Childminder query

[bluebell8329]

Morning

Just a quickie. I have been with my current childminder for two years now, have a contract for set days in the school holidays and wraparound care during term time. She recently approached me and said that she would no longer be able to have my child during term time now as she had a new child starting in October who would be full time. Is this ok to do? I assumed that there would be some sort of waiting list and the child that would be full time would have to wait for a space and it not be a case of bumping one child off her books to make space for another.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated....... 😊

I assume your contract with her will provide a notice period.

She can do it, and obviously is she has someone paying for a full day then she can't turn it down, especially with rising costs, etc etc.

As CMs have limits on the number of children they can care for, your child must be tipping her over that amount, which is why she won't be able to offer them a place anymore.

I suppose if you wanted to keep your child there the only alternative would be to pay the day rate. Of course I know this isn't possible for most, though.

She can set her own terms as a self-employed person, and financially obviously it will be much better for her to have a full-time child than just wraparound care. Annoying for you but understandable for her!

It will make economic sense to her, she had blocked out a space for you which is unused with no/reduced income for her. Now she can fill the space with this child and increase her income. It won't be personal. Just business.

Thanks for the reply. I totally understand, I think it's just hard has he has been there so long and the way she has gone about it, basically saying she's chosen because he has no siblings there and then it came down to him and another child, both of which were in the same amount of days and it was one or the other.

She's given you notice, which is the right way to 'go about it'.

Try to imagine this is at your work, you've been doing a job for years on minimal hours and thus less pay because that's all that was available, but a role with more hours has come up, and your employer tells you they want you to stay in your low earning role because you've been there years.

You'd choose the money, wouldn't you? Sure, it's nice to have genuine love of the job, but live alone doesn't pay the bills

It's always a heart wrenching decision for a childminder to give notice but as a business she needs an income. Many of us can't face it and end up short of money for years then a family up and go without a second thought ( not an issue but just to show everyone needs to do what's best for them not think of the other party). Her spaces are limited she has to make the best financial choice she can. After that she would consider what fits best hour wise, and how long the work is likely to be needed for....this maybe x leaves for senior school first so frees a space for younger children becouse y then starts school for example. Or if could be x has been here longer than y...
.there's never a simple one rule for all answer

I actually think the deal you’ve had with your childminder is brilliant for you, not so great for her, and not all that common. You’re only paying really for the hours you use. I’ve just finished a year of paying my childminder for all of the term-time hours when my child is actually in school, just to ensure I have the afterschool cover… 😕

Of course it makes sense for her to exchange a part-time place for a full-time place. And she’s giving you 3 months notice, loads of time.

Does seem weird. As she can have usually 3 under 5 and 6 under 8

you are in one of the 6 places in 3 under 8

does she not have 3 under 5 and one of those all day

or does she have lots of after school but not daytime hence a family paying 8/6 is far better then you 3/6