Childminder wwyd

[Wherehaveallthepeoplegone]

I am a childminder. I currently have 5 children in my care. 4 of the children have been pulled out for now, including one key workers (category 1) child because her dad is home and not a key worker so can care for her.
Yesterday morning, my second key workers (catagory 3) child was brought to me for the day as per. They have just finished 2 weeks isolation. At drop off, it because apparent that neither of the parents are actually working.
Now I have no idea what to do. Should I refuse to take their child? We havent seen anyone at all, and hardly been out for over a week. I feel like this is a bit of a piss take.

Are they not working permanently or do they just have a day off?

If you were to refuse them, what payment would you expect from them?

You can refuse to have them. Am also a childminder and we’ve been told to only accept children if the key worker parents have to work outside the home. If you’re not already on it please join the Independent Childminders page on FB which is very good for advice.

I'd be horrified at this.

We're supposed to be a last resort only: that's been made clear over and over again. If they're not actually working, they should be staying at home and not risking your health and everyone else's.

Have they given you a letter from their employers to confirm that they are key workers?

My childminder has made it clear that she can no longer have my children - I'm a key worker (nurse) but my husband is going to be working from home from next week so the kids can't go to her as there is someone at home.
These are the rules she has been told to follow. No one should be sending their kids to the childminder if they are not at work.

My understanding was children can only go to childminders or nursery if BOTH parents are key workers. Those are the rules the government has implemented. If 1 parent is a key worker and the other isn't they are not allowed to go so I would refuse.

Write to all of your parents and tell them that you are ONLY providing care for parents who are key workers who are UNABLE to look after their children due to work commitments.

How do you know this? I'd be stipulating your only available to care when BOTH are unavailable

My brother in law and his wife were sending their son to school last week. My BIL is technically a key worker but is working from home and SIL is am academic and "working on her thesis". The school have now refused to take him, which I think is fair. I think you can do the same
And I do understand how hard it is, DH and I are both key workers, but in the admin sense so we are working from home and the children are with us. It's really difficult getting our work done while keeping 2 primary aged kids entertained/home schooled but these are not normal times.

OP are they not working that day or not working at all?

You're only supposed to have the child if BOTH parents are at work. Only one needs to be a key worker but it's becoming more and more apparent that the non key worker shouldn't be going to work either therefore can look after their child. If one parent is working from home they're also expected to look after the child

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz this is the problem, I don't know. The child only comes 2 days a week and that was the first day back. I haven't asked them. Just presumed they were still having to work because the child was coming.

@MellowBird85, I had previously asked everyone if they could pay me half while they are all still being paid full (which they all are atm. I would probably ask the same if them. This particular family get government funding to pay me so it won't have an affect on their finances.

@RubyMonster thanks not sure if it would apply to me. I'm in Scotland. I knew we could onky take key workers children, we'll strongly advised tk onky take key workers children, but I assumed they would both be working.

@Tanith no, just going by what mum has told me. She qualifies as a key worker, but didn't mention anything about the dad. Obviously don't want to post what they do, but I can't see that he would be.

Thanks everyone. I'll send them a text today tell them that I can only keep taking the child if they are both classed as key workers, and BOTH working. If they don't pay me anything, they don't pay me anything 🤷‍♀️

Make sure you get those letters of proof, my lovely. Some people are trying to bend the rules.

I do have a concern that if they can't send the child to me, they will keep claiming money and then that will get flagged up at the end of the tax year. They already asked me, when they first started, if I could put in the contract that I was taking the child 4 days a week and even if I couldn't take her the extra days, they could use the money to pay friends to take them 🤦‍♀️

@Tanith I will, thanks. I wanted to help as much as I could for key workers, but I'm not willing to put my family at risk for people who just want a day to themselves.

They are CFs op.

My dB and Dsil sent both kids to school on Monday (both key-workers) but dB is now wfh and Dsil is on shifts! Couldn't understand why kids were refused!!

At my school parents are being asked to provide proof that they need space eg rotas /email from work with working pattern. If you know your mindees parents are home you should ask them to collect.

I think it would depend what sort of Keyworkers. Both Nurses/Doctors doing 12h+ shifts, I'd be ok, as they will genuinely need the rest.

Anything else - no way. They can watch the dc on their days off.

So you don't know that they aren't working? I'm confused, why would you assume they aren't working?

Usually dad does drop off alone because mum works during drop off times. He always wears work clothes. They both turned up at drop off yesterday in their normal clothes. As I said I haven't asked if they are both working, just presumed when mum text to make sure I could take the child back, that she would definitely be working, and so would dad. Doesn't look like either of them were working yesterday.

Sorry mum works during drop off and pick up times. She is home for some of the day.

She is home for some of the day all the time because of the way her shifts work, that should have said.

No mum is catagory 3 key worker, and works appropriately 5 hours a day.

You can only take key worker children of key worker is working or nobody at home to make safe for them to stay. Have attached the guidance from early years alliance.

I think this will work. Sorry.

Just message both to ask for copies of their rotas as you have been told by EYFS that you are only able to take key worker kids if both key workers are out at work.