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Original poster

Childminder not doing school holidays anymore. Can't find anyone else for my 9 Y/O stressed

31 replies

Alicew00 · 27/08/2024 15:28

My child is a sensible 9 year old. I have no one to look after her apart my partner who works nights and her childminder who has just decided to stop doing school holidays as her husband works from home now and needs quiet. I start work at 8am and need to leave at 7:30am. My partner wouldn't get home til 8/8:30am. I'm just so fed up now. We're pushed and pushed to work and I struggle. I've tried finding other childcare but there isn't anyone available.Stressed/feel like crying.

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stichguru · 29/08/2024 08:42

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 18:52

DD had similar situation a couple of years back. I was able to care for dgc but obviously a big commitment for me.
I just don’t think it’s fair for childminders to just reduce their service like this. DD’s CM was a bit miffed that I took on all the care and she lost a dc.
As pp said, you could probably leave your dc for 30 minutes but I’d not want to pay the cm during term time after changing her terms.
Also, what happens if your DH is delayed significantly or, heaven forbid, has an accident en route home?
Sorry I’ve no answers.

It's not fair for the childminder to be miffed at parents for removing their child if the childminder changes the service they are providing. It is totally fair for the childminder to chose to work different hours. Anyone is free to work different hours. They might find that some parents walked, but they would pick up others. They are not providing a statutory service, they are providing a service they have decided to provide, and it's fine for them to provide it whenever they want. After all, anyone can leave a job and look for another that better suits them. This is no different.

lavenderlou · 28/08/2024 22:08

Do you have any Barracudas camps in your area? I think they have early start clubs.

qualifiedazure · 28/08/2024 22:07

I'd leave a sensible 9 year old home alone for 30-60 minutes during the holidays.

jannier · 28/08/2024 21:56

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 19:25

@BuffaloCauliflower @jannier
i don’t think it’s fair when CM changes their hours knowing full well the person paying them cannot just make a significant change to their working hours.
As I said, I’d not be paying her in term time if that was the case.
CM’s are an integral part of the working community and, yes, they can change their hours but need to accept that they might lose work if they cannot continue to provide the agreed service.

Of course the cm is aware that by reducing or changing hours the client might leave. If they choose to it's not an issue others take spaces.

kitchenhelprequired · 27/08/2024 19:37

During the holidays you could see if there's a local student willing to come to the house for whatever hours you need. Possibly someone studying childcare.

TomatoSandwiches · 27/08/2024 19:28

There is a huge market for unsociable hours childcare, someone could make a good living from it as there is very little mass scale competition.

Undercoverdetective · 27/08/2024 19:27

You might find that you could get a nanny or night nanny to cover on their way to or from their main job.

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 19:25

@BuffaloCauliflower @jannier
i don’t think it’s fair when CM changes their hours knowing full well the person paying them cannot just make a significant change to their working hours.
As I said, I’d not be paying her in term time if that was the case.
CM’s are an integral part of the working community and, yes, they can change their hours but need to accept that they might lose work if they cannot continue to provide the agreed service.

BuffaloCauliflower · 27/08/2024 19:19

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 18:52

DD had similar situation a couple of years back. I was able to care for dgc but obviously a big commitment for me.
I just don’t think it’s fair for childminders to just reduce their service like this. DD’s CM was a bit miffed that I took on all the care and she lost a dc.
As pp said, you could probably leave your dc for 30 minutes but I’d not want to pay the cm during term time after changing her terms.
Also, what happens if your DH is delayed significantly or, heaven forbid, has an accident en route home?
Sorry I’ve no answers.

You don’t think self employed people should have a choice about the hours they work?

CabbagesAndCeilingWax · 27/08/2024 19:16

I would leave her home alone for half an hour if she's OK with that, then her dad could drop her at holiday club for 9 and come home and sleep.

Childminder's probably getting a bit boring for a 9yo anyway?

ElTortilla · 27/08/2024 19:14

Could your DH take her to a holiday club when he gets home? Any flexibility for you to start work a bit later so you can drop her to a club en route to work?

jannier · 27/08/2024 19:11

Op if you get on with the cm could you ask if she is able to do an hour in the morning and your oh collect on his way home?

jannier · 27/08/2024 19:09

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 18:52

DD had similar situation a couple of years back. I was able to care for dgc but obviously a big commitment for me.
I just don’t think it’s fair for childminders to just reduce their service like this. DD’s CM was a bit miffed that I took on all the care and she lost a dc.
As pp said, you could probably leave your dc for 30 minutes but I’d not want to pay the cm during term time after changing her terms.
Also, what happens if your DH is delayed significantly or, heaven forbid, has an accident en route home?
Sorry I’ve no answers.

It's she's saying now the next school holiday is around 10 weeks time for England.....how much notice does the average worker give 4 isn't it?

Mishmashs · 27/08/2024 18:55

Is the issue your husband works nights and so needs to sleep during the day? I imagine that would be very boring for a 9 year old to be more or less on their own the whole day. If that is the case can he take her to a holiday club, there should be options - drama/sports?

caramac04 · 27/08/2024 18:52

DD had similar situation a couple of years back. I was able to care for dgc but obviously a big commitment for me.
I just don’t think it’s fair for childminders to just reduce their service like this. DD’s CM was a bit miffed that I took on all the care and she lost a dc.
As pp said, you could probably leave your dc for 30 minutes but I’d not want to pay the cm during term time after changing her terms.
Also, what happens if your DH is delayed significantly or, heaven forbid, has an accident en route home?
Sorry I’ve no answers.

Shinyandnew1 · 27/08/2024 18:45

Is the problem the school holidays going forwards or from 7.30-8.30 every day whether it’s term time or holiday time?

ohsotired2022 · 27/08/2024 18:42

I would leave my 9 year old home for 30 mins on their own at this time. Chances are they would still be sleeping.
If really not happy then I would ask your work if you could go in later over the holidays ?

arethereanyleftatall · 27/08/2024 18:37

I don't really get this - it's only half an hour or so and she's 9. Why can't she just stay at home?

stichguru · 27/08/2024 18:35

Have you got someone local who would be in? I mean it's half an hour, I'd leave her alone if there is a neighbour who she could contact if something went wrong.

AutumnalNights · 27/08/2024 18:30

What area are you in OP? If near London PM me as I might know someone.
What about koru kids or bubble app ?

eggandchip · 27/08/2024 15:56

The point of having kids is caring for them.
Im sure she will be fine for 30 mins if her dads home at 8 and you leave at 7.30.
A childminder can have her own time.

redroot81 · 27/08/2024 15:36

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redroot81 · 27/08/2024 15:35

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PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 27/08/2024 15:34

So you leave at 7.30am and your partner is home by 8am? I would be leaving them at home by themselves for 30 mins at the age of 9.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 27/08/2024 15:34

Clubs, annual leave and parental leave.

Realistically you are looking at 2-3 years. Once your DD is at secondary school, she won't need as much childcare.