Am I right to feel a bit miffed?

[FlossALump]

Our CM gave us a little over two weeks notice that she is unavailable for work one day next week. No reason given. Not enough notice for our jobs, and the second time this has happened in a couple of months. However, she 'forgot' to tell SIL whose little boy also attends. As she forgot she is now going to have nephew for the day as normal. Meanwhile we are still going to have to pay for the pleasure of making complicated arrangements so our DS doesn't go! We found out she was planning a long weekend away - I personally feel that the level of notice wasn't sufficient for this reason of absence.

what do you mean you pay for a full day for her holicays and she works them anyway?

do you mean she tells you she's off then she works, but takes your money and not your child?

if thats the case I'd look elsewhere

plus she's at it charging full price for her holidays

I'd definatelt look around if I were you

I'm a childminder and I know a lot of childminders who are at it round here, seem to think they have a licence to screw money out of the parents

I think it's complicated

2 weeks notice is perhaps a little short - I have 4 weeks notice in my contract but have on occasion (funeral/child's hosp appt) have had to cancel at short notice.

4 week paid leave is reccommended by NCMA

If she is going to have the other child why isn't she having yours - If I cancelled my long weekend away, I'd have all my mindees - so is something else going on (ie does he finish earlier or something)

I don't technically think the contract is out of date the contract reviews are merely advisory

I think you might need to either renegociate your contract or consider other childcare

no, nephew is full time, long days from 6.30 am till around 5. I do understand why she needs the break TBH, DS is only there two days a week. I think CM keen to keep nephew. It is a shame as I think she has taken on too much, she can be working till 8pm, often says she worked the weekend etc. We have noticed a definite deterioration in the care DS received since nephew started going. She still has 4 mindees as she used to have twins before DS started going.

Oh, and would be much much more understanding for hosp app etc.

i state 4 weeks notice both ways on all my contracts and policies. however, I also state that when emergencies crop as (as the can do) or if my child has something on at school etc then i will give as much notice as is possible. I dont charge for any of my holidays, then i don't worry if (as i usually do) i take 6 or 7 weeks a year off. I do always endevor to find alternative care where possible.

what notice period is in your contract?, if she is still working but has said your ds cant go, you should not pay her!, and you should only pay her for the hols you agreed too, if she takes longer she knows' she wont be paid same as i take 4 weeks at 1/2 pay, anything else is no pay!

i feel unkind charging for any holidays, if parents have to pay someone else to care for kids while i am away it could end up costing them double....i know alot of minders do charge though.

A contract is still valid until such time that a new one is issued or the old one is cancelled.

If you have agreed to pay the CM for a set number of weeks (many CMs do charge for their holidays), then any holiday that they take over and above that agreed time should not have to be paid for.

My contracts with parents state that four weeks notice of holidays is required (which usually works quite well with main holidays). However, some of them give only a short notice period of occasional days off - this works both ways, and I have occasionally had an odd day off, albeit for dental treatment! I don't charge for my holidays, so I guess that parents are less likely to be unhappy!

I think you should ask your CM for a review of your contract, although if you are considering using a nursery soon, this may not be necessary.

I have an absess(sp) in my gum and need to go to the dentist desperately but really don't want to take the time off and leave my mindee's and their families in the lurch (also absolutely terrified of the dentist)! Not all childminders are money grabbers and most of us care about the families we support with our services!

Also, particularly at the moment, and def in my area, us childminders need the business as much as the parents need the care for their children.

I would say that you do have the right to be miffed, especially if the minder is having your nephew! That I do not understand!

Just to update the thread! CM didn't have DS that day. Mum was here to babysit and nephew was picked up as usual. Apparently, according to SIL another mindee was also in the car. I asked her about it this week under the guise we were concerned that we had the wrong date and she has told us that nephew was off with chicken pox when she told us, which simply isn't the case, nephew had it first and we were told after DS had it!! She has also told us she only had nephew. So will probably never get to the bottom of the matter. DS will be leaving shortly though, and nephew is reducing hours and most probably will be stopping in the not to distant future. So there you go if anyone is interested!

I didn't make that very clear reading back. She claimed nephew was absent with chicken pox when we were informed and that by the time he was back it was too short notice so she returned from her break early to have only nephew. However, we were informed after DS had the pox and nephew had it 10 days before DS and was back with CM a week before we were told about the date. Right I think that makes it clearer!

?odd woman, you would so obv find out the truth?..i hope you didnt pay her???

Haven't had the bill yet, although not paying her is sure to just cause conflict isn't it?

From whatyou say she sounds as though she is very unorganised and maybe struggling! Your DS would be better off somewhere else.