Is it unreasonable for me to expect my CM to give me her holiday dates in advance?

[parakeet]

She'll be taking several weeks paid holiday this year, as part of our contract. Yet I don't know the dates of ANY of them yet. I need to book my own holidays to coincide with them. I've asked and she just says she doesn't know yet. Who is being unreasonable?

I think as long as she gives you reasonable notice (ie several weeks, not just a week) then that's not unreasonable. She might not have decided when she'd like to be off.

I have four set weeks (unpaid) and inform parents at the start if the year, but that's because it works for me - not because I think that's the only reasonable way to do it

What does your contract say? It should state holiday notice time.

My contract for my parents says at least 2 months for annual holidays. They are not set holidays/around school holidays as some CMs are, which would probably suit you best, as they're more set.

My DD's childminder only used to give us a couple of month's notice. It wasn't ideal, but she was brilliant in all other respects. It did mean that I couldn't book my holidays to coincide, so had to arrange alternative childcare to cover. A pain, but for me that was the price I paid for using a (wonderful) CM rather than a nursery.

My contracts say 4 weeks notice but I do them about a year before.

I give my annual holiday dates to parents at the start of January each year. I take 4 weeks unpaid leave. While I know this is the best for parents, it is often not so good for me as if we find a cheap holiday somewhere we often cant go if it doesn't coincide with dates I gave parents.

I am also expecting to have surgery at some point in the next few months and I would have preferred to have take time off for this as leave rather than sick leave.

As long as she gives you the required notice as per your contract, I don't think she is being unreasonable.

My contract says I will give 4 weeks notice but with a note saying that I usually provide my dates at the start of the year (I actually provided this year's back in October). This note says that I have done this to help parents with their planning and that I may require extra days due to emergencies etc. and that I would try my best to give at least 4 week's notice for these (don't usually end up needing extra days but good to put in there).

Although it's helpful to have the dates earlier, your childminder is not being unreasonable (although as she's being paid for her holiday, it would be nice if she'd consider giving as much notice as possible!).

Thanks for the replies. As I like her in all other respects, looks like I'll just have to put up with it.
Cheers

Its not unreasonable to ask how much notice she will give you and also does she only take holidays in school holidays or does she take them during the school term it makes a big difference in planning around them.