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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Childminder and Covid issue

46 replies

Ilovechocolate87 · 07/01/2023 10:26

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?

OP posts:
Reugny · 07/01/2023 14:45

Haven't got

awLspo · 07/01/2023 14:47

"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!"

Yes exactly this OP, I wasn't trying to catch you out in anything by calling it a name change fail, it's a general term I've seen used a lot on here 🙄 My point in highlighting it was so you could ask MNHQ to change it to make the thread easier to follow.

Notaligned · 07/01/2023 14:48

@Reugny I would keep mine home with a fever of 38 too or any other signs of being unwell- what frustrated me is that we've now been presented by a new rule not backed by any official guidance apart from a little Facebook image some random has knocked up that seems to be doing the rounds, to keep home for 48 hours after recovering from a fever.

jannier · 07/01/2023 15:27

Notaligned · 07/01/2023 14:43

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

Believe me 4 year olds sneeze without covering, lick and are not rushing to wash their hands every cough or nose rub.

Reugny · 07/01/2023 15:32

@Notaligned I would change childcare provider if possible.

EarlyYearsMe · 07/01/2023 15:42

Childminder of 11 years here 👋🏻

If a child has a fever they should stay at home until they can maintain a normal temp without calpol. Some say 24 hrs, some say 48hrs.

If a parent tests positive for covid, but child is displaying no symptoms and is testing negative, I would take them, but only if another adult could drop off, I wouldn’t want you approaching the setting. I have a parent who isn’t well at the moment, she may not want the other parents knowing, and I couldn’t risk her getting something because that’s really selfish and cruel, so I would insist on daily testing, regular hand washing and not allowing any toys being brought in from home. Your childminder may well have a similar situation but isn’t telling you for confidentiality reasons. Morally, as childminder is refusing to take your child, she should probably refund you, but it is a grey area and without seeing your contract I’m not sure where you stand.

Mummyof287 · 07/01/2023 18:54

AnotherAppleThief · 07/01/2023 12:21

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!

Show quote history

Okay I get it...I just didn't understand that to start with! Could do without the criticism please when I'm already feeling crap 😭

Mummyof287 · 07/01/2023 18:56

awLspo · 07/01/2023 14:47

"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!"

Yes exactly this OP, I wasn't trying to catch you out in anything by calling it a name change fail, it's a general term I've seen used a lot on here 🙄 My point in highlighting it was so you could ask MNHQ to change it to make the thread easier to follow.

Okay, no worries, thanks :)

Mummyof287 · 07/01/2023 19:04

EarlyYearsMe · 07/01/2023 15:42

Childminder of 11 years here 👋🏻

If a child has a fever they should stay at home until they can maintain a normal temp without calpol. Some say 24 hrs, some say 48hrs.

If a parent tests positive for covid, but child is displaying no symptoms and is testing negative, I would take them, but only if another adult could drop off, I wouldn’t want you approaching the setting. I have a parent who isn’t well at the moment, she may not want the other parents knowing, and I couldn’t risk her getting something because that’s really selfish and cruel, so I would insist on daily testing, regular hand washing and not allowing any toys being brought in from home. Your childminder may well have a similar situation but isn’t telling you for confidentiality reasons. Morally, as childminder is refusing to take your child, she should probably refund you, but it is a grey area and without seeing your contract I’m not sure where you stand.

Thanks, it is helpful to hear your perspective.I had offered for my DH or mum to take her in, and made it clear I wouldn't go near her home whilst still testing positive.
I do understand her reservations about the risk of covid spreading into the setting, I just don't feel we should have to pay for a 'precaution'....it would be £100 paid out with no service received and a well child whom we then have to try and occupy and care for at home whilst juggling work or taking time off (which in DH's case would mean losing a fair bit of money as he doesn't get sick pay)

DisneyChops · 07/01/2023 19:27

Sort of related but I had the same problem with my parents this week. Neither of them vulnerable really but wouldn't look after my daughter whilst positive. Annoyed me a little bit because I had to look after her all day feeling really rough.
Yet they'd have her if I had a sick bug or flu...
To me they can be worse!

Sillyheadoooooo · 09/01/2023 09:44

Wow how selfish can you be. You want to send a covid positive child into a setting where she might get the childminder or any other children at the setting ill. I’m sure you’d be the first to complain if your childminder got covid and had to close for two weeks. Fair enough if you sent her and didn’t know but you know so have some consideration for others. Your childminder has a duty of care to all children, not just your own.
if people have such awful attitudes towards paying childminders there won’t be any left. With government funding at £4ph and the highest rate childminders usually charge is £6ph most childminders hardly make minimum wage.

Fleabigg · 09/01/2023 09:51

She could go to a nursery or school in this situation (unless they have practices that are really out of step with most settings) so yes I think the childminder is being unreasonable. However they have a lot of autonomy and can make it up as they go along on some of this stuff so it’s one of the risks of using one.

