Should i give notice in person or by letter?

[claddersfamily]

Hello
I need some help regarding giving notice to a mindee. She is 5, so does after school only and no holidays. I have been approached by another parent at the same school for full time after school care and full time holidays! I woud be crazy to turn it down but need to know whether you think i should give notice face to face or in a letter given by hand? I think the parent may be quite cross as there are very few childminders that cover this particular school. Help ! This is the first time i will have to give notice and its all a bit scary!!

Personally I avoid giving notice at all costs as I am an utter coward. Unless I was having problems with the existing mindie I would stick with the "grass on this side of the fence". There is no guarantee that the new family will stay for long - some of my families have left unexpectedly due to being sacked, being made redundant, change of job/hours etc.

You need to put the notice in writing, but I think its appropriate to tell the parent face-to-face before giving the letter.

Don't know if you are already charging a retainer for the school holidays (I have 5 families who pay 1/2 fees in school holidays to keep their places) or some childminders charge a higher rate for term-time only places:-
eg if the normal charge is £60 during the term-time then 60*52 = 3120 per year, divided by 39 term-time weeks = £80 weekly fee for a term-time only place.

Thanks for that. I havent been charging a retainer but i will do for future term time children only, if i get them! I can see what your saying about keeping the existing one but i am only getting about £80 per month in term time and the other child would pay over £200 a month and sadly i think thats the problem!! I dont want to just do this for money reasons but every penny counts!! I just dont know!

Wont you get a bad name for yourself doing that? I may be annoyed as a parent if I knew thats why you had given me notice.

I hope i wouldn't get a bad name, at the end of the day i am running a business and i would hope that the parents would understand that too. I have to earn a certain amount each month to make it worthwhile me childminding and this would go a long way to helping that. I hope i dont annoy any one as thats the last thing i want to do! I love childminding but its decisions like this that make it really hard!

can't you do both? would you be over your numbers?

I can definately see your point but I do think it would be unfair to give notice, just because something 'better' has come along. Could be very awkward if both at the same school too, if you part on bad terms.

No the only reason I say that is a very good and experienced childminder round here told me that one of the reasons she has a good reputation is that she doesnt give notice the minute something better comes along and she has a better business reputation because of it. She told me the ones who do that now have a bad reputation.

Can you not do both?

Would you be over your numbers?

Could you get a variation?

I'd rather have both lots of money

Can you not discuss the situation with the existing child's parents, and see if they might agree to a higher sum to keep their place? At least then they've got the opportunity of seeing things from your point of view.

Hello, Thanks for all you advice! I cannot get a variation in numbers as my car is full up! I think i will talk to the parents of the current mindee but i cannot see how they will be able to match the full time offer! I will see what they say and keep you posted in case i need some more advice. Thanks

Oh I'd hate my childminder to give me notice if she got a fulltime offer. It would make me feel like my son is worthless. You don't say how long you have been looking after the little girl for. My childminder has had ds since september and only 3 days a week for about 5hours a day, I know she would never give me notice for a child she was going to have everyday for more hours, she loves my son and that is what makes it feel so good for me, as a parent, to be able to go out to work knowing ds is in good hands.
I hope you can work it out to a happy ending for all involved :)

Time to buy a bigger car?

I don't think I'd be able to end an existing contract on the basis that a better offer has come along. Strictly speaking, you have no vacancies and thats what you should tell the other parent. You have no guarantee that this other woman will stick with you, like ayla99 said. I would be devestated if a minder did that to me and agree with themammy. Could this other parent find an alternative for after school and you do the holidays?

Hello Thank you all for your input. I will have a think about what to do and then decide from there. I already have a seven seater car and the problem is there are no other childminders that have spaces at this school(we all know each other)so either way one of the parents will lose out and be stuck with no childcare! Oh well i suppose its decision time!