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??

So childminders had had 20 years to adapt?

So she's had 20 years to adapt?! If it was rare until 2 weeks ago fair enough, but I don't think 'this didn't happen 20 years ago' is really a good enough excuse!

That seems very extreme of the childminder.

28 is batshit. In London, bar the odd day, it’s been over that pretty much non stop for a few weeks now with no sign of it relenting. If she was saying 33+ or something I’d get her point but come on, she’s just being lazy and no it’s not normal. Glad you have plans to leave but the summer sounds like it’s going to be tricky.

She's clearly not cut out to be a childminder. Plenty of others seem to be finding ways to manage. Damn cheek to expect to be paid but not offer the service. If I billed my clients for work I hadn't done because I was too hot they would hit the roof.

It seems you and at least one other family are reacting appropriately to her new policy and leaving. I agree, it's not a good policy, she should be able to manage safely caring for children in the heat.
When your child's time with her comes to an end, make sure you tell her why you're leaving.

So with the new scheme for 30 hours per week for children 9months for working parents, and mine is stretched year round. So I get 22 hours a week. But I am being charged for lunches (which are shite!) and for consumables, even though I provide nappies, sun cream, bum cream etc. the only thing I don’t is wipes, I’m charged £1 per hour.

I have zero doubt that even when closing she is still claiming those funded hours for the hours she’s closing for my child (you have no way of checking this). She gets £10+ph for my child due to age. I’m loosing way more than that in the hours I’m having to leave work. It’s making me so mad - but I have zero option than to plod along with it currently as I can’t get him into anywhere else until the start of September. I’m giving my notice at the start of August.

I’ve had to ask for reassurance from the new childminder so many times regarding this, as I’m so worried I’m going to move him, get him settled and face it again. But she’s confirmed that the only event in which she’d close early (not half a day early) is if the inside temp reached 36-38degrees despite her air con unit, fans etc. But she said she’s never had too.

The current minder is blaming everything - having 5 kids in one room with the heat. The kids getting agitated because of the heat. Her health issues being effected by the heat (which, I’m still non the wiser to what those issues are).
She even told me during the first heat wave that he wouldn’t be napping there as the room is too warm..

Shes made zero effort to rectify the issue. She’s instead just choosing to close, which I can only assume is because even if she does, she won’t loose any money (as she’ll still claim the funded hours). And keeps stating it’s with the children’s best interest at heart.

EVERYONE I’ve spoke to has said this is crazy. She’s got 20+ years in childcare too!

im at a loss to what to do really - bar grin and bear it until September! But we had a pretty great summer last year - and it looks likely to be the same this year, so it’s going to leave me in such a difficult situation work wise!

I should also add - she’s also saying if the temp is between 24-28 session may need to be cut short. 😖 madness.

I think you need to beg and plead on Facebook for a nursery or with next childminder if she knows anyone with spaces 😪 you'll be losing your job if this carries on. Will your childminder listen to any sense? Surely she understands she will be losing almost all her mindees
Could you report her to ofsted or other regulator about tye funding or no refunds when she's closed? Idk how it works.

She absolutely cannot force you to pay for consumables or lunches! See point A31
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2/early-education-and-childcare-valid-from-1-april-2026
Scroll down to charging, A31.
Glad you’re moving provider and hopefully the new one is giving you the voluntary option to pay for lunches/ consumables or provide your own. They legally have to offer this option! I handle the funding claims in our school nursery so know what she is doing is wrong! I even had to change the wording on my invoices for the extra hours parents have, I couldn’t use the wording ‘top up to a full school week’

I grew up in a country where it was routinely 28c or more for about 3 months of the summer. I can’t ever think of a time that school or childcare providers or holiday clubs would close because of the heat.

Thank you for that @Loulou4022 - I’ll be looking into that.

are you able to advise, if she’s choosing to close the place, is she still able to use the funded hours for those hours she’s closed, to affectively keep herself paid? While parents that are relying on her are loosing money! X

I’ve already done so, everywhere is full until September! Reputable Nursery’s and childminders anywhere! And I wouldn’t consider anywhere else.

Im so worried about my job, I’m in management aswell so it looks so bad. I’m going to have to have a discussion with my employer this week to explain the situation but let her know I’m doing my best to rectify it, but can’t until September when a space becomes available.
You can tell my current minder hasn’t got children herself - she clearly doesn’t understand the need to rely on a service so you yourself can work and earn!!

I absolutely will be. I’ve tried my best to bite my tounge with it all because I’m mindful of the fact she’s caring for my child when I’m not there.

Apparently the lounge is ‘too small for 4 kids to keep comfortable’ with said, 1 tiny fan in operation?!!
The sleep room is too hot for naps.
The playroom (conservatory with zero blinds etc) is far too hot.
The garden is too hot full stop…. It’s Excuse after excuse.

She is a cf. Don't pay her for the times she closes.

Re the funding through closing due to the heat it depends on your Local authority as to whether they will still give her the funding.
We stayed open during the heatwave but gave parents the option to collect at 1.15. In that case we didn’t offer a refund or to reuse the lost funded hours as it was parental choice to collect early, however if whole school is closed because of the snow I will credit the lost hours (both paid and funded) onto their next invoice.
As she is choosing to close it is my personal opinion that morally she should carry over both your funded and paid hours.

I’m a childminder and I would not close due to heat. We’re home based which means most of our homes are like yours. If we can’t keep the children cool how are they meant to be kept cool at home. It really annoys me when people close for no reason. I hope she’s not expecting you to pay while she’s closed. If she’s calming funding can you arrange for extra days during non term
time?

Tbh it sounds like she’s very inflexible. Round here she’d still end up full because of the shortage of childminders so it might be the same where you are.

Childminders have been a mixed bag here in the heat. DN’s closed on one day when there had been a power cut all night and she wouldn’t open without knowing she was going to be able to out the air con on. Another one closed for virtually a full week as she can’t stand the heat.

It’s a bit pathetic, not to mention wildly inconvenient for parents.
Does she shut up shop in winter because it’s too cold? 😄
I don’t blame you for finding an alternative provision.
YANBU.

It doesn't sound like your cm has the children's best interests at heart if she only has a small tower fan during the heatwave.

She's just in it for the easy money.
Childminding is bloody hard when its done right. Kids are tiring and exhausting and heat makes it worse.
But she has an obligation to the parents shes making a living from. It sounds like she couldn't care less.

If she hasn’t got the energy to be a childminder she needs to quit. Not scam people by taking their money and not providing a service. What would happen if a parent was a nurse or teacher and couldn’t leave work to pick their kid up because her ridiculous rule? If you owe any money after your last day I would deduct any money for days she’s been shut and tell her to take me to court.

What doesshe do in winter... close if its too cold in the conservatory?

What’s a CF? X

I’m thankful I’ll be out of there before i find that out!! Although, I really wouldn’t put it past her!