Childminders contract

[chilled7up]

Ds is due to start with a childminder in a few weeks. I was told that I need to sign a contract. What should I expect?

Do I have to be tied up to a certain amount of time? I hope to use her for the long term but what if my son doesn't thrive with her or if there's any issues that I'm not happy about?

Not a certain amount of time no but you will be required to give notice, usually 4 weeks and that will be on both sides so she can also finish with you if she doesn't feel as though it's working out.

Hope that helps :)

It does, Thank you. I guess I'm just feeling very anxious and panicky. It's the first time my Ds will be with a childminder and I feel that there were too many questions I should have asked before.

For example, I just saw her name on the childminders list from my LA and she says that she does school pick ups as well, and it lists 5 schools. Fair enough that they're not too far from each other as I'm in London, but will my son be dragged from school to school during the pick ups? He'll be with her all day? He has just turned 3 so he gets tired very easily.

I expect your son willbe taken on school pickup. She can hardly leave him at home after all. I'm sure he'll be fine though.

He'll love it too! All my little ones love going into big school and running around with the older ones. Also preps them ready for their own school start.

They are probably schools she is available for, not necessarily ones she collects from as they'll all be out at similar times.

But is it normal to do pick ups from so many schools?

She probably only picks up from 1 or 2 schools. Just ask. You may also have a settling in period, where no notice is required on either side. Your contract should also say if you pay for holidays or sickness.

It depends on how their finish times work with each other iykwim.

You know all these questions you should have asked before? Write the, down and ask them now, before you sign the contracts.

You can also ask to see a blank copy of the contract before you sign anything so that you know what it will entail.

You need to go into this with your eyes wide open. If you're not happy with the idea of your son having to go on school runs (round here it can be up to 4 a day) then perhaps a nursery is what you're looking for rather than a childminder.

Sorry cross post nicknacks. Thank you for all your replies, you've made me feel better

I'm just worrying too much, he's my only child so I have no experience. I'm just very nervous on how he'll settle as he's very attached to me.

I know I should iwish but it's something that didn't cross my mind at the time.

Do it now then, before you sign a formal and legally binding contract.

We've had a bad run with childminders over the past 3 1/2 years and I have now managed to chage jobs so that we no longer need one so I've become very used to asking lots of questions and reading contracts carefully before signing anything.

I'll do that. Thank you

I use an NCMA standard contract and have a 2 week settling in period during which time I can stop providing care or the parents can cancel the contract with no notice. After that 4 weeks notice is required.

I complete the contract with the parents and leave them with the duplicate pre signing so that they can go through it with a fine tooth comb. I then confirm the contract and collect signatures on the first settling in visit before the child comes to me. Seems to work ok. I also go to parents homes to complete contracts, data collection etc as although the rest of my business is all about the children, I don't feel that this is and I think everyone needs to be able to concentrate on what we are discussing. I cannot care for my DD and complete lengthy contracts without risking damage to her or the contract via crayons, stickers etc :)

Im a cm and pick up from 1 school. I really dont see how she can do more than 1 unless they come out at different times. The school run can take up to half an hour even though school is 1 minute drive as not all classes get out at same time exactly when bell rings. have to make sure got all bags jackets packed lunch boxes, also nightmare to get parked, huge traffic jam and takes ages to get turned so i try to go at least ten minutes early to get near school gates. I don't have any wee ones but would have to get them out of car seat into buggy or hold them in arms and how can she do that if collecting 3 others and checking all got all their stuff etc?

CMs have to write tons of policies, was like a 2nd dissertation. read them all. make sure you are happy. make sure is member of NCMA as they have helpline if you have any worries or not sure about contracts.

What does she intend to do with your DC while waiting in playground? make sure you know will not be left in car, even if sleeping. NO way on earth she can pick up from 5 schools. Likely she doesnt have any afterschools at the moment and these are the schools she COULD do if asked. But make sure YOU ask exactly what picking up procedure is.

Thank you for all your replies. You've been very helpful.

Mine used to love going up to the school to pick up / drop off "the big boys". . That said, I agree with others, I expect she has listed schools she could feasibly pick up from when the occasion arises - there's no way you could collect from more than 2 schools, and that would only be possible in unusual circumstances.

All excellent advice except I would say don't worry about whether she / he is a member of NCMA. This is essentially a voluntary union for CM's and they are very reluctant to give out any advice to parents. The advice line is for CM's as they pay for the service.
They also do CM liability insurance, so if CM is not a member, just check they are insured with an alternative company such as Morton Michel.

My local cms do drop off local infant, drop off juniors (same school, split site), drop off preschool. The the same pick ups in the pm. I felt that was too much for my lo