childminders who DON'T charge for your hols .... can I ask how much holiday you take?

FP - this is why I asked as I had a feeling she was breaking the contract agreement with lack of notice. You should never feel you can't say anything about these things. I've become very friendly with my mindee parents, in fact one mum atm is doing me meals etc. as I'm heavily pregnant and she's just lovely like that BUT....I'd never expect to get away with anything that's for sure. Even if I was desperate for a day off for something, if it wasn't within the 4 weeks notice period, I'd ASK but tell her I totally understood if it's too late notice!

I'd check the other bits on the contract and then have a word about it all as it's messing your work up. Being SE has nothing to do with it!

Good luck

FP - how much notice is she giving for these 'extra' days off?

my hols work out at 1 week at christmas, two weeks for summer holiadays and the odd days here and there for bank hols easter etc so about 4-5 weeks all told.

mine used to take 1 week in June, for the last 2 years she hasn't taken any (although I know last year it worked out that all of her mindees were away in the same week in the summer hols so she did have a week off and went away for a few days).

I take 30 days hols each year, 4 weeks hols and 5 training days

Not that I have ever than the 30 days I was finding when most training days run over 2 days here and not at weekends, only first aid over weekend in the new directory

i take 4 whole weeks and about 6 scattered days. I give the parents a list of hols for year at beginning of jan. They are all unpaid apart from the week at Christmas which is full pay. All the parents have got alternative care so as long as they have plenty of notice so I dont have to help them find other care.
I used to only take a couple of weeks but i take more now to spend more time with my own children.

i usually take six weeks. have just started full pay for 2 weeks at xmas, but only for new or additional children. i always had 6 weeks in my previous life (local government) and i always (apart for xmas) try to find clients cover.

I take 4 weeks per year but generally only use 2 of them as whole weeks and the other 2 as scattered days. I shut down between christmas and New Year usually 23rd Dec-2nd Jan depending on what days they fall on ie I wont open just for a Monday or a Friday.

I think she would have to review and redo the contract if she wants to change the amount of hols she takes. If you don't pay for her hols can you ask her if she can arrange cover with a CM friend?

My childminder took 4 weeks last year, but is taking 5 weeks this year. She told us in January that she would be taking the extra week, and also told us which weeks she would be taking for all of this year.

She prints the dates on every invoice which is great because I can't forget now!

I take four weeks hols a year, pre booked in the January unpaid.

I also usually end up with Bank Hols off unpaid too though but I do offer to work them for double fee.

I take between 4 & 5 weeks hols with 2 weeks paid & the rest unpaid. It varies because I take off the time between Xmas & NY, & it is therefore dependent on which days in the week they fall as to how long I have off. I have just had last week off,unpaid, will be having 2 weeks off in August ,paid at a lower rate, plus an extra unpaid day tacked onto it. The Xmas hols & a day in November unpaid. I would always check with parents to see if they need cover for my holidays & if they do try to arrange it with a childminder friend who has a vacancy for that period, who is known to the child & possibly the parent as well. That is the recommendation at present & from September we should be trying our utmost to arrange this under the EYFS.
I think she is taking the p**s & should help you find an alternative. I was off ill last year (with 2 weeks in hospital,& then 4 weeks recovery, fortunately 2 of those weeks were prebooked holiday) and my family still manged to find some alternative childminders from my contacts for those families who needed it & all the families were very good & supporting.

Definitely check it. If it's NCMA, she'd have had to hand write how much time and it would show whether paid or unpaid! Even down to detailing bank hols so it's all on there. Let us know once you've checked it and we will know whether she's breaking her contract or not!

it is meant to be 2 weeks but will be 4 this year. no easter hol this year, which i think is meant to be paid contractually but maybe we don't (?) dh asleep he does paying.

funnypeculiar - what does your contract say? That does seem a lot imo and to have extra days she can't do too......I've had times where I've needed to go to hospital for checks with this pregnancy on advice of midwife but I've made it when parents aren't affected as although I should put myself and baby first, I just feel terrible guilt for letting people down. I'd be interested to hear about the contract though!!

2 weeks unpaid, week between xmas and New Year and Bank Hols Half Pay.

I reserve the right to take 6 weeks of but generally only take 4.

Me 1 week and a few days over christmas usually.....

xx

Both childminders I have had in recent years haven't charged for my holidays or theirs (apart from bank holidays). I am now a teacher so I don't pay for school holidays.

Tends to vary enormously depending on the individual cm.