childminder moving?? advice?

[glitterball]

slightly awkward situation: my children go to a childminder before & after school 5 days a week, plus school hols - she minds several other kids as well as mine.

a couple of months ago I saw my c/m's house up for sale with our local estate agents - it is still there as of this week. there is no board up and she hasnt mentioned it to me or any of the other parents as far as I'm aware. I'm not sure what to make of the fact she hasnt mentioned it - what does everyone think - would be interested to hear from c/m and parents perspectives.

I should add that she does not really have ties to the area as her children are grown up & have left school. I know she has another property elsewhere in the UK and am thinking she may move to that. purely selfishly, I am dreading the hassle of finding someone new........

Mention it to her and see what she says She could be just testing the market or something..
You night be worrying about nothing; the whole buying/selling process takes a looong time anyway, but she might be simply planning on buying a bigger house in the same area?

I think you need to say something to her. You deserve to know whats going on, even if ultimately she is moving local and it won't effect your kids care. Why don't you make a joke of it and say something like. 'I'm sure I saw your house in the estate agents window the other day!' The thing is,if she is moving, she may be having viewers in during the day, when your kids are there, so she should let you know.

I know a childminder who did this - she gave the parents two weeks notice (as stated in their contracts). She didn't want them knowing beforehand in case they found a new CM, and she would have been left without pay. I didn't think it was very fair.

She may be moving within the area but, as has already been said, I think you should mention that you saw the photo in the estate agents (very nicely, obviously) and ask if she's thinking of moving.

thanks for your replies - am hopeless at these things so my partner is going to mention it in passing......the house is not sold yet so I know it will be a while yet anyhow before anything happens. (I hope!) The moving in the area I think is unlikely as she has quite a big house already, but will have to see what she says!