Childminder wants to close at 1pm for the rest of the week

You don't have much choice then.

I would ask the childminder to clarify what she expects .

You can’t work because you have childcare issues. It’s unfortunate but it’s unprecedented heat and you won’t be the only one having to l cancel appointments. Work will have to
suck it up.

Well that's what all the school's are doing round here. Originally it was shut at 12 tomorrow and Thursday, now they've just sent a text saying closed all day. Are they also daft and incompetent?
I would not want to be responsible for someone else's child in this heat (in fact I find it worrying enough looking after my own). Children get ill very quickly and don't always recognise the signs or are able to tell their care giver the issue. I mean I'm sure none of you saying it's unreasonable would be too thrilled if your child came home sick/with heatstroke/dehydrated.
She can probably avoid that happening if she's only got one child to care for but she can't really make exceptions for one parent otherwise they'll all just say they can't pick up early.

That's shit. Yes there is a weather warning but like others have said, why is there more threat at her house than yours? Why can't she just get out the water play for a handful of children? Does she have some outdoor space with some shade?

The area I am living is also 32 degrees and schools are beginning to shut/ close early.
Our school will see how the kids are but it’s 32degrees tomorrow also so I hope they don’t shut. One of the secondary/primary school trust has just announced all school closures.

Well you don’t have much choice really, if she decides to close then she decides to close. We aren’t in the hottest parts of the country but our nursery has closed for the rest of the week, lots of the local nurseries have done the same, so either you or your husband will have to figure it out.

This is ridiculous....it is for reasons like this that we moved our DD to a nursery setting. Endless annual leave aswell. I would really consider a nursery, especially if you have public facing roles (myself and DH both NHS employees).

What a joke. A childminder provides care in a home environment. If she wants the children to go home then it is exactly the same! She just can’t be arsed. I can’t either but can’t just sack off work because it’s hot.

Okay great.....but Op's childminder isnt closing for that reason is she!

Presumably your Dsis isn’t a childminder with no back up?

But it's 32c where OP is. I dont think she falls under the red risk.

There is a huge disparity in the temperatures expected over the next few days where I am, depending on which website / app you look at. I am talking about a 6c swing! Could she just be preparing for the "worst"?

You mention a new job @SweatySpider321 but is this a new childminder? I assume not as you mention your DH's annual leave has covered her holidays - so how is she as a CM overall? If she is generally amazing then suck it up. If you already have reservations I'd be looking elsewhere.

Look for a new childminder...

If the Op is saying it's predicted to be 32 tomorrow it's likely she's not in an area with a red warning.

'Sorry this doesn't work for us as we are still working. We will endeavour to be there as soon as we can'.

Good thing your sister isn’t OP’s childminder then, isn’t it? And someone with your sister’s condition would have air conditioning unless they’re an idiot.

I really do feel like the country has lost its mind. Yes it is hot but that is not a reason for everything to grind to a halt.

I am wfh. My husband is in the office. My child is at school. Basically we are carrying on as normal in lighter clothes with plenty of water.

But she isn’t closing. She asked if they could try to collect at 1pm. And they can’t, so that’s that. They can say no.

My dsis has epilepsy which can be triggered by hot weather. She would not be safe to have children in her care in temperatures like the ones we are expecting this week. She can keep herself cool to avoid triggers but couldn’t do that if she was running around after small children.

Exactly, if she lives in a glass house, or has some reason her house is worse than the average parent's, she should have informed you before committing to childcare. It's not like a school where she has 30 kids in a building that is (in many cases) uncomfortable and crowded at the best of times.

Strange that anyone thinks they can 'say no' to a business closing.

Parents mostly don't pay anything any more. My LA are still paying funding to settings deciding to close early during the heatwave.

Keeping multiple small children safe in a hot house when there is a red risk to life warning is a big responsibility and if she doesn't feel it's safe then she's right to close.