Childminder closing due to heat..

[doneitagain12]

Hello!

I live in the south west, our summers for the last couple of years have definitely warmed up compared to say 10 years ago.

I returned to work 3 days a week - DS is with a childminder on 2 of those days, family the 3rd day.
Since the warm weather arriving, I’ve had to leave work early to pick up DS from the childminder on these two days, she’s now introduced a Heat Policy and is now saying if it gets to 28 it’ll be half day pick ups (12.30pm latest)
We haven’t got family nearby who are on hand to collect him for us while we’re at work, as those that are, are also working. so it’s meaning having to keep leaving work early. My husband works a fair distance away, so it’s usually me collecting/leaving early. And I don’t work in a job where I can leave without causing quite big disruption to other colleagues and work.

The childminder has no air con in place, her garden shelter is basically sheets she’s thrown over a wood pagola, and has one tower fan which does nothing and keeps the kids mostly in the play room which is a conservatory.
she’s also claiming she has health issues and the heat affect these…

before anyone suggests it - we are leaving. There have been some other issues that have factored into this decision but, given our summers are hotter now and we actually get longer than a week of sunshine! It just isn’t sustainable.
But I haven’t been able to get him into his new placement until September as of course most reputable places are now full until then.

But is this normal??

The problem for any early years providers in the heat comes with the sleep side of things. Rightly regulations have been tightened up and if a room is over 28 it’s not safe to sleep there. Settings rightly have to adhere to this and ensure that the children are safe.

No not normal. 28 isn’t particularly high, but it doesn’t sound like her setting is set up for hot weather. Conservatories and no proper garden shade won’t be adequate. She will have to adapt or will find others leaving or not going with her. My DC is at a nursery that has air conditioning and lovely shady areas in the garden. They didn’t need to close even when it got to over 35 last week.

28 degrees? That's insane to close like that.

Yes but settings need to adapt rooms so that they aren’t getting to 28. Installing air conditioning for example. Also setting the garden up for summer so that there’s good shade, and not having the setting in a conservatory.

There have been a few threads on this and yes while it’s not ideal it’s pretty common.

Reality is that childminders are working from their homes, and a lot of homes aren’t set up to keep young kids safe in hot temperatures.

Most of us just muddle through and do our best, but for example when it got to 37 here (im also south west) that meant putting my kids in a lukewarm bath, keeping them in the coolest room rather than normal playroom, providing constant water breaks, salty and sweet snacks etc.

It was practical for me with my two kids in their own home. If she doesn’t think she can keep them cool enough in the play areas (and the rest of the house may not be childproof) then I think it’s reasonable.

Agree that this is a big issue child-minders need to start planning for though!

She's lazy and cba to buy stuff? Sounds like you will have this whole week of half days then. It's 30c everyday here in Dorset.

All she needs to do is buy a small aircon unit from Lidl or even just having parasols in the garden and lots of water play. Crazy

28c is ridiculous to close at! I would be asking why she’s not bothered to buy more fans etc

They do but that is easier said than done and can’t be achieved overnight!

Her set up doesn't really sound fit for purpose and I feel that if she actually wants to keep business, then she needs to make changes

She sounds a bit rubbish and unreliable.

Then she shouldn't be trying to run a business and have paying customers if she can't meet there needs reliably.

She should have forseen such issues, summer happens every year and 28 degrees isn't that unusual temperature, surely?

28 is normal summer weather, over 34 fair enough

Unfortunately she has a garden lacking shade and relies on a conservatory which is likely to overheat. It would be expensive to make adjustments to keep the children in a space below 28C. Don't suppose she makes much money so it's tricky for her.

Until about 20 years ago it was rare in many parts of the UK.

I suspect most parents will be moving their children, as the policy is ridiculous.

I also wonder if she means the outdoor or indoor temperature. As a conservatory can be significantly warmer than the actual temperature. If she's refusing to make any changes, she could end closing early for most of the summer.

She’ll lose many customers. Parents need reliable childcare and it’s her job to provide this. If that means making adjustments and modifications to her setting then so be it. I also don’t think 28 is that hot. The other week my classroom got to 33, yes it was hot, but we coped.

I’m assuming she has weighed up the costs of adapting (buying and running air con units etc) vs the costs of potentially losing some customers and has decided to go with the latter.

Margins are pretty tight for most childcare settings and it’s not as simple as “she should have planned and bought stuff in”. It’s hard work keeping kids happy in a hot house and she may just not have the energy to do it.

And it’s not easy to just pop out and buy an aircon unit right now, everywhere is sold out.

I'd ask for a refund for those days as you didn't originally agree to this in your contract.

So the days I had to collect him early the week we had the first heatwave, I got billed for. That week we reached 31 max.
I questioned it, she gave me £5 refund. (Most my childcare is funded under the new funded hours scheme for working parents). But I have to pay a £1 per hour top up, plus lunches. What bothers me - is I know she’ll still be claiming that funding despite closing early. Where as I’m losing money left right and centre! Also, credibility in my workplace as I’m also becoming unreliable, after just having a year off maternity… it doesn’t look great!

I agree, I don’t think 28 is particularly hot - not now anyway! If it was 35+ like London etc, I’d get it. But to see she’s put zero precautions in place despite one basically useless tower fan - has bothered me.

Also, being a childminder, I figured she had the option to take the kids out - to a soft play with air con?? Woods?? Etc etc. I very much get the impression it isn’t really about the kids - but rather herself.

I know of one other mum who I’m friendly with who has also just given notice. Because she can’t handle the unreliability of it all.

I've recently had my house inspected by the council for my dog sitting licence and the conservatory can't be counted as a room!

The childminder needs to invest in a portable air con unit. Buy more shade for the garden and external blinds for the conservatory.

I'm a childminder and haven't closed at all. Although I did cancel the school runs!
Inside play ( garden way too hot!), my conservatory is a playroom, however it's too hot to play in so we've taken toys and fans into the lounge and drawn the curtains.

I’m not a childminder but I do work in a similar field and I am self employed. I bought a portable air con unit earlier this year as I can’t afford to cancel sessions.

But that’s because I don’t charge for sessions that I cancel. I wouldn’t pay a cleaner, hairdresser, builder etc who cancels on me. Your CM provides a services for which she charges. If she chooses to not provide the service, she shouldn’t charge.

The air con unit I bought paid for itself in 3 days by me not losing chargeable sessions.

I get it that she may not be able to buy an air con unit right now. But she could absolutely look at ways to ensure that she provides a more appropriate environment. She cba.

If you’re in England you definitely shouldn’t be paying £1 per hour top up, that’s not allowed under the guidance!!!! The funded hours are funded (not enough but that’s by the by) she can charge for hours over but not the actual funded hours! So say you get 15 hours funded and you have 17 hours she can only charge you her hourly rate for 2 hours she absolutely cannot charge you a top up on the 15 hours! You should also have the option to send in a packed lunch she cannot insist that you pay for lunches, or sun cream or nappies!!
There has been a big campaign with settings that we have to offer just the funded hours if that’s what parents want and cannot force extra payments!!

Childminding is a business, with regulations. If you run a business, you have to follow the regulations for that business, practical, financial etc.

In order to maintain and improve your business, you have to keep up to date with everything and that includes adapting to the current situation. That might mean some expenditure to provide long term gain. In this instance it’s the provision of equipment that will mitigate the temperature. If you don’t do that, your customers will vote with their feet, which is what they are doing.

Childminding requires energy. If you don’t have the energy, it’s probably not the right business.