Leaving Childminder - How to calculate final invoice

[Rion2019]

Hi all,

I am new here but was hoping you could help me out with this as I seem to be going round in Circles!

We pay my childminder a fixed amount each month for 3 full days a week @ £8.50 ph, they also take 6 weeks paid holiday for which the cost is calculated into our fixed monthly cost.

We notified the CM that we were leaving on 10/05/2022 (9 weeks in advance, & more than the 6 weeks as contract states)

When notified of this the CM said she might have to charge us for 2 weeks holiday, is that right?

In the contract it states that the holiday year runs from 1st May to 30th April.

If we are leaving on say 14th July they wouldn't have accrued 2 weeks worth of holiday by then? and we are also paying additional monthly to cover the holiday....

I am knotting myself up trying to work this out so any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

You say: fixed monthly amount based on hours x hourly rate.. but then also mention 'paid holiday which the cost is calculated into the fixed monthly cost'

Do you usually pay the same fixed monthly cost when your childminder is on holiday for those 6 weeks?

What does your contract state about accrued holiday and notice periods?

If holiday is accrued at the rate of 0.5 weeks per month worked, then if your children were present for May, June and half of July, you might be due to pay 1.5 weeks of holiday.

However - this would have to be made clear in the contract.

I would hope she has something covered in her fee structure, otherwise, a proportion of her clients every year would give notice at this time and therefore not pay her for the holidays.

Sorry yes my explanation may have caused confusion.

In our contract under contracted fee's it states: £7.50 ph / £819.38 monthly for attendance 3 days per week 8-5.30pm.

Under holidays it states:

The Setting's holiday period:
The holiday period for the setting runs each year from: May 1st to April 30th
The Setting's total holiday duration:
The setting will be closed for 6 Weeks per year.

Additional Notes:
My 6 weeks holiday is removed from the monthly fees on a pro rata basis, as discussed with both parents.

I think I am getting confused over what calculation to use for the accrued holiday, but I think your suggestion of 0.5 weeks accrued per calendar month is correct unless I have missed something obvious...

So you pay the same each month regardless of if she is on holiday or not?

It sounds like she has taken total for the year, less 6 weeks holiday and then divided by 12 - is this correct?

Had she taken any holiday since 1 May? If not, then yes you need to pay holiday from 01 May to 15 July - which is 11 weeks = she is accruing holiday at 6/52 which is 0.1154 per week, so 1.2694 weeks holiday owed

You childminder has calculated your fees by charging you 46 weeks child care and dividing it by 12 equal payments.

if she’s not taken any holiday this year yet then she probably worked more days than you’ve actually paid for so far. As it looks like she doesn’t charge you for her 6 weeks off.

when she gives you her final bill if you don’t understand how she’s worked it out then just ask her.

it’s up to her to calculate it not you