What to do re: strike day - CM usu collects DS

[MyOtherNameIsBetter]

On Weds the school is closed. CM usually picks up DS and has him 3.30 - 6pm. I think I will be taking the day off work to look after DS and obviously he won't need picking up from school.

Should I still pay her for the 3.30-6pm anyway? Just wondering what protocol is when a "3rd party" cancels the need for childcare - she is lovely and I want to be fair.

Still pay, it's not her fault that the school is closed and you could still send your dc to her at those times if you wanted to do
Some errands

Yes still pay unless she decides to fill all her places with other children need who need care and offers not to charge you but it's upto the childminder, if it was snowing and school was closed you would still have to pay unless she decided she was closing. Speak to the childminder and see what she wants to do as we all do things differently, I'm still charging my parents (they've already paid as all pay in advance) and some aren't coming.

Drop him off there at 3.30 and crack on with your xmas shopping /go for a coffee

It will be in your contract. You can't just decide not to pay her. Im sure she would be mire than happy to take him all day so you don't need to take day off (obviously you will need to pay for that)

Thanks all, of course I will pay and yes perhaps drop him round there anyway and take the chance to do some xmas shopping for him!