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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Grrrrrrrr

35 replies

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 18:57

Im a childminder
Child A is 7 she was off school yesterday with a sick bug but i didnt know this till i had stood in the playground for 20 mins waiting for her and eventually went into school to look for her

So i text mum at 2pm to see if child A is in school

I get a reply straight away to say yes but as dad was off yesterday she would pick child up at 8pm

I finish at 5!!!!!!

Texted back to say sorry cant do im busy but got no reply, child is still here and her phone is off

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Areyoumadorisitme · 20/03/2013 14:05

Any update OP?
I was completely shocked at the audacity of the mum and the lack of thought and consideration to you and her dd.
People like that need to realise that their needs do not come above the needs of others.

girliefriend · 19/03/2013 22:26

I can't believe anyone would do that

I would have thought you would have been in your rights to contact social services and say the child has been abandoned tbh. I think thats what I would expect to happen if I didn't collect my dd (also 7yo) from her cm til 8pm!!

Poor kid

Original poster

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 22:20

I know they are users
Mum is a nightmare
But the child is a sweetheart

OP posts:

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 19/03/2013 21:41

Give that family notice. They are users of the worst kind and are terribly unfair on their kids.

ReetPetit · 19/03/2013 21:25

i would be giving notice wednesdaysgirl - that is seriously out of order. shows no regard for you at all - or her child come to that - its parents like this that make good childminders give up!!

HSMMaCM · 19/03/2013 21:21

Good for you making the child feel safe and happy.

I would be ranting at the parents once she's out of earshot!

clam · 19/03/2013 21:21

Bollocks. You don't need to turn your phone off completely to teach - just switch it to silent, or vibrate.

Original poster

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 21:17

Picked up just after 8
Said she had turned her phone off to teach and had not looked at my message till she turned her phone on at 8

Anyway had a bath now and done my exercises (for my arm) if i was allowed to drive i think i would have drove to the uni but.......

Anyway the child was safe and unaffected (didnt know mum was late and i was cross) will phone her tomo to properly chat as didnt want to in front of the child

OP posts:

Pendipidy · 19/03/2013 20:44

what happened?!!

Delayingtactic · 19/03/2013 20:24

I know that my CM will contact SS if she has been unable to contact me and I am late for pickup by I think an hour.

Forget all being well I would be calling SS.

lechatnoir · 19/03/2013 20:12

I would also charge £60 (£5/15mins late fee) plus read the riot act and explain the difference between asking whether you can do it as opposed to informing you & switching your phone off - cheeky mare!! I would also be tempted to write & notify her that if this happens again you terminate immediately.

BTW I have had a mindee until 8pm which is 2 hours after I close - because parents were suitably apologetic & with genuine reason (both stuck in London with trains down) and kept me updated with their eta & I was happy to do it. I did charge double time but not my late fee (£20/hr!)

RandomMess · 19/03/2013 20:00

Just

ReetPetit · 19/03/2013 20:00

omg op - i would be giving notice when she picks up.

what a total bitch!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/03/2013 19:59

this totally takes the piss

its now 8pm, so hope she has picked up

but this would annoy me for many reasons

for not telling you dc was sick yesterday and not at school/needing picking up
for sending sick child and to you after 24hrs - but guess depends on your sickness policy

3)to assume you can work till 8pm

to switch phone off

if i knew where she worked, i would have been tempted to drop her child off there

i would charge a late fee of xxx per minute, whatever you have in contract

Original poster

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 19:44

Dc's are grown up and dh is at a table tennis match but i am still in recovery (broken shoulder, arm and ribs in january) so need as much rest as possible

Going to have words not happy

OP posts:

BoysAreLikeDogs · 19/03/2013 19:42

But it's not all well, is it?

the parents have brought an infectious child into your setting, your evening plans have had to be disrupted, your own DC/s are missing out on family time

clam · 19/03/2013 19:40

I am fuming on your behalf. Are you going to Have A Word if when she finally turns up? Or just whack it on their bill, all passive-aggressive like?

Original poster

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 19:40

Anyway alls well cause were cuddled in my bed watching room on a broom which i taped at christmas and havent watched yet

OP posts:

Original poster

wednesdaygirl · 19/03/2013 19:37

Dad works 2pm till 11pm and does not have his mobile

Their other child is at home alone he is 11 so feel sorry for him

Meant to phone ss and if i was worried and didnt know where parent were i would but i know she is teaching

OP posts:

BoysAreLikeDogs · 19/03/2013 19:37

So with that double whammy I would be getting rid straight away, no messing.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 19/03/2013 19:36

and and and

the child should not be with you today if she was sick on Monday, nor should she have been in school either

Flisspaps · 19/03/2013 19:36

I wouldn't charge double, she'd be charged my late collection fee which is £5 for every 15 minutes.

So that's £5 x 12 (3 hours of 4 15 minute slots) = £60

I'd also make it clear that if a similar situation arose then I would immediately terminate the contract.

mamij · 19/03/2013 19:26

That's a bit more than annoying.

Surely she should have left you dad's contact number? Make sure you get this off him, plus office/alternative numbers in case anything like this happens again (or in case of emergencies obviously).

DillyDallyDayDream · 19/03/2013 19:23

What is your policy on a child being collected late?

Lots of childminders I know have a set amount of lateness and attempts to contact parents before they contact social services

PacificDogwood · 19/03/2013 19:20

That is shocking! I am for you.

I had a childminder and now employ a nanny. Part of our negotiations with both was that we need a degree of flexibility and they were both aware and ok with it IYKWIM. The amount we pay/paid reflected this. The flipside of them being available when we needed them (with notice - not like you are describing) was, that they got a fair amount of time off when one of us was around to childcare which happened often, but not on a predictable basis. Everybody was/is happy. As far as I know... .

Yes, charge double. And add a copy of your T&C while you inform her that this will have to be the last time this happens, otherwise you will not be able to look after her child any longer. You are self-employed, aren't you?

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