Childminder and Covid issue

[Ilovechocolate87]

I've got covid. I stupidly told childminder that not realising it would cause any problems, but she has said DD can't go in next week now because of me having it even if she herself appears completely well and tests clear, 'just incase' she passes it on, which if i'm honest seems abit over cautious now all restrictions have been lifted and if well then people are expected to just carry on as normal like with other illnesses.I appreciate nobody wants to be unwell, but i know if i had flu or a stomach bug for example she wouldn't be saying that, even though DD could easily pick them up too)
But i guess we have to accept that if that's her rules then we don't have a choice...we can't force her to accept DD into her home.

But the other issue is that she will seemingly still want to charge us in full despite us having no say in if DD goes (even if she seems totally well and is testing negative) so we end up having a well child needing to be kept and cared for at home, who isn't allowed to access the provision we have paid for. Surely that's not fair?

What does it say on your contract about ill health?

She shouldn't charge you if she won't have your daughter, who is healthy. I'd look for a different childcare option tbh.

My childminder will do everything she can to not have to look after my child. She's tried to send her home for "warm hands", temp of 37 on the basis of her thermometer maybe not being accurate, hot weather, being the only child there today and it being boring for her. 5 days off for very mild hfm with no fever or malaise. The newest rule is that they have to be 48 hours clear of a fever of 38 degrees before they can go back.

Would charge for all of these too.

I don't actually seem to have a contract in my possession....I remember signing one and thought I had a copy but can't find anything.
I'm pretty sure it probably said that she can refuse a child if unwell, but not that she can if the PARENT is unwell.I'll definitely ask her to give me a copy of the one I signed for future reference.

Your child isn’t ill. Unless she’s very specifically updated her contract with additional covid terms, which indicate that illness in the household means a child can’t attend the setting and you’ll still be charged, then she can’t charge you. Or, she needs to take your child.

She is a wonderful CM in general, and has a great relationship with DD and with us.This has thrown me though...don't want to cause friction between us but really don't feel right having to pay for a well child not attending childcare we have paid for.It's lucky I can WFH/get sick pay next week or we'd be screwed.

I think you've had a name change fail OP

I'm a childminder and i would take a child if a parent had Covid however I can understand why people are still cautious. If she catches it then presumably she would have to close and wouldn't be able to charge?
I do think she's unreasonable to charge if she won't accept your child though.
Has she a policy about this in place?
Re the 38 temp comment....again, we are getting lots of information from our local authority about this type of symptom due to strep A/scarlet fever circulating this year so this might be influencing that decision.
We have a responsibility to safeguard all children in our care so that is always at the forefront of our minds.
Warm hands is a stretch though!

Not so much a fail...not hiding anything, just posting under a different name and section in an attempt to get some additional responses :)

I think PP was pointing it out because it can make it quite difficult to identify where the OP has responded to their own thread, as it’s no longer highlighted when you post under a different name. For those who filter by posts made by the OP only, it will appear that you didn’t bother to respond.

My CM didn't accept children last year if a family member had Covid. She didn't charge though, which was the right thing to do. She used to send out updated Covid policies as there was nothing about it in the original childcare contract. Its a difficult situation for you.

??
So you are basically using different names to get a different response, ???

Thanks for your response.

There is definitely nothing in any policy or contract i signed about children not being accepted if their parents are unwell.I understand in a way why she wants to be careful, but many people risk being exposed to covid now in their jobs and can't choose if they go to work around people/children whose families have covid.

Obviously it's not good if she gets ill- can't work- loses income, but like you say it's also not fair for us to pick up the financial slack and the alternative being us losing £100 fees instead because of a vague possibility seemingly well toddler may spread covid.

you are basically using different names to get a different response, ???

There's another post in aibu exactly the same as thiis so presumably yes

No- this is a different question.Last night I asked if I was being unreasonable wanting to send DD to childminder if I have covid.Today I'm asking if the CM is being unfair by refusing her and charging us, as the situation has changed since my first post.

Thanks for this response- my thoughts exactly

sigh why does it matter? Its a different question I'm asking anyhow.Please only comment if you have a useful answer to add.

Op it's just a little difficult to follow your thread as you started with one username and continued posting with another . Just something to be aware of

Okay fair point 👍 I hadn't even realised I'd done that 😅

That was the point the poster was making about your name change fail and then you went off in a tangent about another thread in another topic, confusing everyone!

The 48 hours clear is being advised at the moment due to Strep A and Covid. I won't take HFM as it's nasty for many and contagious....guidance says you can accept to school but is not written thinking about the snot and saliva exchange through toys of young children and says with good hand hygiene I don't think any 1 year old has good hygiene

But if you send her now and the childminder gets it she will then close meaning you have longer off work ....can you afford that?

@jannier I'm curious to know who is advising children stay home for 48 hours after recovering from fever? The only source I can find is a poorly edited infographic, littered with spelling errors which is doing the rounds on childminding groups. My preschool advises to send in when they are well and don't have any active fever. So my kid is mingling at preschool but unable to be with the same children at the childminders. It's nonsensical, and most likely useless as they are most contagious before and whilst they are symptomatic with most bugs.

Hfm the NHS advises sending them in as long as they are well because it's a usually mild illness that children need exposure to in order to build immunity.

Either way, it's really tough on working parents to have rules constantly made up and changed, which are not in line with any official guidance and mean taking unpaid time off work whilst also paying a childminder. I wish there was an official governing body that gave guidance instead of it being totally at the businesses discretion

I also acknowledge is different with small babies - the setting I use is all 4 year olds so the level of caution is frustrating and often feels like excuses

I have got that information about a 38 degree temp from either my DD's CM or her nursery.

Then again if DD is clearly unwell we keep her home.