Childminder charges

[Livingmybestliferight]

Is it unfair for a CM to charge full fees from June (if they can open then) if parents don't want to send their children back straight away? Or should they just suck up the loss? Or something inbetween, say a 50% retainer?

WutheringTights why on earth would you pay from September- a period that under normal circumstances you wouldn’t have used her anyway?

Can your childminder not claim 80% via the self employment support scheme? It’s very noble of you to continue paying her, but she’s going to be getting paid twice! Does she also claim preschool funding for your child? As she’ll be entitled to continue being paid that by the council/gov too.
You really don’t need to continue paying her in September. You will need to serve your notice as you intended. She’s incredibly lucky that you are paying her while she’s closed!

Parents are anxious. I'd be offering to reduce fees to 50% that's what the childminders that my friends have have done for all their families.

I've been paying full throughout to keep my dc1 place 🙄

YANBU. If you’re open, you should be paid. It’s the parents choice whether or not to send their child but either way, they pay.

1 of the texts said I was pressuring them and didn't care that their child would be upset! I have ended their contract but still today I am having parents contact me who are asking for reduced fees. I'm trying my best to negotiate but financially its difficult!

OP I’d be inclined to write back “my utilities, mortgage/rent provider, supermarket are all pressuring me too...to pay!” Cheeky sods. Honestly when lock down happened everyone said childminders and nurseries couldn’t dare charge when closed, well now they will reopen- some people just want to have their cake don’t they?!

I have pulled my children out of nursery. Throughout this whole shambles, children under school age have been ignored and now we are being told that we can send children as young as 3 months old into nurseries but they cannot be tested if they manifest symptoms? With teething fevers and a cold I would be paying 2 grand a month for them only to attend 2 days a week due to how strict things will have to be and continue working around them if they are teething or get a sniffly nose. May as well just carry on as I am and not deal with the risk.

I would give them written notice if your intentions.

Dear parents

I intend to reopen on xx-date.

I need to know by yy-date whether you intend to send your child.

As per our contact, full fees will be payable for your agreed days/hours even if you choose not to send your child. I am happy to hold spaces open provided payment is made.

If payment is not made for contracted days/hours then I am unable to hold a space open for you child and four weeks notice will be given, payable at your usual rate (or whatever you own terms of notice are).

Yours, etc.

Then if they don't take up the space and don't pay either their fees or the notice period, make a claim via your insurance.