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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Childminder situation

53 replies

CMissues · 28/05/2021 20:36

NC for privacy from other threads as could be outing
Looking for opinions on my situation. Im a childminder for 2 primary age children and do drop of and pick up from school. Start at 7.30/7.45 and finish anywhere from 6.15 to 7pm.

Here’s the thing, I’m being paid £8 an hour. I’m quite a shy person and when I took on the job as I thought minimum wage was only £8.20 I let it go when they said £8. But NMW is actually £8.91. On holidays too they pay me a day rate of £70 for 8am- 6.30pm.

I think I’m being mugged off here. They ask me regularly if I’m learning to drive yet as I walk the children to school but I’m only being paid £8 an hour. I live with parents currently after escaping DV and im barely affording to feed myself let alone learn to drive.

Do I say something or just cut loses and look for something else? I took this job as it’s part time and I need PT due to my MH but I feel very undervalued.

OP posts:
smallbusinessowner · 28/05/2021 20:38

Do you get £8 per child or £8 flat? Do you work for yourself or are you a nanny?

supernooodle · 28/05/2021 20:39

How old are you?
Are you qualified?

Lockdownlifting12344555 · 28/05/2021 20:42

Do you have them in your home or do you go to them? Are you actually a childminder or a nanny? For example childminders take on more than two children, in your own home. Here locally you pay around £3 an hour for a childminder. Nursery for a full day is only £44. If you are a nanny expect nanny rates.

SnarkyBag · 28/05/2021 20:42

Your post is confusing as childminders are generally self employed and set their own hourly rate. Are you working as a self employed person in your own home? If not it sounds more like you are employed.

LittleOwl153 · 28/05/2021 20:44

A childminder- self employed working in your own premises OR a nanny working g for the family exclusively in their premises? A childminder it is your business and you set the rates but could take on other kids to add to your money.

A nanny- Assuming you are 22yrs+ then they are illegally paying you under the minimum wage.
Where you depends on how dependant you are on the job and your relationship ship with the parents. I guess.
I'd say to them that it has been pointed out to you that the minimum wage is £8.91 per hour. And could they please raise your money to that and backdate to April as that's the law. If they say no then you have a choice to make. They may not be aware - give them a chance to sort but then check all your other details... employment contract, paid holidays etc!

pastabest · 28/05/2021 20:46

If you are a nanny over the age of 23 being paid £8 that's not right.

If you are a childminder being paid £8 an hour per child that's a very very good rate.

If you are a childminder looking after two children from the same family in your own home for £8 and hour for both then take on some more children to look after at the same time.

If you are a childminder looking after two children from the same family in their own home then you are actually a nanny and go back to my first point.

KitKat1985 · 28/05/2021 20:48

Is £8ph for both children? To be honest most childminders I know charge £3-4 per hour per child, and they may have 4-5 kids at a time so not a bad overall hourly rate. So your rates sound right to me?

nannynick · 28/05/2021 20:50

Registered Childminder - cares for children from one or more families at their [the childminders] home. If care exceeds 2 hours during 2am-6pm they must be registered by the childcare regulator (different regulators in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England).

Providing care at the child's home, you would be a nanny. That would usually be employment (unless very occasional work, such as evening babysitting) and thus NMW regulation would apply, plus rules about taxation such as the employer having a PAYE scheme (if only income a threshold applies).

So what role they/you call it and what the law would see it as may be different. This matters because there are different regulations that apply depending on the role.

It sounds like you are a nanny, so should be paid at least National Minimum Wage and many nannies would be paid more than that.

JackANackAnoreeee · 28/05/2021 20:51

As a childminder you'd be entitled to take on more children to increase your hourly wage (the family only pays £4 ish per child because they accept you won't only be caring for their children). If you're expected only to care for their children and they're only paying £8 ph that's unacceptably low and they're cheeky as hell for asking about your driving.

NerrSnerr · 28/05/2021 20:53

Where are you working from? Your house or theirs? Have you discussed fees with them?

