OCD and Tourettes syndrome - a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements. She'd have rituals where she'd wash her hands multiple times and talk to her teddies, telling them 'don't kill my family'. She says: 'I had such intrusive and violent thoughts. I hated my body and felt ashamed and embarrassed. 'I began having nightmares and panic attacks.' In March 2013, Freitas pleaded guilty to another two offences of sexual activity (penetrative) with a female child under 16. He was sentenced to five years custody with an extended license period of eight years. As Rachel grew into her teens, she experienced further problems, entering toxic relationships and finding intimacy painful - and knew it was all down to the abuse. In November 2020, when she was 17, she stumbled across her mum's character witness statement while looking for some documents for a job application - and was 'horrified' and 'felt sick' at what she found. 'I was horrified reading what she'd said about Steven,' Rachael said, recalling the moment she found the statement. He'd convinced her he was innocent. 'The fact that she'd defended him made me feel sick. Knowing he'd had other victims, I felt guilty I'd let him hurt others.' For the next year, Rachael thought carefully about her findings until one day, she plucked up the courage to report Steven to the police. When she confessed what had happened, she said the police were 'so supportive' and the detective in charge believed her 'straightaway'. Two weeks later, she told her mother the truth of what happened via text message. Rachael said: 'She felt so guilty she'd defended him, unknowingly. Was horrified at how monstrous he actually was.' At his trial this month, Rachael bravely gave her evidence, and was horrified when the defence 'asked her what she had been wearing' when she was just three years old. This time, Rachael's mother Steph was called to the stand to give evidence for the prosecution. Steph, 43, said: 'Steven's mother was a registered childminder and good friend of my family. 'She lived opposite my parents. I always thought Steven was immature for his age and behind developmentally and socially. But I had no idea the monstrousness he was capable of. 'When Steven was arrested for the first abuse case, I didn't think the allegations were true. 'I couldn't imagine such a thing happening in a seemingly loving home. His mum was in tears and I felt sorry for her.' Steph wrote a character witness statement for court, after Steven's mother asked for her help and she fully supported the family during the trial. She explains: 'I will always regret doing that now. Receiving Rachel's text made me feel numb. 'I couldn't cope knowing how much he hurt and traumatised her. It breaks my heart I couldn't protect her. I hate him for what he's done.' This June, Freitas, 34, was found guilty of sexual offences against Rachael at St Alban's Crown Court. Rachael, who is now calling for parents to educate their children on their anatomy, boundaries and consent, says: 'Knowing he's been taken off the streets gives me some comfort. 'He's now known as a sex offender so people know what a danger he is. Finally, he's been exposed for the vile creature he is. 'I'm certain he's got more victims out there. I want to let other survivors know, it's never their fault and they should never feel ashamed. 'I'm finally spoken my truth and no longer feel and guilt or shame.'
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a single mum & sick of soft play costs so transformed my shed into a mini one – it's going to save me a fortune
WITH two kids, a trip to the soft play can be pricey. So, instead of having to fork out, single mum Liv decided to transform her shed into a mini one - after coming across secondhand soft play equipment being sold on Facebook Marketplace. 5 5 5 5 And she took to TikTok to document the process, as she admitted: "You're probably thinking I'm absolutely nuts. "I'm a single mum with very little time and energy. And what do I choose to do with the very little time and energy I have? "Turn my shed into a mini soft play!" She admitted the soft play bits did "need a good clean", and said that while they still have "a few marks", they;ll "do the job just the same". Liv used some soft floor mats, and said she wanted to add some balls into the bottom. "I'm probably gonna regret it when balls end up all over my garden, but sure," she laughed. She attached some sensory boards to the wall, and said she was going to do a "grand reveal" when more balls arrived for the floor. "It's nearly done, and I'm so pleased with it!" Liv concluded. And people in the comments section were quick to praise Liv for the epic makeover - with many admitting they were going to try a similar transformation themselves. "As a childminder I think this is great!! I'll be clearing my shed out at the weekend," one wrote. I DIY-ed a 'professional' level kids' birthday cake for less than £25 using Amazon & eBay buys - I didn't bake a thing "Omg I can't wait to get housed to do this," another said. "Brilliant idea, mum!" "Love this idea - my autistic son would love this," a third commented. "Oh this is a great idea!" someone else said. "I was going to put soft play bits in my son's bedroom but I think in a shed would be better now I've seen this," another wrote. "Brill job! So much ceiling space, could have things dangling down, I know my kids would love that," someone else added. More parenting hacks IF you want to make your life easier as a first-time mum, here's nine hacks you won't want to miss. 1. Routine Charts Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them engaging for younger children. 2. Meal Planning Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal prep to teach them cooking skills. 3. Toy Rotation Keep a portion of toys stored away and rotate them periodically. