Childminder changing rules

[Mama12345678910]

Hi everyone after some advice and if you know where we stand.

Without notice our childminder has changed her policy to state that if a child has any of the main symptoms such as cough, temp etc they need to get a test and then isolate but also if they have a range of symptoms such as vomiting, runny nose, headache etc!

It then goes on to say that even if my child has a test and tests negative they still need to isolate for 10 days!

Is this even allowed? This wasn’t in the contact we originally signed or policy’s and if my child has to be off every time they have a symptom which could be a symptom of covid he will never be in. I don’t get paid when I have to take time off for him either.

Let me know

@Same4Walls if OPs child had a cough then the her child would need to test. Because if it came back positive the CM has been in contact with lots of other people and she would need to let them know too.

So if your child has a stomach bug that usually lasts 24-48 hours she expects your child to have a test? And even if the test comes back negative she wants you to keep your child at home for 10 days instead of a few days? So your child could be ill for 1 day and bouncing round the house for 9 of those 10 days because they got over the stomach bug?! I thought the rule for sickness was 24 hours after the last time the child was sick?
That seems bonkers. The first winter my DS was in nursery he was ill every 3-4 weeks with some cold or tummy bug. He would never have been nursery and I would have never been in work if that was the case.

Just read DS's nursery handbook, it states 48 hours from last episode for sickness. But still a lot more reasonable than 10 days

@minniemango

She should give you a month's notice of the policy change, and if you don't agree then you have a month to find alternative care.

That's ridiculous. Guides for covid are changing at the drop of a hat. A childminder can't give a month's notice of a change if the government have changed the rules and expect them implemented within a few days. The isolating with a negative test is they only thing there that can be queried.

if OPs child had a cough then the her child would need to test. Because if it came back positive the CM has been in contact with lots of other people and she would need to let them know too.

Well yes of course if she has actual symptoms a test is sensible but she certainly shouldn't be expected to lie to get one.

I do also wonder if the childminder is aware of just how many children are asymptomatic...

This is her own policy though not a change in government guidelines.

My sister had a runny nose and an upset stomach only and she tested positive.

@ScrumptiousBears

My sister had a runny nose and an upset stomach only and she tested positive.

How did she get a test if those were her only symptoms?

We found alternative provision as CM appeared to have slightly different policies for different parents!!! (which we discovered by accident) Can't be doing with stuff like that

@Eyesofdisarray

We found alternative provision as CM appeared to have slightly different policies for different parents!!! (which we discovered by accident) Can't be doing with stuff like that

My ds was at an amazing CM who moved away.

We loved to a new one and I wasn't happy as she also did this. We hadn't even been there a month when I gave notice. She didn't even acknowledge my notice and following day gave me a letter with a weeks notice

Luckily ds started the community wrap around care and stayed there for the next 5 years!

@Daisypaisy2, @Same4Walls as I said, symptoms for children can be very different to that of adults. The government should have changed their guidelines for this a long time ago because its been known since way back last year.
It's been advised on here multiple times to lie in order to get a child tested. If the child has one of the 3 main symptoms then no need to lie and a test will have to be done to let the childminder know if her or her other minders have been in contact with a positive case.
OP youbhave 2 options. Follow her policy or find alternative childcare. She can't be forced to look after your child.

What kind of policies were different for different parents?

I know businesses will often update charges/policies/contracts for new clients and leave old clients on their original contracts, is it the same kind of thing?

Mindees, not minders

How did she get a test if those were her only symptoms?

She probably had to lie. Surely better to lie than to ignore it and go about your daily business spreading covid when there are so many known symptoms, they just don't make the cut for a test.
Or she could have been advised by a doctor.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

How did she get a test if those were her only symptoms?

She probably had to lie. Surely better to lie than to ignore it and go about your daily business spreading covid when there are so many known symptoms, they just don't make the cut for a test.
Or she could have been advised by a doctor.

I appreciate in this instance she had covid so it was good to be aware but surely people cannot expect to have to take a test for every symptom they ever have. That's not logical or sensible.

This is her own policy though not a change in government guidelines.

Only the isolation with a negative test is her own policy, and if she is very worried about transmission then she's hardly likely to give 4 weeks notice is she?
A vomiting child shouldn't be in a childcare setting anyway.
All the symptoms she has listed are symptoms that children are more likely to have, its just not government policy to give a test without one of the 3 main symptoms, so she has every right to refuse to look after a child with any of those symptoms. What she can't do is insist you isolate with a negative test, but that doesn't mean she has to look after your child.
If you are not happy to pay full fee if your child has to isolate, then perhaps discuss a reduced fee, or find alternative childcare that will suit your needs. There really isn't anything you can do. I very much doubt she has to give 4 weeks notice for a change of policy with regards to something like this.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

This is her own policy though not a change in government guidelines.

