Childminder and illness - aibu

[Littleredhouse]

My childminder told me her son is currently ill with v&d (started last night). My son had a bug recently, including vomiting. He was kept off for the required time and has only just recovered, so I obviously don't want him exposed to another.

However she's insisting that it's business as usual and while it's my decision not to send my son in, I'm still liable for the fees.

Surely this is unfair? You can't have one policy for the visiting children of staying away for 48 hours but then willingly expose them to your own child's illness? If my son catches this one, she'll be telling me to collect and keep him off again.

[WTFIsThisVirus]

What does your contract say? It might say that you still need to pay if your CM is off sick.

[Helendee]

No she can't open for 48 hours from the last bout of illness and I assume her contract states that she doesn't charge if she doesn't work.

I'm a childminder by the way.

[glenthebattleostrich]

Im a childminder and close if there is sickness and / or diarheah (sp) in the house. Just as I exclude children who have this. I wouldn't be happy at all if I were you

[Andijustknew]

She's supposed to close for 48 hours.

[Tinseltower]

Yeah not good. I’m not sure ofsted will be pleased to know she’s exposing children to v and d.

[WTFIsThisVirus]

Based on what Helen and glen have said, She is BU. I would find the contract and send her a picture of her sickness policy. I would expect it applies to her household.

[Maryann1975]

I’m a cm. if one of my children has d and v, I ship them off to their grandparents if they are ok with it but if they are at home, I have to close. If I close, I don’t charge. I don’t think she is showing good practise at all tbh, one rule for you and another for her, not fair at all. But you will need to check what her policy says about paying when she is closed.

[GnotherGnu]

It could also be worth looking into the terms of her registration. I'd be surprised if she's allowed to do this from a health and safety point of view.

That said, if you make a fuss you could be left without a childminder. But in your shoes I'd be looking for another one anyway.

[YellowMakesMeSmile]

Read your policy and then look for new reliable childcare.

She should have a duty to close for 48 hours following a sickness bug.

[hibbledobble]

Yes, absolutely being unreasonable to expect you to send your child in or pay when she has a potentially infectious child.

[Littleredhouse]

Thanks for the replies! I'll have to try and dig out my contract. When i queried the payment she said she could try and keep her son separate upstairs - but I don't see how this would work practically as he's only 4, so not independent like a teenager would be. I almost don't want to rock the boat as we have a good relationship with her normally, but at the same time I don't want to be in this situation again.