Am I being unreasonable...

[DitavonTeese]

...to not expect to pay a childminder when her children are sick and she therefore can't look after mine? I'm currently interviewing childminders and one of them, who's great and has two children at school, has said that (a) I'll need to pay her for bank hols and 4 weeks' holiday per year (I understand that this is standard, so I'm okay with it) and (b) if her children are ill and she can't take my daughter, I'll still have to pay her EVEN though it means I'll also have to pay for alternative childcare to cover that period.

I know she can't help it if her children are ill, but there have to be limits! I can't afford to pay £100 a day if her kids are sick and I've still got to go to work.

Does anyone else have the same arrangement?

i think the last 2 posts make a really good point - we are self-employed and therefore we can charge exactly what we want - if the customer doesn't like it they won't use us , simple as that.
Some of my mindees moved to me because their mum felt the previous c/m was taking the piss when charging full-rate over the xmas break and i agree - i do charge half as i will happily work bankhols but not at xmas [who would?] but i actually charge more than the old c/m but we have a great working relationship as i do with all the parents - i feel i'm fair and i am flexible and most of all i am not money grabbing.