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases. 4. DIY Cleaning Solutions Make child-safe cleaning solutions using vinegar and baking soda. It's effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands. 5. Time-Out Jar Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions run high, children can pick an activity to help them settle down. 6. Educational Apps Utilise educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for ones that offer interactive learning in subjects your child is interested in. 7. Command Centre Set up a family command centre with a calendar, key hooks, and a bulletin board. It helps keep everyone organised and aware of daily schedules. 8. Emergency Kit Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies, and a change of clothes. It's a lifesaver for unexpected situations. 9. Label Everything Use labels for clothes, school supplies, and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools. "Love this, well done mama!" another commented. "That's class I want another shed now!" someone else said. As another wrote: "We did this two years ago in our wendy house for the boys. "Still going strong and the boys love it." 5
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Lucy Connolly appeal judge cut sentence of paedophile Labour peer
One of the judges who refused Lucy Connolly's appeal previously reduced the sentence of a former Labour peer convicted of child sex offences. Connolly, a childminder who is married to a Conservative councillor, received a 31-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred with a tweet posted in the wake of the Southport murders. This week, Lord Justice Holroyde, alongside Mr Justice Goss and Mr Justice Sheldon, rejected her bid to have her sentence reduced at the Court of Appeal. The court found that the judge in Connolly's case had followed the sentencing guidelines correctly, she was aware of what those guidelines were when she pleaded guilty, and her sentence had not been manifestly excessive. Previously, Lord Justice Holroyde presided over the appeal hearing of Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, a former Labour peer, after he was convicted of trying to rape a young girl and sexually assaulting a boy under nine in the 1970s. He was jailed for five years and six months at Sheffield Crown Court in February 2022. But in March 2023, his sentence was reduced to two years and six months by Lord Justice Holroyde, Lord Burnett, the then Lord Chief Justice, and Lord Justice William Davis after they concluded the sentencing judge had not followed the sentencing guidelines. The three concluded that the trial judge in Lord Ahmed's case 'fell into error' when passing sentence. They said the fact that Lord Ahmed was a child when he committed the offences had to be taken into account. During his original trial, the court heard he had attempted to rape a girl on two occasions when he was aged about 16 or 17 and she was much younger. The attack on the boy also happened during the same period. Both incidents took place in Rotherham. Lord Ahmed was found guilty of two counts of attempted rape against the girl and a serious sexual assault against the boy. He had originally been given two years for each of the attempted rapes, to run concurrently, with a further three years and six months for assaulting the boy. The judges said had he been sentenced shortly after the assault on the boy, he would have been 14 and a child with no previous convictions. They concluded a custodial sentence of six months was a 'suitable penalty'. They did not reduce the sentence imposed in relation to the attempted rapes. Connolly, 42, was jailed after she posted a message on social media platform X hours after Axel Rudakubana went on a knife rampage at a Taylor-Swift themed event in Southport, murdering three little girls. She posted: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f---ing hotels full of the b------s for all I care, while you're at it, take the treacherous government politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these [Southport] families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.' Connolly, who lost her son Harry when he was 19 months old and cares for her sick husband, deleted the post less than four hours later – but not before it had been viewed 310,000 times. She later posted another message condemning the riots, writing: 'FS, I get they're angry. I'm f---ing raging, however, this is playing right into their hands. I do not want civil unrest on our streets. Tommy Robinson is not going to say but this is not going to get anyone anywhere. Protests yes but not riots.' She was arrested on Aug 6 following widespread riots across the country. The Court of Appeal judges refused to reduce her sentence this week, saying the tweet represented 'an incitement to serious violence'. They did not accept that the original 31-month sentence was 'manifestly excessive'. They also said they did not accept the argument that the offending tweet had been 'no more than an expression of emotion'. The ruling concluded: 'We of course have every sympathy with the applicant over the death of her son, and we can understand why she remains angry about the circumstances of his death. 'We can therefore accept that the shocking events in Southport had an impact on her which went beyond that felt by many others. But as the judge rightly said, she did not post a message of support and sympathy to the victims of the Southport attack and the bereaved.' Since the ruling there has been a widespread backlash against the decision, with Sir Richard Dearlove, a former MI6 chief, becoming the latest high-profile figure to voice concerns. Sir Richard said it was an 'extraordinary case' and he did not believe Connolly should still be in prison. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, has said the jailing of Connolly showed Britain was becoming 'a police state' under Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir defended the sentence given to Connolly shortly after it emerged that her appeal had been rejected. He said that while he was 'strongly in favour' of free speech, he was 'equally against incitement to violence against other people'.
