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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Parents messing me around- What would you do?

14 replies

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 09:00

I look after a 3 year old whose parents work shifts. When we signed the contracts last year they agreed it would be over 20 hours per week but i agreed that they could just pay for the hours used! (Won't do that again!!) This week it has been 7 and last week 4 hours! The last time they did over 20 hours was February! I am very cross that i did not include anything in the contract about the minimum number of hours i was happy with. Not only this they are always early for the drop off and towel on the head etc has no effect!! Now i have been asked to do pre school drop off 3 times a week and pick up and i feel like i am used as a early morning baby sitter rather than a childminder. What do you all think i should do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dmo · 02/08/2006 09:04

hard one
maybe reveiw your contract with parents
explain as their child is taking up a full time place (ie diff days diff times) that you will have to bring in a min hours contract.
also explain that drop off's and pick up's occur a bigger fee

Original poster

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 12:04

I know i should review the contract but i cant imagine she will say that she will pay me for hours she wont use! I also think she is going to start sending her daughter to pre school to build up for going to big school. I think that i would be better off looking for someone new but do you think i should tell her this and see what she says?

OP posts:

Katymac · 02/08/2006 12:13

How long have they been coming?

Bozza · 02/08/2006 12:14

Can't you say that you need to review the contract and impose a minimum hour clause but you will understand if she is not happy with this and would like to remove her DD.

Original poster

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 12:17

Coming for just coming up to a year now.I want to talk to her about all the issues but think she will just remove dd before i have a chance to find a replacement so leaves me out of pocket! The little girl is really sweet but its just the parents! I never imagined childminding would be this hard!!

OP posts:

Bozza · 02/08/2006 12:19

Do you not have a notice period on the contract? Also nothing about contract review after a year or whatever?

Katymac · 02/08/2006 12:19

Surely she needs to give 4 weeks notice

Original poster

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 12:23

Had a review at 6 months which was fine as they were still doing the 20 hours! There is a 4 week notice period but as i said they will just bring her for 4 -7 hours per week and so i still lose out. Do you think its wrong to look for someone else and then give her notice when i find someone? Is that unprofessional!?

OP posts:

Katymac · 02/08/2006 12:50

I think I'd have a quiet chat first

Then if nothing changes look for something else

Original poster

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 13:36

thanks, they are here tomorrow so i will mention it then i think. I can feel that its going to end badly!

OP posts:

Caligula · 02/08/2006 13:50

I don't think they are "messing you around" tbh. I just think you made a mistake on your original contract by not stipulating a minimum hours commitment. It's panned out for them, that they haven't needed the 20 hours but of course for you it's panned out badly. I think you just have to put it down to experience - it sounds like you haven't beend doing cm long and this has been a learning curve for you. Could you not look for other mindees anyway? Surely you're allowed to have a certain number before there are too many for your regulatory authority? I think I would in your position.

Original poster

CHANGEDMYLIFE · 02/08/2006 14:01

I am at my limit as my other mindees are all working out ok with no problems and sticking to their contracts. Its not just the not doing the hours they promised its the turning up early etc as well. I am disapointed as i feel like they are taking advantage. I am holding a full time place for a varied hours contract throughout the week and they are sometimres using 4 hours. I could fill that place with someone doing 20 plus hours!

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 02/08/2006 19:16

As you have been asked to do a pre-school drop-off, then you would be doing a new contract anyway.

If you decide to continue with the family, then you can very nicely say that as they have been dropping off at much-earlier-than-agreed o'clock, then you would have an earlier starting time in the contract.

You can be assertive (ha ha, just like I am!!) and put in a minimum number of paid hours. And you could possibly suggest that you would need paying full/half-fee (or whatever) for the hours she is at pre-school.

Obviously, it may mean that would lose this business altogether, but if you were able to get someone with more regular hours, then you would be better off in the long run. And you wouldn't have to feel bad because you wouldn't be the one giving notice. (And there's nothing to stop you putting feelers out for potential new business anyway).

dmo · 02/08/2006 20:06

if mother does not like new contract give her a four week full paid notice

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