Grrrrrrrr

[wednesdaygirl]

Im a childminder
Child A is 7 she was off school yesterday with a sick bug but i didnt know this till i had stood in the playground for 20 mins waiting for her and eventually went into school to look for her

So i text mum at 2pm to see if child A is in school

I get a reply straight away to say yes but as dad was off yesterday she would pick child up at 8pm

I finish at 5!!!!!!

Texted back to say sorry cant do im busy but got no reply, child is still here and her phone is off

Probably a small compensation, but be sure to charge double time for the inconvenience, plus cost if child's tea.

What a cheek! Is she usually like this or is it out of character?

Do you have a laye charge?

She is not from england and her job is the most important job in the world

I will charge double but its not the point

I would be beyond livid about this. How DARE they? Charge double and tell them if they ever pull this stunt again you'll cancel their contract.

That's really shocking - poor kid with parents like that.
I think you are well within your rights to either stop working for them or write up a new contract specifying such astronomical fees for overtime that they won't dare do it again.

actually, do you have a policy for a non-collected child?

Mine says to call the duty social worker after a set amount of time and repeated attempts to contact the parents have failed.

Make sure you tell her this is unacceptable and that if she doesn't come and get her child you Will ring social services! To switch her phone off and not let you know what is happening is not on. By the way, does she say you for the week/month that you have already worked? You may want to change your policy on this as she sounds like she could be a nightmare. How long have you had child ? Had she done anything like this before?

Also what time will the poor child get to bed? I'd do it if no school or as a one off (late bedtime that is, not abandoning them) but it doesn't even sound like its an issue.

What bout the chikds dad

That is shocking! I am for you.

I had a childminder and now employ a nanny. Part of our negotiations with both was that we need a degree of flexibility and they were both aware and ok with it IYKWIM. The amount we pay/paid reflected this. The flipside of them being available when we needed them (with notice - not like you are describing) was, that they got a fair amount of time off when one of us was around to childcare which happened often, but not on a predictable basis. Everybody was/is happy. As far as I know... .

Yes, charge double. And add a copy of your T&C while you inform her that this will have to be the last time this happens, otherwise you will not be able to look after her child any longer. You are self-employed, aren't you?

What is your policy on a child being collected late?

Lots of childminders I know have a set amount of lateness and attempts to contact parents before they contact social services

That's a bit more than annoying.

Surely she should have left you dad's contact number? Make sure you get this off him, plus office/alternative numbers in case anything like this happens again (or in case of emergencies obviously).

I wouldn't charge double, she'd be charged my late collection fee which is £5 for every 15 minutes.

So that's £5 x 12 (3 hours of 4 15 minute slots) = £60

I'd also make it clear that if a similar situation arose then I would immediately terminate the contract.

and and and

the child should not be with you today if she was sick on Monday, nor should she have been in school either

So with that double whammy I would be getting rid straight away, no messing.

Dad works 2pm till 11pm and does not have his mobile

Their other child is at home alone he is 11 so feel sorry for him

Meant to phone ss and if i was worried and didnt know where parent were i would but i know she is teaching

Anyway alls well cause were cuddled in my bed watching room on a broom which i taped at christmas and havent watched yet

I am fuming on your behalf. Are you going to Have A Word if when she finally turns up? Or just whack it on their bill, all passive-aggressive like?

But it's not all well, is it?

the parents have brought an infectious child into your setting, your evening plans have had to be disrupted, your own DC/s are missing out on family time

Dc's are grown up and dh is at a table tennis match but i am still in recovery (broken shoulder, arm and ribs in january) so need as much rest as possible

Going to have words not happy

this totally takes the piss

its now 8pm, so hope she has picked up

but this would annoy me for many reasons

1. for not telling you dc was sick yesterday and not at school/needing picking up

2. for sending sick child and to you after 24hrs - but guess depends on your sickness policy

3)to assume you can work till 8pm

4. to switch phone off

if i knew where she worked, i would have been tempted to drop her child off there

i would charge a late fee of xxx per minute, whatever you have in contract

omg op - i would be giving notice when she picks up.

what a total bitch!!

Just

I would also charge £60 (£5/15mins late fee) plus read the riot act and explain the difference between asking whether you can do it as opposed to informing you & switching your phone off - cheeky mare!! I would also be tempted to write & notify her that if this happens again you terminate immediately.

BTW I have had a mindee until 8pm which is 2 hours after I close - because parents were suitably apologetic & with genuine reason (both stuck in London with trains down) and kept me updated with their eta & I was happy to do it. I did charge double time but not my late fee (£20/hr!)