Fed up with CM but not sure what other options I have?

[FlynnRyder]

I have been having a few issues with my CM recently. Mainly about her lack of discipline with her own children who sometimes tease or aren't very friendly towards my DCs. She is also adding on lots of what I see as "stealth" charges i.e. Started charging for meals, charging minimum 4 hours a day, when I only need 2 hours for my eldest DD after school.

I am starting to think that maybe a nanny would be a better, and maybe even cheaper option. I need childcare:

From 1-6pm on a Tuesday, including picking up eldest DD from school. Then 1-5pm on Thursdays and Fridays, inc school run again. Would it be really hard to find a nanny to do these sort of hours? I don't need school holiday care.

Then, from September when my youngest DD gets her free hours at preschool I will only need 1-6pm on a Tues and 3-5pm on Thurs and Fridays. Is this totally unrealistic? What are my other options? I work from home Thurs and Fri so could even just get a local teenager to babysit while I work upstairs, but need a more official arrangement for Tuesdays when I'm not at home.

Any ideas?

Are there not any other CM's local to you?
Does sound more suited to CM rather than nanny.

Perhaps you could advertise locally for a nanny share .

What about a nursery that does after school pick up?

There are other CMs but only a certain number will do pick-ups from the right school and I don't know what their availability is like. The problem is that I can't really advertise/publically seek out a new CM without the current one finding out.

I don't think the local nurseries do after-school pick-ups.

I don't think you'll find a nanny to do those hours, but could maybe find an older person/mum with their own children. It's not enough for anyone who needs to work, but great for someone who just wants to do a few hours a week/earn a but extra.

The other option would be an au pair, but you'd need space and it's probably more hassle than it's worth for the hours you need.

Yes I like the idea of a retired granny or a school mum who just wants to earn a bit but doesn't want a FT job. The problem is, how to ask around without the CM finding out? As I may end up having to stick with her for years!

You may find it difficult/impossible to find a childminder who will do the 3-5pm slot for your preschooler, especially as you are limited to the few who collect from your school. If you do find someone you may have to pay a premium for the short hours. The reason being that your preschooler will take up a valuable under fives space that could otherwise be filled by a child doing a 10 hour day.

Most childminders I know charge meals as an extra. Some include it in their daily prices. April is new tax year so you will get CM increasing their charges or setting meals and snacks prices etc. It gets quite expensive having to buy and cook food particularly if you have more than 2 children to feed.
Most CM's also have a minimum set no of hours they charge for. Your CM may have realised she is too cheap and has changed her prices in line with local CMs.
If your not happy you need to tell her so you can work out any differences or give notice and find another CM, nanny or babysitter. She may not want to continue caring for your children if she were to read your post and comments so I think honesty is the best policy!

I agree, she should be charging extra for meals, food isn't free! Why should she be out of pocket feeding children? The hourly fee you pay is usually just that, for her time, not for extras like meals and days out.

Also charging for more hours than you use, this could be as a PP has aid, that you child is taking up a place that another full timer could use, so your CM has to charge for the whole session.

The parents I mind for pay me for days they don't need me so that I am regularly available, just in case they do need that extra day sometimes. I felt bad about it and questioned it, but it's what they did with the previous CM and insisted they do it with me too.

Charging for food isn't a stealth charge. It's a fair way of ensuring that her costs are covered. At the moment food prices go up on a weekly basis or so it seems. Plus if it isn't incorporated into the hourly rate, you presumably don't pay if your children are off ill/ holiday.

Simple solution with that one is to get up earlier in the morning and send a pack up.

Having any of you childminders ever heard of "breach of contract". You can not change the terms of your contract just because food has become more expensive!
You should have a discussion with the parents and explain the situation and follow the notice terms in your contract. This is the main reason I changed from a childminder to a nursery. I've found many childminders lack a considerable amount of "customer service" and lack of business acumen and try to breach the terms of their contracts. It's just plain unprofessional.

CJM, I don't think we have any idea whether the OP's CM gave notice of the so called stealth charges, either for meals or introducing minimum daily charges, both of which are quite normal. Clearly OP does not want to pay more, but that does not in itself make the charges unreasonable, or their introduction unprofessional or lacking in business acumen, and others have pointed out that OP may struggle to get someone else to care for her children on better terms, as she is essentially blocking a full day place but looking to only pay for a couple of hours.

Minderjinx, I can only assume that these extra charges have happened 'out of the blue' with no discussion which is why the OP describes them as 'stealth charges'. Perhaps the OP can clarify whether there was a discussion and change of contract terms where agreed. Otherwise this type of behaviour is unprofessional.
It's irrelevant how many non-working hours the CM has in a particular day. What is relevant is what is in the contract, what did they both sign up to. If the CM needs to work more hours, she should explain her situation to the patent and both of them come to an agreement. If this can't be done, the CM should give notice and then find a child for the whole day, rather than 'wishing' she had one for the whole day. The CM is a business owner, she needs to take the rough with the smooth.

I agree that this can be done, but only with the specified contractual notice given.

I'd just tell parents I was reviewing my charges and the contract. NCMA contracts are designed so you can do this. I am doing this for September and I've already warned one of my parents.
Other businesses raise their prices due to rising costs. As long as it's done properly. There's no issue surely. And if there is the parent can either find someone else to look after their child.