Fleabigg · 09/01/2023 09:52

Sillyheadoooooo · 09/01/2023 09:44

Wow how selfish can you be. You want to send a covid positive child into a setting where she might get the childminder or any other children at the setting ill. I’m sure you’d be the first to complain if your childminder got covid and had to close for two weeks. Fair enough if you sent her and didn’t know but you know so have some consideration for others. Your childminder has a duty of care to all children, not just your own.
if people have such awful attitudes towards paying childminders there won’t be any left. With government funding at £4ph and the highest rate childminders usually charge is £6ph most childminders hardly make minimum wage.

The child is not covid positive, get a grip 🙄

boxingdayisbest · 09/01/2023 10:12

It may be an unpopular view but I see the childminders point.

COVID is incredibly contagious, more so than colds. It is very likely your daughter will catch it and people can pass it on 2 days BEFORE they have symptoms or test positive.

So if you send your daughter with a negative test, in close proximity in a home setting she is likely to pass it on to other children and/or the childminder before you know she has it. If the childminder gets it, she has to close and all of the parents, including you, have no childcare (probably just at the point you are better and well enough to work).

GiltEdges · 09/01/2023 11:48

boxingdayisbest · 09/01/2023 10:12

It may be an unpopular view but I see the childminders point.

COVID is incredibly contagious, more so than colds. It is very likely your daughter will catch it and people can pass it on 2 days BEFORE they have symptoms or test positive.

So if you send your daughter with a negative test, in close proximity in a home setting she is likely to pass it on to other children and/or the childminder before you know she has it. If the childminder gets it, she has to close and all of the parents, including you, have no childcare (probably just at the point you are better and well enough to work).

Which is all fine. But if the childminder wishes to take the extra precaution and have a covid negative not attend her settings because other members of her household are covid positive then she needs to do so at her own expense. The child isn’t ill.

GiltEdges · 09/01/2023 11:49

Sillyheadoooooo · 09/01/2023 09:44

Wow how selfish can you be. You want to send a covid positive child into a setting where she might get the childminder or any other children at the setting ill. I’m sure you’d be the first to complain if your childminder got covid and had to close for two weeks. Fair enough if you sent her and didn’t know but you know so have some consideration for others. Your childminder has a duty of care to all children, not just your own.
if people have such awful attitudes towards paying childminders there won’t be any left. With government funding at £4ph and the highest rate childminders usually charge is £6ph most childminders hardly make minimum wage.

Comprehension isn’t your strong suit, seemingly.

Original poster
Ilovechocolate87 · 09/01/2023 13:31

Yes I certainly wouldn't be sending baby in if she herself was ill or testing positive....that would definitely be selfish! 🤨

I do understand the childminder's reservations, I just didn't realise me having it would mean DD couldn't go now all the restrictions are lifted and covid is generally treated the same as other illnesses by society.

I've now asked her if she can refund us for the missed sessions if DD isn't actually unwell, and she has said she is fine to do that, so that's good!
She is a fantastic childminder and a really nice person, so I really didn't want to have a disagreement about it, and I'm just relieved she agreed and it hasn't become awkward between us!

OP posts:
jannier · 09/01/2023 13:39

Notaligned · 07/01/2023 14:48

@Reugny I would keep mine home with a fever of 38 too or any other signs of being unwell- what frustrated me is that we've now been presented by a new rule not backed by any official guidance apart from a little Facebook image some random has knocked up that seems to be doing the rounds, to keep home for 48 hours after recovering from a fever.

The guidelines changed with Covid. And now we have Strep A which people think went away at Christmas but it hasn't it went quiet with children not being at school.
Childminders work with young children, pregnant mothers and vulnerable people like Asthmatics...we as a nation have been advised by our government to wear masks if we feel unwell but early years can't wear masks so staying away is a sensible precaution to see what develops. Remember as well that it's very common to dose a child up before coming to hide a temperature which is risking misdiagnosis and double dosing if a child is rushed to hospital.

jannier · 09/01/2023 13:50

Fleabigg · 09/01/2023 09:51

She could go to a nursery or school in this situation (unless they have practices that are really out of step with most settings) so yes I think the childminder is being unreasonable. However they have a lot of autonomy and can make it up as they go along on some of this stuff so it’s one of the risks of using one.

They don't make it up as they go along it should be in sickness policy....if a nursery takes a child and it's passed on to staff they get in locums childminders are not allowed to use locum staff ....therefore they have to by Ofsted requirement not to spread infection close. If they get it the op would then the op would be off another week or more as would everyone else.....in Covid fewer childminders closed through illness than nurseries in my area and since covid many have had lots of illness including scarlet fever...childminders seem to have swerved it.

What are the other risks of using childminders?

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/01/2023 23:18

Cm is wrong - you are ill not child

yes she may go down with it. Or she may not

but no reason to say no

tho only thing would be do you to not drop off at her setting

PrincessScarlett · 14/01/2023 15:28

Most CMs and nurseries have a sickness policy which states exactly when children are excluded from settings due to illness. It is usually based on Public Health England but providers are entitled to dictate their own terms which a parent signs up to when they sign contracts.

The current guidelines for covid are 3/5 days exclusion for those testing positive but some settings are still taking a cautious approach when another family member has it. In the case of HFM officially there is no exclusion but it is highly contagious so many settings choose to exclude.

In any event, it sounds as though your CM is doing exactly the correct and fair thing by being cautious and protecting the other families she works with and not charging you in this instance.

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