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

Original poster

Childminder issue

33 replies

Kayte16 · 24/09/2020 17:15

Hi all, I’m posting for some advice really. We booked a place for my toddler at a childminder to start in January - we paid the deposit (approx £300 - half a month childcare) but since signing up have since found out I am pregnant again and we won’t be needing the place

We let her know with over 4.5 months notice that we wouldn’t need her any more - plenty of time to find another child to fill the space

She said she would struggle with this - whilst we know it was a lot of notice we appreciate this may be the case so said if she couldn’t find someone else then we would use half the month we’ve paid for so we get what we’d paid for - she said this wouldn’t be an option either

How can she take the money for place yet also not offer us the use of the paid place either - it’s £300 it appears she’s trying to take either way?

Any advise would be welcome, thanks x

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JellyNo15 · 25/09/2020 20:51

Non refundable deposit here too. Would you expect a nursery to refund it too?

Darkestseasonofall · 25/09/2020 18:54

It's a deposit, of course its non refundable. It no doubt sucks but you must have known that at the time.
Just write it off and move on. You may wish to use her in the future, and childminders definitely talk to eachother (understandably so). You don't want to be the Mam who changed her mind and caused merry hell.

Mippi · 25/09/2020 18:43

If it's a non-refundable deposit then she is probably right to keep it.

However, 4 months notice is a lot.

Original poster
Kayte16 · 25/09/2020 18:40

No we haven’t signed a contract yet and only paid about 2 weeks and have given 4 months notice!! I just think it’s ridiculous as there’s so much time to find someone else to fill the place

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GrendelsCat · 25/09/2020 08:03

I can't speak for childminders, but was in a similar situation with the nursery we'd signed up for and they were happy to refund the deposit in full as long as we gave notice, I think it was min 12 weeks notice. All the nurseries we looked at had a similar clause in their contracts and I know a couple of people who signed up with several nurseries knowing they could get the deposits refunded by giving notice in time. Did you have a contract at all?

Tanith · 25/09/2020 07:56

The deposit isn't payment for a childcare place, though many childminders will apply it to fees or refund it in some way if the place is taken.
It's insurance against the parent deciding not to use the place and also covers some of the work needed to prepare for the child starting.

Your own circumstances are unfortunate: you've been able to give a lot of notice that you no longer want the place, but she is within her rights to keep the deposit. Nurseries would certainly do the same.

Apple40 · 25/09/2020 00:36

Sorry you would lose your deposit with me too and I would not be offering care either to cover what you have paid you would have to pay for any care you wanted. My deposits are non refundable if you don’t take up the space or leave in first 12 weeks Parents sign to say they understand this, the deposit is refunded at end of care following 4 week notice period and no outstanding fees are owed. It also takes a long time to settle new children so they are happy and content, so I can understand the childminder not wanting to settle in your toddler knowing you are not staying and leaving anyway. Have you considered using her and send toddler while you are on maternity leave so you can have quality 1-1 with baby? The childminder would then be able to take on baby as well under continuity of care. It can be hard to find childminders with 2 spaces.

twitchit · 24/09/2020 21:29

I think your childminder is in the right....thats what a deposit is for....she has probably turned work down to save a place for your child.....plus what with all the uncertainty at the moment due to covid I think it’s unfair to ask for the deposit back!
If this was a holiday and you cancelled then you would lose your deposit. I don’t understand why you would send your child for half a month....just to use your deposit...that is just so unsettling for your child.