Should i pay my childminder when our daughter cant go to her when her kids are sick?

[emmapi]

hi. advise gratefully received -
We've recently started up with a new childminder who we think is great and our child seems happy, which is a relief, after we werent happy with our last childminder. However, she contacted us this week to say that her child (who she looks after alongside ours) was really quite sick (fever, cough and flu) so did we still want our daughter to go to her this week. She didnt decide to close, she very clearly told us our daughter could still come, but at the high risk of getting sick! I asked if we'd still have to pay if we didn?t send our daughter and she said "yes", because in our contract, we've signed with her, we've agreed she will get sick pay (not sure what contract it is, its not NCMA, but all it says is she'll get sick pay, not for how long or that this applies to when her kids are sick). However, there's no mention in the contract we signed with her, that this sick pay covers her kids being sick. I have to take annual leave if I am off work because my child is sick. I suggested she did the same - take it as annual leave, and she didn?t want to. I suggested we swap the days I work this week so she can have my daughter later in the week when her son is hopefully better, but she said she would charge us an additional day for this. I don?t want to fall out with yet another childminder, but it does seem quite unreasonable, especially given that the National Childminding association advised me that childminders don?t normally get any sick pay at all! Never mind when there kids are sick! I also worry, that in our contract with her there's no mention of how much/how long her sick pay should cover?what if she's off sick (or her kids) for months and I have to use up all my annual leave and then take unpaid leave from work! That is probably me worrying too much, as she says she's never been sick before neither have her kids (I find that hard to believe, kids are always sick!), but she had glowing references from the other parents she works with so it must be true. Advise gratefully received! I really don?t want to fall out with our childminder as she's fab with our daughter, but at the same time, can I just ignore all this and just hope neither she nor her kids are sick again? What if I then am contractually obliged to pay her for months off sick!!

I have not shouted you down tothepoint, not at all. I have, in defence of all working PARENTS - myself included challenged your rather (in my view) out dated view.
Yes I feel strongly about it, which is why I believe VERY strongly in providing good quality childcare for any parent who chooses to use childcare.

Not all parents have a choice in 'bringing their children up' in the way you are inferring. As i state - there are many many reasons why parents have to use childcare and yes no matter how many hours they have to use childcare for - they the parents are still 'bringing their child up' as they have choosen the childcare, liase with the provider to ensure similar values and ideals, provide love, care, warmth, they are bringing in a wage so that they can provide clothing, food etc etc.

Of course I can handle myself, hence the reason I choose to challenge such an unfair, unjust, inflammatory and again in my view ignorant remark. I know very loving, very caring working parents who would be incensed and hurt by your - yes - pompous comments.

You have not answered any of my questions that I posed to you in my first response.
I wonder if you can.
I don't mean to pry but can I ask, however, are you in a very lucky position in that you do not have to go out and work, is your family comfortable enough that only 1 wage will suffice.

As a working parent who provides childcare - I am also not impressed by your sweeping and again strange comment at the 'mercy of providers'. Fair enough there are some less than desirable providers but there are many of us who care deeply in the quality of provision for families and children and do our utmost to ensure a fair service but at the same time trying to provide a living for ur own families.

Re the 'language' used - yes it strong but its not crude, crass, foul - its articulately descriptive, its my view. Its your choice not to use phraseology and wording like that but because you don't then I shouldn't?

yes what pippin said

Well said pippin.

I guess people with that poster's point of view think that only the rich or those who can afford not to work should have children. Lovely view from up there on your pedestal?

Respect to strix she is a master of the situation.

Well said pippin

tothepoint88,

You messages are not merely a point of view. They are downright rude and inexcusable offensive. I think you should spend less time on the internet whilst you are "looking after" your children.

At least my paid childcare is in fact looking after mine whist I type on the computer.

To emmapi, I am sorry for making this point on your thread. I have no comment to make about your situation.

I think the question is would the CM be willing to take your children (or other mindeeds) if they were similarly ill? If so, then she can classify herself as being available. However, if your child had a similar illness and she would refuse to accept them then she should not be 'available' and the day should come off her sick leave allowance.

So have a careful read of what illnesses your children would be excluded for.