Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

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

Flip

Original poster

Childcare problems - please help

20 replies

greenbeanie · 26/05/2008 16:21

I have 2 ds (3 and 6yrs). I work 3 days a week and from september will need someone to take and pick them up from school/preschool which are both in the same grounds. The current childminder that I use has the youngest ds all day at present and picks up the 6yr old but has said that she would rather have a child all day (understandably)so will not be able to have them. I have approached another childminder who I am going to see this week - she has dropped off a contract which looks very unflexible and strict. I have had 3 childminders in the past. The contract states that we would have to pay for her time to pick up/take the children to school/preschool when they are not in the car - even though her child goes to the same school. Also there is a large section about breakages/damage and how it all has to be paid for. Whilst I understand that she doesn't want her things/property damaged, and nor would I expect my children to do that surely she should be supervising them and making sure that things that can get damaged aren't in the way.

What do you think? Also can anyone think of any other options, I live in Lincolnshire so probably not the pull of London to attract people.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

childminder90210 · 26/05/2008 16:57

I am a CM, that does sound quite strict to me, as I accept breakages to be part of the job and anything that is is precikous to me is put out of the way of mindees. With regard to paying for time going to collect I know some CMs do do this, but I guess everyine is different, you may find you really like her and she maybe isnt as strict as she sounds but she makes it clear from the start she wont be messed about, maybe she had a bad expereince and it has made her a bit more wise. I would still try to go see her with an open mind and see what you think after meeting her, good luck xx

KatyMac · 26/05/2008 16:58

Could you not pay the existing childminder for the full day? At least you know what you are getting

Anna8888 · 26/05/2008 17:00

Not unreasonable at all for the CM to ask for payment for entire drop off/pick up. She cannot take another child along in the car for the return journey if you child has been using the place for the outward journey (and vice versa). So the place/time is effectively blocked by your child.

As for damages - seems fair enough.

funnypeculiar · 26/05/2008 17:02

Humm. I wouldn't be too botherred about paying for the time to pick up (your ds goes to the same school as hers, but presumably it's a blanket clause so would cover her if she was having to go to another school/preschool. I'd check how much time she's expecting to charge for though (5 mins a day isn't going to make much of a dent )

On the breakages one, as childminder90210 says, perhaps she's been stung in the past. I wouldn't expect to pay for toys that got broken during 'normal' play for example.

Maybe you could ask her how often she has to charge people in the last year?

Did you/the dcs like her? If she's great, it's worth being tolerant on the money question, imo...

Original poster

greenbeanie · 26/05/2008 19:12

I am meeting with her on wednesday with the children - and shall see what we think then. It is very easy to be put off by such a strict sounding contract. I did wonder if perhaps something had happened in the past but from reading her information pack although she registered as a childminder in 2006 she has since had 2 lots of maternity leave and therefore only worked for 6 months in total! Also can I just ask, is it usual to ask for cash in advance for each week and charge £2.50 for each cheque. I have always payed by cheque for the week just gone before and never been asked for extra for paying by cheque?

OP posts:

nannynick · 26/05/2008 19:45

Payment in advance I would have thought is quite common these days.
Cheques are a pain, have to physically bank them. How about suggesting you transfer money via internet banking... perhaps she will then not charge you a processing fee.

KatyMac · 26/05/2008 19:50

I charge a month in advance & only accept internet payments - each to their own

PinkChick · 26/05/2008 19:52

too many cons for you here i think..id keep looking, she sounds too hung up on the money/time rather then showing you what a good cm she is and how much fun you LO will have!..like katy mac said could you not afford to pay your current cm for full day??

nannynick · 26/05/2008 19:52

Some banks will charge to process cheques, so it could be that she is passing on the bank charge.

As KatyMac says, some childminders charge a month in advance, so you are lucky that she will accept payment a week in advance.

PinkChick · 26/05/2008 20:04

i let my parents choose, some pay M.I.A some pay W.I.A, i dont mind really although WOULD make it easier for me if it was weekly!?

