Childminder Advice

[Alicat1980]

Our DS has been going to his current childminder for over 18 months now and all through that time, with the exception of when she was closed during lockdown, she will close with very short notice (sometimes less than an hour) due to sickness of herself or one of her own children.

However, she has had a cabin built in her garden for her work and her children are old enough to be left in the house without her constant supervision.

This has always bothered myself and my OH but she has cancelled this evening for care tomorrow as she said her eldest is sick and this feels odd to us as she was closed on Monday for the bank holiday, she had a days leave on Tuesday and she is always closed on a Wednesday and we feel that because its half term and the weather is so nice, she just wants some extra days off.

If she wanted the time off that wouldn't bother us at all and at least we could make other arrangements but something about this doesn't seem right. She has even disappeared from social media tonight and she is usually pretty active!

Has anyone else had anything like this and howndid you handle it? We just feel like we should start looking for alternative arrangements which would be such a shame as he has made some lovely friend but we can't keep paying for a service that we're not receiving.....

Surely if she closes you don’t pay?? When my CM’s kid had covid symptoms and she had to close for a week we got a refund.

I couldn’t cope with unreliable childcare on a regular basis. Illness sometimes is understandable and unavoidable but if it’s a regular thing I’d look elsewhere.

Surely you aren't going to pay her??

Her contract states that fees are still due even for closure due to illness and we pay in advance so she has already received payment.

@Alicat1980

Her contract states that fees are still due even for closure due to illness and we pay in advance so she has already received payment.

She shouldn't be charging if she closes, because she isn't offering the service. If she is open and offering the service and for whatever reason your child doesn't go in, then she can charge. I'd recheck the contract, and also check pacey.

I agree you shouldn't be paying whilst she's closed but you've signed that contract so difficult to change it now.

Children do get ill, typically at really inconvenient times! Her being absent from social media surely corroborates the view that she's busy dealing with a sick child.

Sickness is often last minute so she really wouldn't have much choice on notice. I have had to message parents at 11pm to say I'm closed the following day when I've literally just thrown up out of the blue.
How old are her children ? Depending on the illness it may be necessary to fully close. I too have older children but also a 7yr old who if sick all she wants is peace and quiet and cuddles with her mum. It's very rare that I have to close however when I do fees are reduced off of the next months invoice.
Even if you chose to find a new childminder if she's a lone worker with no back up you will still have periods of illness at short notice.

Not sure what contract she is using but it is likely to be a "frustrated" one. However, I would find a new child minder on this basis as any childminder that is going to be laid every time they close isn't going to make huge efforts I'm afraid.

When I used one there was no payment if the CM was closed for whatever reason. I know some people pay for the CM holidays but most I know don't...and the child minders all make the effort to be on holiday during school holidays so the parents can chose to coincide their breaks

Personally I would find alternative childcare. You need consistency when working not someone flakey who cancels at the last minute all the time.

We’ve had our childminder for 9 years now and I can count on one hand how many times she’s cancelled on us. She is very reliable. There are childminders out there who take their job seriously. Maybe have a look around.

If her kids genuinely are ill, she will legally have to close depending on what it is. She can't refuse kids she cares for with D&V for 48 hours but let her own kids who have it stay there.

That being said, if it is a regular problem, it doesn't sound like she is very reliable and I would look elsewhere. I only used one CM who looked after their own child as well. My kids were only there five weeks and the whole thing was not a positive experience. I must admit, it put me off.

We've been with our CM three years, in that time she has only ever closed for notified in advance holidays (she always has the same weeks every year) and when a relative died. She knows her parents rely on her to work and it's in her financial interests to keep us on side.