Original poster
CMissues · 28/05/2021 20:53

Nanny then I suppose.
I’m qualified yes, have experience working from newborns to 11 years and have worked with children since I was 16. I’m 25.

It’s looking after 2 children in their home so I travel to them.

OP posts:
honeygirlz · 28/05/2021 20:54

Definitely ask for a ride, what are other CMs being paid? I’d be aiming fir £10ph minimum.

LagunaBubbles · 28/05/2021 20:54

Are you a registered childminder? Because if you are then you would know you are self employed and the minimum wage doesn't apply, because you set your own rates and look after more than 1 child?

oblada · 28/05/2021 20:55

By the sound of you are a nanny or babysitter, not a childminder. If it's a regular arrangement you're a nanny. If so you need to be paid at least the NMW for your age (how old are you?) And you need a contract of employment and for them to deal with the tax side of things.

MoiraRose4 · 28/05/2021 20:56

You’re not a childminder if you’re working in their home.

Original poster
CMissues · 28/05/2021 20:56

When we discussed wages I said I expected somewhere between 8-9 because I was unemployed as desperate for work after I lost mine due to COVID.
In the nicest way theyre well off with high responsibility medical jobs and I get the feeling my work which I take great pride in doesn’t feel worthy of decent pay to them. I feel the children also have an attitude of I’m just the help kind of thing. They’re very entitled and tell me I’m doing wrong all the time. I definitely don’t get paid enough for the attitude

OP posts:
JustPootlingAlong · 28/05/2021 20:57

"It’s looking after 2 children in their home so I travel to them."

If that's the case then I would say you are classed as a Nanny and therefore you are being under paid compared to other nannies if you are fully qualified to be one.

Notcontent · 28/05/2021 20:58

Agree that it sounds like you are not a childminder. A childminder is self employed - they look after children in the childminder’s home - e.g. 3 children from different families - and charge per child (say £6 per hour - but varies depending on area).

If you are working for a family in their home then you are a nanny. You are an employee and they need to pay you at least minimum wage, take tax out of it and give you a pay slip - just like any other employer.

RandomMess · 28/05/2021 20:58

Look for a proper live in nanny post!

It seems that after leaving an abusive relationship that would help with a fresh start?

gobbynorthernbird · 28/05/2021 20:58

Do your employers pay tax and NI for you?

Imafraidimnotmyself · 28/05/2021 20:59

Does it really matter if the OP is a nanny or childminder, surely £8 per hour is not acceptable in either circumstance?!
OP you definitely deserve at least NMW, and good luck to them finding someone else who would do it if you were to leave them.
If I were you I would be looking for other work with a employer who knows your worth, good luck!

Original poster
CMissues · 28/05/2021 21:02

It really gets me down when they ask about when I’m learning to drive as honestly i can barely afford to feed myself once I’ve deducted my travel costs from what I’m paid.

Sometimes they say things like ‘get them an ice cream on the way from school and we’ll reimburse you’. They assume I have the money to spend doing that in the first place.

OP posts:
DancingQueen85 · 28/05/2021 21:04

What are you doing whilst the children are at school? It sounds like your still being paid for that time, in which case I think £8 an hour is perfectly reasonable

SometimesMaybe · 28/05/2021 21:04

I have a similar arrangement (before and after school nanny 3 days per for primary aged children) but pay £12 per hour. She is self employed and works for two other families one day each per week. We are in a cheap part of the country.
I would say you are putting it up £10 per hour from next month.
Nannies are more expensive than Childminder’s because of the flexibility they offer. Ours is amazing and we couldn’t do our job without her. We need her more than she needs us. She would have another job within the week if she needed too.
If she is paying cash in hand (no judgment) you could register with an agency and then they could use childcare vouchers which would make it cheaper.
It sounds like you are doing an amazing job and are doing really well given you have given what you have been through. Take a bit of time, see what’s out there and what choices you have.

MzHz · 28/05/2021 21:04

Sweetheart, you’re being taken advantage of

Find another job, there will be plenty of others looking for someone as qualified as you