A mother's query about childminder holiday entitlement

Oh, and you are preaching to the choir if you want to talk about working long hours.

"Parents should be made aware that as childminders who work very long days (longer than teachers and the average parent's, even including commuting time) and have to do the same paperwork as said teachers for under 5s on wkends and after hours, plus training on wkends and after hours, plus MANY are studying for level 3s etc. too as needed... that NCMA are actively encouraging childminders to ask for FULL paid leave, for the child's benefit too, not just the CM's. It's not an entitlement, but is much encouraged. "

That is nothing to do with the parents. If you want to be paid for those efforst you should take that up with the bozos who passed the legislation requireing all this malarchy.

It does irritate me when childminders (or any other profession) go around telling unsuspecting new parents that they are "entitled" to this and "entitled" to that... ESPECIALLY when it is not true. Whatever the NCMA requires or suggests you do is between you and them. It does not obligate that parent.

You are a small business and not en employee. If you want to be an employee, you might consider taking up nannying.

I realise my message here is fairly harshly stated, but I believe this tone is appropriate when people are preaching the entitlement culture (wrongly) to unsuspecting parents.

'entitled my arse... ' Not very nice attitude... this was merely a question by a parent. A valid one at that.

Parents should be made aware that as childminders who work very long days (longer than teachers and the average parent's, even including commuting time) and have to do the same paperwork as said teachers for under 5s on wkends and after hours, plus training on wkends and after hours, plus MANY are studying for level 3s etc. too as needed... that NCMA are actively encouraging childminders to ask for FULL paid leave, for the child's benefit too, not just the CM's. It's not an entitlement, but is much encouraged.

As many CMs (myself included) do not get paid when we take our holiday, I don't see 2 or even 4 days paid leave a year... given the many hours loving care the CM gives one's child every year, a huge deal. It certainly doesn't justify condescending remarks.

But it boils down to your contract, as mentioned... if you have signed your contract that means you are happy with what it states. If you need reviewing of it (if you aren't happy), it's best to chat with your CM... so it doesn't become an issue.

If she were a nanny and your employee then she would be entitled to holiday pay.

However childminders are self-employed so unless it has been specified in your contract and you have signed to agree to those conditions then she is not entitled to anything.

The part about being entitled to it is hogwash. However, if she wrote in the contract and you signed it then I guess she is now entitled to it.

entitled my arse...

You need to read what is in your contract. My minded children and I can take as much holiday as we like, but the agreement is that their parents pay me when I am available (I was NOT available Christmas Day). As I said ... it should all be in your contract.

All cms have their own terms and conditions, some charge full pay, some charge half and some don't charge at all.

I don't charge for my own holidays and take 4weeks every year. I tell parents in January when I'm taking them so they have plenty of time to arrange alternative childare if they need it. If a child's contracted day falls on a bank holiday then I still charge the full fee for that day.

It is the same as any contract, you pay what you agree to pay. I don't think there is a legal entitlement to pay, but if you signed the contract, you pay it.

You're lucky really, my CM took 4 weeks a year which for us worked out as 4 days a year, as we also used her services for 1 day a week.