Childminder not doing school holidays anymore. Can't find anyone else for my 9 Y/O stressed

[Alicew00]

My child is a sensible 9 year old. I have no one to look after her apart my partner who works nights and her childminder who has just decided to stop doing school holidays as her husband works from home now and needs quiet. I start work at 8am and need to leave at 7:30am. My partner wouldn't get home til 8/8:30am. I'm just so fed up now. We're pushed and pushed to work and I struggle. I've tried finding other childcare but there isn't anyone available.Stressed/feel like crying.

Holiday club?

There isn't any, and none that do from 7:30am. It's all from 9am

Look for holiday clubs, lots of families use them. I arrange with other parents to do drop off / pick up.

this was me back in the day…..my DP dropped mine off with a neighbour for 30 mins twice a week ( she had kids the same age) …..I paid her a fiver ….which was big money back then!

Clubs, annual leave and parental leave.

Realistically you are looking at 2-3 years. Once your DD is at secondary school, she won't need as much childcare.

So you leave at 7.30am and your partner is home by 8am? I would be leaving them at home by themselves for 30 mins at the age of 9.

The point of having kids is caring for them.
Im sure she will be fine for 30 mins if her dads home at 8 and you leave at 7.30.
A childminder can have her own time.

What area are you in OP? If near London PM me as I might know someone.
What about koru kids or bubble app ?

Have you got someone local who would be in? I mean it's half an hour, I'd leave her alone if there is a neighbour who she could contact if something went wrong.

I don't really get this - it's only half an hour or so and she's 9. Why can't she just stay at home?

I would leave my 9 year old home for 30 mins on their own at this time. Chances are they would still be sleeping.
If really not happy then I would ask your work if you could go in later over the holidays ?

Is the problem the school holidays going forwards or from 7.30-8.30 every day whether it’s term time or holiday time?

DD had similar situation a couple of years back. I was able to care for dgc but obviously a big commitment for me.
I just don’t think it’s fair for childminders to just reduce their service like this. DD’s CM was a bit miffed that I took on all the care and she lost a dc.
As pp said, you could probably leave your dc for 30 minutes but I’d not want to pay the cm during term time after changing her terms.
Also, what happens if your DH is delayed significantly or, heaven forbid, has an accident en route home?
Sorry I’ve no answers.

Is the issue your husband works nights and so needs to sleep during the day? I imagine that would be very boring for a 9 year old to be more or less on their own the whole day. If that is the case can he take her to a holiday club, there should be options - drama/sports?

It's she's saying now the next school holiday is around 10 weeks time for England.....how much notice does the average worker give 4 isn't it?

Op if you get on with the cm could you ask if she is able to do an hour in the morning and your oh collect on his way home?

Could your DH take her to a holiday club when he gets home? Any flexibility for you to start work a bit later so you can drop her to a club en route to work?

I would leave her home alone for half an hour if she's OK with that, then her dad could drop her at holiday club for 9 and come home and sleep.

Childminder's probably getting a bit boring for a 9yo anyway?

You don’t think self employed people should have a choice about the hours they work?

@BuffaloCauliflower @jannier
i don’t think it’s fair when CM changes their hours knowing full well the person paying them cannot just make a significant change to their working hours.
As I said, I’d not be paying her in term time if that was the case.
CM’s are an integral part of the working community and, yes, they can change their hours but need to accept that they might lose work if they cannot continue to provide the agreed service.

You might find that you could get a nanny or night nanny to cover on their way to or from their main job.