Charging when extreme weather sets in...

[AngelaDevon]

Do you think that it is fair of a child minder to charge someone the day's rate in extremely heavy snow where we can't take her? Do you know any child minders who do this?

So the day's she said that she had been sick she said she was closing, therefore no charge. There were a number of occasions when she said that her son had a temperature, or a cough, or sore throat, and that it would be up to me whether I send my daughter there. On one occasion I said I would still be taking her despite her son being unwell, to which she replied that the other mums had decided to stay away to be safe. Because she'd put the decision in their hands, they still paid. I took my daughter and the boy wasn't that bad, and my daughter came home fine. I collected her as early as poss just in case though, so again she benefited. But the majority of the times she has closed and not charged. Thank you, I'll wrap her up tomo and walk...shouldn't take more than half an hour hopefully! Thanks!

I agree that your problem isn't the snow days situation (which will hopefully be short lived) but the general lack of reliability. I used two different child minders when my kids were small for a period lasting ten years (only changed because one moved) and during that time there were maybe three or four occasions when they couldn't have a child and each time they arranged for another minder we knew to take over. I couldn't have carried on working without reliable childcare and I doubt that you can either. There will be other lovely childminders out there with equally lovely settings who don't cancel in this way. Honestly I think it's time to find one of them. You couldn't have known beforehand that this would be a problem but it clearly is now.

Also I would be a bit at a childminder not having other childminders on speed dial. Ime they all know each other from toddler groups etc and are usually quite a community helping each other out etc. Isn't that normal?

Thank you so much. It's reassuring to know that there may be someone just as lovely and well qualified out there. I'll get searching, as it is so stressful and I'm sure my daughter can tell when I'm struggling. She's had to come to work at times which has been awful for her, it's just not the right environment for a baby. Thank you everyone! This is the first time I've used mumsnet...It's amazing!x

The point is, you are using a CMer because you are at work. If she can't have your dc then one of you can't work. Her not charging doesn't resolve that aspect. That is not sustainable.

Exactly. I am self employed so cannot earn without my daughter being cared for. Thank you so much.

Mine would still charge. The reality of it is, I often pay her when she doesn't have my kids (if I am home to take to school/pick up then I will), but she is self employed and I can understand she needs certainty of a wage. In 7 years she's not been unable to take my children once, I think you need to find a new childminder tbh.

She may have had a shockingly bad run of illness, because it's not normal for a CM to have many sick days. Has she been minding for long? Can you ask other parents what her closure record has been like?

I would expect you to pay for the snow day. I'm open and most of the children have come to me, along with a few extra school children.

Harold do you mean you expect every childminder to have other childminders with spaces to cover all their children every day on speed dial?

No. But round here they all see each other all the time and help each other out. And be able to phone for cover if they need to. Generally they'll have a buddy cover ie one person they'll go to first but know other numbers as well. I thought that was just normal.

All the childminders I know have 3 or 4 children, they wouldn't be able to take on other children for random days.

We have a CM network where we can ask each other to help out, but generally everyone is full.

I think as long as she is still open, then yes she should charge. Its her living after all.

If she’s open she should charge if that’s her policy. But I’d be focusing on the amount of illness. I think saying that her son is poorly, but putting the decision on to you and if you say no then still charging isn’t fair. If he is ill and isn’t up to having other children there then she shouldn’t be charging. He is either ill or not. It doesn’t sound as though she is being very considerate to other working parents at all and I think looking around for an alternative might be a good idea.

You're right Maryann. When my DD was ill, I offered parents the choice and told them if they didn't come I wouldn't charge for that day. Otherwise why bother telling them?

Thank you very much. It's really helpful getting opinions from other childminders and parents. Today she opened, but her husband had stayed off work to look after her son who she said had a cold. She also told me that she has never spent any time apart from him. He is 17 months old. She said that her parents and family have offered to babysit but she isn't ready. She told me she doesn't trust her husband to be on his own with him. I think there's a lot more going on so I am looking for another Child minder, but that said, she is really good from what I'm seeing. Thank you all!

Hope you find a better, more reliable childminder as that is certainly what you need!

Wow 17 months and she doesn't even trust daddy that doesn't fit well with promoting independence school readiness etc. As if she wont let her child separate how on earth is she going to promote it in others.

Wow closed 7 days in 2 months at short notice she is totally unreliable so I would be looking for a new childminder. If she was open in and weather then yes it’s reasonable to pay. My CM hasn’t closed for sickness etc in the 9 months I have had her.

I have just read your update about her not even trusting her hubby to care for her child. It sounds like she has become a CM to stay at home but not accounted that she needs to actually work very hard and provide a reliable service to the families who pay her whilst caring for her own child.

There are some amazing childminders out there my own on included.

I agree completely with fundays post. Did she work with children before having her own dc? It sounds like she wants a job of convenience and has fallen for the line that being a cm means you are there for your own dc. (Which I am there for my dc but they have to share me massively and if I want to be a good cm and keep families and be recommended I have to be reliable -which means doing as other working families do and us other family members when my dc are ill).

7 days off in two months is absolutely horrendous, and I’d absolutely be wanting to talk to her. Maybe she’s had some shocking circumstances resulted in her being off and it’s totally not the norm, but you need to mention it either way. I’ve been childminding 2 years and I’ve only closed once, for one day. Does she have a back up plan for when she’s ill? For example I work in partnership with other childminders so that we can cover each other when we do get ill/need time off.
On the subject of snow yes I do think you should expect to pay. She was still available to work, and she’ll still have a mortgage and bills to pay regardless of whether it’s snowing or not.