Should I complain?

[hls1010]

I have a 4YO and a 2YO in childcare with a childminder. They have been with her for about 12 weeks.
I've just been given 4 weeks notice to terminate my 4YO's contract with no warning, it's come as a complete shock.
The childminder's reasoning is that having my children together is detrimental to both of their development as they play together rather than with children their own age. She thinks that my 4YO would be better in a nursery as she can't offer the structure that they can or prepare him for school.
She's also said that his behaviour is another reason for termination but I haven't been made aware of any instances of poor behaviour on pick up. I've asked for any relevant incident reports but she hasn't got any. She's listed some examples but I feel she should have given me the opportunity to work with her to resolve this before terminating.
My 4YO only has 21 days of being in childcare left once we've completed her notice period as I'm a part timer.
Should I push to keep him there or walk away?
Should I make a complaint or just accept our fate?

I think the provider has been clear that they can't meet your child's needs and they think their presence is detrimental to your other child. I think childminders are typically experienced when it comes to children generally, and on what works best for them as the provider. Whether or not any provider could meet your children's needs is one thing, but this provider definitely cannot.

In a nursery, your children would be separated by their age groups and so would not be together. I personally do know of sibling groups where some of the children are unable to thrive in the presence of their sibling because they have a very dominant and intense personality and relationship. It doesn't mean it's always bad or wrong, but effort does have to be made to give each child the space to develop without the influence of a more "vivacious" sibling.

Complain about her giving notice? To who? She's allowed to give notice and it sounds like she's actually thinking of what's best for your children too here.

The timing is extremely annoying I know, but you have a 4 week termination for a reason on both sides. You can't complain about her upholding a contract that you signed.

Seems odd considering your 4 year old would be leaving to go to school in the autumn anyway. You are unlikely to be able to get a nursery place for the few days you need to cover.
So what if the siblings play together, not really surprising....
The fact that she hasn't raised any concerns about your child's behaviour earlier and can't give you any examples means this is a red herring of an excuse for serving notice. It maybe that your 4 year old is the only one there any she can't be bothered with the additional work involved with a slightly older child.
I would look at moving your 2 year old as soon as you can as I wouldn't be able to trust her in the future.
If she is Ofsted registered, that would be the only people you could raise concerns to.

Ofsted are a regulatory body. They don't get involved in contractual differences.

It wasn't the contractual element I was questioning but the general behaviour of the child minder and what she is saying.

What is she saying though? She doesn't want to or can't offer care for a child any more and has given appropriate notice. That's allowed!

I wouldn’t force anyone to look after my child who didn’t want to. She is perfectly within her right to give you notice to remove your child, so you can’t really complain to anyone. You’re just going to have to make other arrangements.

To be honest I can’t see what you would even make the complaint about. The childminder is well within her rights to terminate contract. Sometimes children just don’t work so well in a particular setting and she is being honest that she can’t meet his needs. When you have a mix of ages, sometimes the older children can dominate a group, especially if they also have a younger sibling there. Sometimes, siblings can be tricky in a group setting where they’re not in different areas. Not always but it can and does happen. A childminder with a mix of ages has to find a happy medium between all of the children.

I guess I just feel wronged in that she didn't let me know she was struggling with my 4YO and saved it all up until I was served the notice to terminate.
I should probably add that when I was looking for childcare, she approached me as she was looking for a sibling pair. That makes this all the more puzzling.
But yes, you're right, I don't want a childminder who doesn't want one of my children. Hence why I've decided to move on with both.

She has the right to give you notice, and I don’t see who you could complain to, but I think it is not very kind of her to do so when your older child has so little time left with her anyway. I would definitely try to discuss with her whether there is any way she would be prepared to keep the child for that short time, to avoid the double disruption to the child of new minder/nursery then starting school soon afterwards. If it’s really a behaviour issue, might you be able to demonstrate that you’ll support her efforts to improve the behaviour? Then I'd look for a new minder for your younger child.

Yes, in hindsight, maybe complain isn't the right word. I guess I'm wondering whether I should try to negotiate with her about him staying on until the end of July.

You can definitely try to negotiate. Sounds like your children are a bit of a nightmare together! No judgement as I know 2 of mine are a nightmare together too 😂

If you're planning to remove both children anyway though it might be better to cut your losses here and try to find a childminder who will collect from your eldest's school?

Which was perfectly fine. Honestly she is allowed to give notice so basically you are complaining because you don’t like it and dont agree with it - that doesn’t make it wrong.

What do you want to happen? Continue with a childminder who feels that way?

OP you are very ‘entitled’ to complain (and no one to complain to anyway FFS) about a decision by a private provider because they have followed their own contract.

The childminder will also know that she risks you pulling the younger one out too. Most would grin and bear it for a few more weeks when the older leaves anyway for the long term gain of keeping the younger one. Therefore, they really must be quite full on!

No, not at all. The childminder has said he has some lovely qualities but has insisted that he needs a nursery because he isn't 'school ready.'
She's also told me that she doesn't need my business as her husband has a well paid job. Childminding is just what she enjoys doing.

This isn't right or fair. I would contact your local authority. My hunch is that the CM has ditched your 4 year old as she gets a lower hourly rate for them from the nursery funding so they are less profitable for her. It's a terrible way of going about things. If there were genuine behavioural issues she should have talked to you about these at the time they were occurring

It's mid term now so can't imagine it's a funding issue.

Do you think the local authority employ her or something?

She's allowed to give notice people! What's this craziest about reporting her? Crazy answers! She doesn't have to look after anyone she doesn't want to!

I once gave notice because a parent repeatedly parked on my front lawn, despite being told not to... I'm allowed to do that!

The local authority would expect there to be a genuine reason to give notice if the childminder is claiming the nursery funding. Going by what the opening poster has said there is no genuine reason and they have been left in a vulnerable situation by the CM. If the CM is claiming nursery funding then yes, the local authority would be interested in a parent loosing their childcare under tenuise reasons.

I would definitely question the wisdom and qualifications of someone who wants you to put your child through two rapid transitions. I would move your younger child as well.