Only the isolation with a negative test is her own policy, and if she is very worried about transmission then she's hardly likely to give 4 weeks notice is she?
A vomiting child shouldn't be in a childcare setting anyway.
All the symptoms she has listed are symptoms that children are more likely to have, its just not government policy to give a test without one of the 3 main symptoms, so she has every right to refuse to look after a child with any of those symptoms. What she can't do is insist you isolate with a negative test, but that doesn't mean she has to look after your child.
If you are not happy to pay full fee if your child has to isolate, then perhaps discuss a reduced fee, or find alternative childcare that will suit your needs. There really isn't anything you can do. I very much doubt she has to give 4 weeks notice for a change of policy with regards to something like this.

There's absolutely no government guidance about children having to stay away from childcare for 10 days with sickness, runny noses or headaches.

I'm not saying the childminder is wrong to have whatever sickness policy she chooses, but it's a significant change to the original contract so she needs to give sufficient notice.

I appreciate in this instance she had covid so it was good to be aware but surely people cannot expect to have to take a test for every symptom they ever have. That's not logical or sensible.

It's both logical and sensible. There are so many different symptoms and as I said government policy should have been updated on this a long time ago. Probably why we have such high rates at the moment.
I'm sure there are many people walking around with a headache or feeling a bit sick who haven't taken a test because they don't have one of the main 3 symptoms, but they are positive. Again, it's much more likely for children to suffer different symptoms.
It's bad enough that there are probably thousands of asymptomatic people walking around amongst everyone.

There's absolutely no government guidance about children having to stay away from childcare for 10 days with sickness, runny noses or headaches.

It doesn't need to be government guidance. It's a fact those those symptoms are more common in children. The childminder doesn't need to give 4 weeks notice of her policy. She could have multiple children in her setting with a positive case of covid over that time if she ignores those facts and allows people to bring their child with those symptoms. Which is what schools were doing here and likely why cases were rising so fast amongst children and teachers .

[quote Iminaglasscaseofemotion]**@Daisypaisy2, @Same4Walls as I said, symptoms for children can be very different to that of adults. The government should have changed their guidelines for this a long time ago because its been known since way back last year.
It's been advised on here multiple times to lie in order to get a child tested. If the child has one of the 3 main symptoms then no need to lie and a test will have to be done to let the childminder know if her or her other minders have been in contact with a positive case.
OP youbhave 2 options. Follow her policy or find alternative childcare. She can't be forced to look after your child.[/quote]
Sorry but you need to get some perspective. The list is endless so you want to include every possible symptom? I’m NOT surprised the gov have not changed the rules for a runny nose!

It’s a bit OTT.

*Sorry but you need to get some perspective. The list is endless so you want to include every possible symptom? I’m NOT surprised the gov have not changed the rules for a runny nose!

It’s a bit OTT.*

🤷‍♀️ I didn't say it was my policy, bjtbot is this childminders policy and she's within her rights to have it.
The government absolutely should be changing the criteria for testing. Then perhaps rates wouldn't be so high. People are ignoring symptoms because they can't get a test without a continuous cough, temp, or loss of taste and smell. Considering all the different symptoms there are, thats not great.

It's both logical and sensible. There are so many different symptoms and as I said government policy should have been updated on this a long time ago. Probably why we have such high rates at the moment.

But we cannot test for every possible symptom that's madness! The odds of a runny nose being covid have got to be much smaller than it being a symptom of a cold. Children are germ factories, even before covid they often had a runny nose or poorly tummy especially over winter. Assuming it is most likely covid is quite an over reaction.

When there's a pandemic that's keeping everyone locked down and ruining education, the economy, peoples mental health etc. I absolutely do think the criteria for testing should be extended.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion most of the children present with NO symptoms so it’s not that.

You have stated that several times and nobody has disagreed with you that the CM can an alter her policy however it is a bit much.

You do realise if you don’t narrow the selection of symptoms down it will hard to pin point Covid? We have testing available so there’s NO need to include things such as sneezing and so on it’s ridiculous.

But we cannot test for every possible symptom that's madness! The odds of a runny nose being covid have got to be much smaller than it being a symptom of a cold. Children are germ factories, even before covid they often had a runny nose or poorly tummy especially over winter. Assuming it is most likely covid is quite an over reaction.

I'm a childminder. Off on mat leave atm, but worked up until Christmas this year I have seen fewer children with illnesses than ever before. I had 2 children since March that had a bit of a cold once each. Both sets of parents offered to keep them home, I said no and took them, but to be honest probably shouldn't have. Usually there would be a cold or sickness bug at least every few weeks.