CarGirl · 26/05/2008 20:07

surely you will need full time daycare in the holidays so keeping your current cm seems logical to me, also will you not get the childcare vouchers to help towards nursery fees so you won't actually be worse off?

KaySamuels · 26/05/2008 20:12

I think op's original cm didn't want to be physically tied by a half day preschool session may be wrong though.

See how she is with your dcs when you visit, I'm sure you will get a better feel of her al round then. I agree about the breakages thing being OTT, have a look aroundwhen yu visit and see if she is being realisitic ie ornaments and mindees don't mix!

It may simply be that she has had bad experiences in the past, but can understand your reservations.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 26/05/2008 22:16

if i were you i'd stick with your current minder & pay her for the whole day - i'd charge while mindee was at pre-school as that is the norm here OR is that she doesn't want to to the school runs?

new childminder sounds awful to me and much too strict! I'm paid at the end of the minding week by cash or cheque - i'd never charge extra for a cheque but i'm probably too soft!

keep looking!

AtheneNoctua · 27/05/2008 08:38

I'd keep looking. Potential childminder sounds very inflexible, almost rude. You are the customer and she should be offering you a bit of customer service. I would ask the following:

Do you take childcare vouchers (without an extra fee)?
Do you expect to be paid for your holidays?
How many holidays will you take in any 12 month period?
Do you expect to be paid for bank holidays?
Do you have cover (i.e. another childminder) if you are ill, on holiday, or otherwise unavailable for work?

I would ask a lot of questions and see if she was willing to accommodate my requests in the same way that she expected me to accommodate hers. And if she wasn't then I would not expect the relationahip to go smoothly and would look for another childminder.

Also, I would not agree to pay damages beacuase, as you point out, I would think it her job to be looking after my children and preventing such an occurance. Of course accidents happen, but as a small business owner (and not an employee) that should be her expense not yours.

Shoshe · 27/05/2008 08:55

We actually get a tax allowence of 10% of earnings for wear and tear, and I have NCMA insurance for breakages.

I have never known a CM charge for breakages!

Payment in advance is actually normal for majority of CM's, to many have been stung with non payment.

I get paid a month in advance, and I expect parents that re paying in vouchers to hold back a payment in their acounts, so they can pay me in advance, as by the time they have released the vouchers from there account on the 1st of the month it can take up to 10 days depending on supplier to hit my account.

Original poster

greenbeanie · 27/05/2008 15:28

Thanks for all your advice, the more I think about it the more I think there is far too much emphasis on money and terms and conditions than actually enjoying and caring for the children. I do appreciate that cm's need to make a living but there are ways of doing this that are perhaps not so harsh. I shall go and visit tomorrow as that is what I have arranged but I think my mind is already made up. I can't really afford to continue paying full days for a childminder and I am very fortunate not to need childcare in the holidays as dh is a teacher

OP posts:

NotABanana · 27/05/2008 15:31

I would meet her without the children first. If you like her then you could meet her again with the children. As you are going in with lots of negative thoughts I don't think you would be able to talk properly if your children were there too.

Original poster

greenbeanie · 28/05/2008 11:44

Went to see new childminder today. Have decided that she is not for us. I asked what sort of things she imagined charging for to do with breakages and she said any toys that got broken and lightbulbs Considering she gets all her toys second hand from ebay and her 3 children are playing with them as well I thought it was a little out of order. I also pointed out that I didn't see how a 3 year old could break a light bulb, or how they would come to be near them anyway!!!

OP posts:

PinkChick · 28/05/2008 20:07

weirdo, steer clear, id ahve thought she would be embarresed to answer that not give such a stupid reply!

TigerFeet · 28/05/2008 20:10

Whereabouts in Lincs are you? I am in Lincs and know of a couple of people...

She sounds like a nutter I hope she's not the CM I'm considering for dd

Flip