Does this sound usual?

[Rosebud05]

Sorry about starting a new thread on this one, but have specific questions.

My dd starts school in Sept and I need after school 2 nights a week. No after school club so e-mailed all local child minders. One got back to me straight away, said she had vacancies for the times I wanted, we met, liked each other, made informal agreement to go ahead with arrangement. I e-mailed that evening to confirm that I would like arrangement to go ahead and with a few questions.

This was over a week ago and she hasn't responded to that e-mail or the two telephone messages I left. I spoke to her daughter last week who said that she'd received the message and would ask her to get back to me. I've sent another e-mail and left another message today.

Does this sound a bit odd? She seemed very keen on the arrangement when we were there. In my last e-mail, I've just asked her to contact me as I need to know whether this arrangement will be going ahead.

To put it in context, the school has no after school club, I've drawn a blank with other child minders in the area and can't see any other options at the moment. What on earth do people do in these circumstances?

not everyone cheks email every day.. i dont.. usually twice a week.. telephone messages on the other hand are a bit difficult to ignore and she should have got back to you.. maybe a personal issue has arisen... could you knock on her door or push a note through the letterbox???

yes I agree a personal issue might have intruded, because not responding to phone calls is a bit unprofessional really

I hope you can get care sorted easily

Good luck

Yes, I wondered about a personal issue and can sympathise but also agree that not responding even if it is with a 'will get back to you soon' is unprofessional.

I sort of feel that I can't knock on her door or put a note through her letter box - it's too intrusive. She responded to my first e-mail very quickly and called me the morning we went round to confirm the arrangement so it feels like if she's not contacting me it's because she doesn't want to iyswim.

I think it's the lack of options ie none and that my dd isn't a take everything in her stride sort of kid that're making me feel so stressed.

understand its bloody embaressing for you but also best to know where you stand.. i would definatly door step all friendly of course.. if its not a personal issue then she is rude as well as unprofessional and you might have to reconsider... mine field out there...

if you don't mine me asking, would you start charging parents now for an after school place for Sept as you were 'holding' that place if you had no mindees at the moment as you're doing a course in the mornings until June? Would this be the full rate?

I did wonder what holding fee would be applicable (if I can actually find someone that is).

TIA

i would get u to sign a contract and then take the first months money as a deposit to hold against the place.. if you didnt take up the place then i would keep it and if you did then its the first month paid.. if i changed mind then i would give it you back.. all written and signed in the contract so no quibbles..

I wouldn't expect a retainer for an after school place (though I would for an all day place). I'd take a deposit like thebody, but I hold my deposits until the end of the contract then refund them. Everyone has their own way of doing things!