CM wants to know if I will be giving notice to leave in September...

[paddlinglikemad]

My DD starts preschool in September 5 mornings a week, my two other DC's are also with CM ( 1 all day and 1 after school)..unfortunately she can't do a preschool pick up or drop off because of other committments ....I haven't actually worked out what I am going to do yet( no other CM's in area) but yesterday she asked me if I was going to give notice for all my DC's and if I was could I let her know this week before she buys a new buggy as it would be a waste of ££ for her.
I told her I would let her know as soon as I have worked out what I am going to do , but she said she needs to know this week otherwise the buggy will be sold..
Feeling a bit under pressure from her, need to sort out my finances etc before I can work out how to get DD to preschool, DH thinks that she wants to create pressure so I just keep DC's with her
S'pose I understand that she needs to know what going on but it is only April? or am I being too defensive?

Presumably you have a notice period in your contract with her, and I would expect this to be substantially less than 6 months!

At this point in time I would not give notice - there is simply no need to do so. You can wait until closer to the time and give notice if you have to.

Agreed, you don't need to give her notice at this point... while it may be ideal for her, unless you know that you will not be needing her services, you are best to keep the option of having them.
If she needs a new buggy, if your children were to leave, then surely the chances are that the buggy would come in handy for other children in the future.

contract says 4 weeks ..out of courtesy I was going to let her know as soon as things all sorted (like lottery win etc!)

just tell her that when you decide you will let her know and give her the required notice - she's being unreasonable and surely if she needs a new buggy for her business she should buy one, whatever the situation with your children.
so why can't she do the pre-school drop-off/pick-up? can you put your dd in a pre-school more convienient for c/m? I can't imagine she wants to lose 3 mindees in one go and imagine she is panicking slightly.

as a c/m myself i would be panicking slightly in her situation and would want to know asap but i definately wouldn't put pressure on parents to decide several months early