Holiday and sick pay

[Madaleinerw]

Hi all

I'm just starting out my process of finding a childminder.

Could someone tell me the norm for paying a childminder when:

They take holiday?

We take holiday?

Not working bank holidays?

Also if the childminder is sick and cannot provide care?

Just so I know what to look out for :). TIA x

Well as they are self-employed they can put what they like in the contract but I would say that it is usual for you to pay when they re able to provide a service but you choose not you (you go on holiday or your child is ill) but that they should not charge for days they are closed (their holidays/illness). They can choose whether or not to be available on bank holidays.

There were issues last year when childcare for non keyworkers was ordered to close but some tried to continue charging. (It also applied to gyms, swimming lessons etc etc) and a directive was issued clarifying that service providers must not charge for services that were not being provided.

I charge in full for the child’s holidays/ illness and nothing for mine.

I don’t work bank holidays and not prepared too so don’t charge for them.

This seems that standard for most childminders but some do charge for their holiday and illness as well.

Same as above. I charge for child's illness/holiday dates and don't charge for mine. I've never had a sick day in 8 years but I wouldn't charge.

Bank holidays I won't work so don't charge. I know some childminders who do though and still don't work the day and some that charge extra than normal and do work them.

My childminder charges for bh, sickness for our child and our holidays.
They don't charge if they are sick or go on holiday.
There all pretty standard around here.

There is no norm as they are self-employed.

They take holiday?
They either don't charge as they have calculated into their hourly costs, or they charge for x days holiday a year which may include some bank holidays to spread your payments throughout the year.

We take holiday?
You still pay them as they are available to take your child. Same as if your child is sick.

Not working bank holidays?
They may charge depending on what you have agreed.

Also if the childminder is sick and cannot provide care?
They shouldn't charge. Self-employed people are rarely sick. However if they are looking at their own children as well as yours, their children may be sick so can't have yours.

My CM has had a couple of days off more than her agreed holiday, which I haven't paid her for, and she has offered the services of another CM in the area that DD knows.

If you need some flexibility in your hours you need to talk to each CM you meet on how flexible they are on having your child for more days or hours with some notice. Mine is flexible within reason.

Also be aware some charge in advance and others charge in arrears.

It's worth enquiring about flexibility eg teachers often negotiate term time only and childminders take kids who are in school in the holidays instead

The best way to assess the value of the service is to annualise the bill. As hourly rates vary you may find that someone charging 5p an hour less but charging holidays actually works out cheaper over the year than only her who takes time unpaid.
Once you have the bill for the year....including everything provided...food, outings wipes groups etc you can decide if the knowledge and experience as well as how you get on with the cm is worth any price difference.

With regard to the cma open letter ...this was about unplanned not negotiated charges so not holidays it also went on to discuss a reasonable charge. Pacey...the body representing many childminders and nanny's has said it does not effect charges for holidays....the rational behind a cm charging for their time off is because some childminders can not afford to take unpaid time off so end up working 50 hour plus weeks for years with no proper break as anyone with one child knows 11 hours with a child is demanding 11 hours with between 3 and 6 followed by paperwork planning and training is more so. Its worth considering how exhausted someone maybe if they haven't had a holiday in 8 years and cared for a one year old and 2 toddlers all that time.