childminder contracts

[brambles]

hi all

can you tell me if the parents are supposed to sign the contracts please

thank you

yes they are

my childminder has had my boys for 3.5 years and has not given me a contract when i asked her today she said we had filled one out but we have not see or signed for one i assumed we didnt have to sign it as parents

You do need to sign one and have a copy of it as well.

is there any reason why she wont let me see it

The only reason I can think of is that she's in breach of her contract?

sorry what do you mean

Would there be anything that you asked to be put into the contract that she's not doing? Increasing holidays? etc.

Or perhaps she's lost it? Have your hours changed in thee time your chilren have been with her? Ifso, you can and should request that another contract is drawn up.

Have you seen certificates? Do you know that she is actually a registered childminder not just a childminder?

Alot of minders do an annual review after the initial say 3 or 6 months contract.

Contracts should be signed by childminder and by parents, 1 copy should be given to parents, 1 copy kept with childs confidential records and there is another copy which I keep in a separate locked file.
If you and the childminder haven't signed the contract then she or you do not have a leg to stand on if for example she turned round to you today and said 'sorry wont be able to look after your child after today you will have to find someone else' or if you disagree over payments/holidays etc.
Contracts should also be reviewed at regular intervals (mine are done yearly) or if you change your hours etc.
I was under the impression that ofsted took a dim view of minders who do not have contracts with parents.

Have you asked to see it and she's said no? I would have thought she'd have to let you see a copy if you ask? My dh is trying to take former employer to court and has recently asked for a copy of the personnel file to be sent home - they HAVE to do this by law if he asks! Maybe this is different but I don't see why.

NCMA advise that a new contract is done every year plus if any material fact (ie hours/pay/holidays etc) is changed

Just ask for a copy

You cannot have a "contract" unless 2 parties have agreed to it

Does she have a contract with the children's father? Rather than with you?

Message withdrawn

thank you for you replies.
my 1st son has been there for 3 .5 yrs i remember having a contract vaguely my other son has been there for 1 yr and we didnt sign a contract she keeps saying i have both of them for my boys there is no way i have them i signed nothing for my 2nd son husband has nothing either
she was a bit red faced when i asked her for it she said she is fed up of me asking as she has given them to me which is not true, i said today give me the originals and i will pop down and photo copy them she got a bit aggreesive and said no she will have to write new one out and frame them for me

Sounds dodgy. Check she's registered.

she comes up on ofsteds list does that still mean she is registered

Message withdrawn

hi sorry not the ofsted list the childcare link list i don not have here reg number. no we dont sign anything

A contract isn't valid if you haven't signed one.

Even if you have possibly forgotten that you had a copies of the contracts, there is no reason for childminder to be so off about it!! She can show you her copies of them - except that it really sounds to me as if the contracts don't exist in the first place. All she needs to do is to write a new one anyway, it's not exactly rocket science.

If she is on Childcarelink site, then she is registered.

Message withdrawn

if we havent got a contract does that mean my boys are not insured i am guessing she is not declaring them

i pay cash weekly

Message withdrawn

god another thing to battle with her about (insurance)its one thing after another she knows i need her, there is noone else around here so she does as she pleases