Complicated one. Pre paid childminder, turned out to be wrong decision.

[Wiltshiremum83]

Hi. Before I start my query I want to add some info.
We've been with our childminder for over 4 years (with our 2 sons whom she looked after one at a time as youngest started when eldest left for school).
We have a contract and have always paid as per this, weekly in advance (ie pay on Monday for that week).
Despite a few minor niggles over the years (none ever serious enough to bring up) we have been happy with the care provided.

This year our youngest became eligible for 30 hours free care, this saves us alot of money and also meant we were no longer entitled to (the very small amount we were eligible for) tax credits. Great in term times but very costly in school holidays when she looks after both our children and the free hours don't apply This year rather than pay weekly I thought I'd be organised and pay her the full amount in advance as I'd saved up some money. I paid 2 weeks before the start of the chargeable care period (which begins 5th Aug as she is on holiday first week of school hols).
However 8 days prior to the care period I was advised (by gov.uk after applying for my latest 30 hours code) that I was now eligable for tax free childcare for any amounts I paid over the 30 hours. Doing this would save us around £100 over the school holiday period, money we could really do with. But of course I've already paid her so I can't claim this as to do so I need to pay her via the gov tax free account. I contacted her immediately by text to say I'd been signed up for this , she'd receive the same amount herself but i'd save £100 if she might be able to refund me so it could be paid via the tax free account as I'd been advised to do. She replied to say she couldn't refund it as she'd used the money already whilst she was on holiday that week.

Basically I want to see what others think, am I being unreasonable asking for the money back to then pay her straight away from a different account? Part of me thinks I am as it was my choice to pay well in advance as it wasn't required or requested, but then again that's the point, I didnt even need to have paid her ANY of what I've paid already, my contract states I pay weekly and the first payment for this isn't due until 5th August, whereas I've paid up until the end of the first week of Sept. And I'm not asking her to refund so I can keep it, I'm asking her to refund it so I can pay via another method, she'd have the same amount of money and still before it was due with only minimal fuss to herself.

I don't know whether to push further or just begrudgingly accept it, the tax free care won't help us much for the rest of the year as careful planning and recently reducing my working hours means we don't go over our 30 hours free during term times, it will help next summer hols but that's all really. Any thoughts? Nice responses only please, I've been reading some other posts and I'd appreciate the irrelevant snide remarks be avoided as no one benefits, I'm doing my best as I'm sure all mums on this forum are too. Many thanks.

Loonytoon253.
No. I am not confused. This is what I have been told by my local council.
I am not going to argue over this as my original message was for the person who posted and it was the information given to me by the council.
Oh and by the way, my employer is myself as I have been a self employed registered childminder for over sixteen years
Best wishes

notthemum

Will you please clarify what you mean? If you’re not confused then I think you’re confusing the rest of us.

Precisely what evidence is your auditor looking for is she comes to call? Are you saying that every penny of funding a childcare provider is paid for looking after a child has to be evidenced as being spent on that child? That’s madness. It means they’d be looking after children for free whilst spending £1000s on resources for individual children.

So @notthemum I don't want to argue with you but there's obv been a miscommunication somewhere between yourself and the council. If you are a childminder and you claim the funded hours, you spend all that money on the children directly? How do you pay your bills. Genuinely, ask someone else at your council as you have been misinformed

@notthemum
I work in a nursery and the money from the 30 hours goes to the directors
They don’t have to spend it on the child
Are you getting confused with EYPP?

Sorry but having done the job for a very long time and discussions with council and knowing several childminders who have gone under because of this I can see nothing to be gained by continuing with this.
The only other thing is in my paperwork it clearly states that you are not allowed to accept the money from the parent and then refund it.

notthemum

"in my paperwork it clearly states that you are not allowed to accept the money from the parent and then refund it."

Er, nobody is disputing that. But it’s an entirely different issue to the point you were erroneously making about childcare providers having to spend their fees for funded care directly on a child.

Without meaning to be rude, your input is hardly helping anyone understand the situation or resolve the OP's question.