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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

What to expect from a childminder?

16 replies

Claireaustin1985123 · 17/04/2014 15:07

Hi all. So I am a qualified nursery nurse & im just about to start a new job as a nanny. My working hours mean I have had to put my son into childcare with a childminder. Iv been to vist cm & seems nice...discussed fees ect. She's told me she has first aid & is registered but has lost the paper work. Iv checked her reg number on ofsted site & that's all ok. She's asked me to pay her cash weekly(no money in advance) & Iv not been asked to sign any contract? Is this normal? I'm applying due child tax credits to see if I myself can get any help with my child care costs...so I guess if anything is untoward they will tell me?

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lovelynannytobe · 17/04/2014 15:27

I would be really cautious there. She MUST display her certificate at all times while she is childminding. If she lost certificate she should have requested a new one as soon as she's realised. Bearing in mind she told you she lost it I would demand seeing her first aid certificate. On Ofsted website ... did it display her name and address or was it just a number with no identity attached. If it is just a number and no name she could be using just a random number. This is a pretty important document to loose if it's current then she might be sorting out replacement if she's lost it a while ago I would be weary thinking where else she's slacking.
If you're paying cash definitely request a receipt of payment each time as the money will not leave any trace like it would if you did bank transfers.

slowcomputer · 17/04/2014 16:16

Flashing red lights all over the place!!

paying cash is dodgy - is she paying tax?
no paperwork for important things like first aid?

no way would I leave my child there.

nannynick · 17/04/2014 16:27

You must keep a record of all payments you make to her if you are going to claim tax credits. You also need to have a written agreement in place. So I would go back to her and say that you need to have something in writing which states what is being provided, at what cost, what notice period to end the agreement, what the procedures are regarding holiday (childminder taking holiday, you taking holiday) and about pay during holiday periods.

She may not be very well organised regarding paperwork but the agreement between you and her is essential.

NotMrsTumble · 17/04/2014 16:35

is she not a member of a childminding association? I'm pretty sure mine is & that's where she gets all contracts, attendance forms etc.

Mine asks for the payment for year, split into 10 monthly payments (term time only contact). So I pay the same each month, even if, e.g. there's a school holiday like 2 weeks at Easter, but I don't pay anything over the summer. -I didn't pay anything up-front though.

I'd want a contract and copy of her policies too (I have this and my childminder is a family friend.)

LingDiLong · 17/04/2014 21:19

I smell a big fish here. She is supposed to have her registration certificate on display or at least available for you to see. I am sure she could request copies of these reasonably easily. No contract too, this is NOT normal. Best case scenario is she's very disorganised - do you want someone who is very disorganised looking after your child?! Worst case scenario is she is deliberately hiding something.

I'm a CM and I always have all relevant paperwork available for prospective parents including registration and first aid certificate - that really is very basic stuff and the least you should expect. All my parents have a contract. Please keep looking or at least insist on the proper paperwork before you proceed.

HSMMaCM · 17/04/2014 22:19

My registration is on display so I can't lose it. I also display my insurance and first aid with it. You should ask to see all three and get a contract and receipts for payments. It only takes as long as the post for her to get a replacement certificate.

Original poster

Claireaustin1985123 · 18/04/2014 00:09

She is registered...Iv called ofsted to double check as on the website didn't say her name. It's all been a bit of a rush really so havnt had a chance to see her since our 1st visit. She's now on holiday untill tuesday(when my son starts) she had a few other children in her care & has been doing it for years...she's an older lady so maybe she's just not kept up with the requirements( contract ect?) will be asking for a contract & receipts ...what if she doesn't have contracts? Can I ask for her to draw one up for me? Will ask to see her first aid too. My son is 5 and at school she's having him a few hours each night so I obliviously don't mind about a few things she don't do, as long as his happy & safe.

OP posts:

Cindy34 · 18/04/2014 00:46

Yes, as it is her business what she writes in the contract is pretty much up to her I think, though her public liability insurer may have a certain form to use.

You need something which states what she is doing for you, what you pay, situations in which you don't pay, how to end the agreement.

LingDiLong · 18/04/2014 08:59

The registration certificate will also have the number of children she is allowed to look after on it (at least ours does in Wales), did the website give you that information too? Call me a cynic but I still wonder if she's hiding something. Definitely ask for a contract outlining her terms, without it you could find your rates suddenly increasing or that she takes unlimited holidays or she could just stop looking after your child with no notice period.

redtable2 · 19/04/2014 09:21

Without a signed contract her insurance will be invalid. This does sound odd. You should be able to pay with vouchers or bank transfer as well as cash if she is above board. She should also be following the EYFS and have a learning journey for your dc.

redtable2 · 19/04/2014 09:23

Sorry i just realised your son is at school so she doesnt need a learning journey. You must have a contract though.

BobTheFly · 19/04/2014 17:13

Just to clarify PLI doesn't require the use of a contract but she won't have any Legal or financial cover.

A cm is also not obliged to accept vouchers and requesting cash doesn't mean she is on the fiddle. She is probably still declaring it in her self assessment.

Thirdly, a learning journey is not an eyfs requirement, merely the method that some cms choose to implement the eyfs. Other ways are acceptable.

(I'm not the cm in question btw!)

cjm10979 · 21/04/2014 10:35

It seems this childminder needs a childminder agency to sort out the admin

HSMMaCM · 21/04/2014 11:24

Not quite sure how an agency will stop her losing paperwork?

cjm10979 · 21/04/2014 12:17

HSMMaCM, the agency would provide the contract directly or give one for the childminder to use. This childminder seems so hopeless with paperwork that the agency would prevent her from getting future work until this was already in place. This is exactly the type of childminder the agencies will be able to help. Let's just face it, some people are not suited for paperwork, but can on the other hand look after children well.

HSMMaCM · 21/04/2014 13:41

cjm I agree that some CMs are better with the children than the rest of the business side, but even with an agency there will still be admin involved with tracking learning and development, logging hours, etc.

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