Childminder issue

[Kayte16]

Hi all, I’m posting for some advice really. We booked a place for my toddler at a childminder to start in January - we paid the deposit (approx £300 - half a month childcare) but since signing up have since found out I am pregnant again and we won’t be needing the place

We let her know with over 4.5 months notice that we wouldn’t need her any more - plenty of time to find another child to fill the space

She said she would struggle with this - whilst we know it was a lot of notice we appreciate this may be the case so said if she couldn’t find someone else then we would use half the month we’ve paid for so we get what we’d paid for - she said this wouldn’t be an option either

How can she take the money for place yet also not offer us the use of the paid place either - it’s £300 it appears she’s trying to take either way?

Any advise would be welcome, thanks x

@R0ss.
That sounds really difficult for you did she not provide more details at hand over?
Its not unusual for children of this age to hit sometimes in frustration. Some will be more towards adults when told no or not coming across boundaries others will be more with children over toys etc...so this maybe why you don't see much at home. Is it always your husband who picks up? Could he have not passed on all details or not responded to the childminder in a way that showed he was concerned and willing to work with her? Some people can falsley give the impression its no big deal and seem to shrug it off often through embarrassment or not knowing what to say so it could be more around the childminder feeling that your not working in the same direction....do you normally communicate face to face, by text or verbally?
The cm can give you notice at any time and doesn't have to give a reason but contractually must give the right notice unless there has been a serious breach of terms or breakdown hence why she is giving the month. Her wording of not safe to be around sounds a bit extreme did she give you details of what had happened? I've had a two year old who would try to push over highchairs (another child sat in) and would throw large heavy items in temper needing to be physically restrained until they calmed down for everyone's safety, which was only possible as I dont work on my own.

Jannier and I were replying to the post by R0ss that has now been withdrawn.

PP are not correct unfortunately,

Businesses are only allowed to keep deposits to cover losses, so she could only retain the amount if she was unable to fill the place or she could retain some of the deposit to cover advertising costs for example - and then only if she'd made it clear in the contract that that's what would happen.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cancelling-goods-or-services-guide-for-consumers/cancelling-goods-or-services

Contracts can never overrule the statute law.

Why do yochildminder is easily able to demonstrate how pulling out of a contract has incu

Pressed return too soon while trying to edit!

Why do you think this isn't the case for childcare deposits?
A childminder is able to demonstrate how withdrawal from a contract impacts business: filling a place can take months, especially in this climate.

@underneaththeash.
Would be easy to show loss of earnings...and very real

@jannier yes, but only if she doesn’t fill the space.

@underneaththeash.
This is normally the quietest time for enquiries even without Covid people put off looking until the new year. They don't want to settle a baby then stop over Christmas and start again even if they are in the mood to think about work. Generally the phone may start ringing second week of Jan for a feb start and with Covid who knows as there will likely be redundancy at Christmas time. Then of course the cm may have had calls when she thought she had this client so will have proof shes turned away which if she were holding a space open could mean shes already lost money in not dumping this client and starting a month or two earlier.