So about 4 weeks ago I took on a new mindee, I am only recently registered too so have few mindees yet.
I hd a phone call from a foreign person who wanted childcare for her friends child. Upshot is the 2 women come round and we settle on 3 mornings a week a total of 9 hours on monday, tuesday and thursday mornings 8.30-11.30
She kept to this arrangment for 1 week, since then I have had her on odd days all over the place for 6 hours a time, which in itself is no great issue as not having many other mindees I can normally accomodate but it is grating that I dont know when next to expect her.
Anyway I had her today for 7 hours and the mum collected her and in her very poor english told me that she needs me (and is claiming tax credits for) 16 hours a week but cant tell me in advance what days, only on the friday for the following week iyswim.
When we signed contracts it was made clear that if the days contracted were not used then the £10 minimum fee kicks in, she seems to totally have forgotton about this in the way that she is not sticking to the original days, I will charge her for it natch.
The fact that her English is so bad means that there is very little communication between us, she talks in her language studded with the odd english word and I try to get the jist of it, but really I am worried that I may miss somthing important-or that she will.
The thing is that the mum seems really nice and I do want to be able to help them but it seems so disorganized.
Plus I have concerns about the little girl, she doesnt speak english-seems terribly lonely and very very reluctant to go home. She clashes with my own children but is fine with me, in fact the only english she realy has is "you my mummy?" she is 4 (tho very bg for her age) and both she and her mum have lived here for 3 years.
I am planning on putting a note together for the mum outlining our arrangement that whilst I am willing to be flexible I do need a bit more of an idea of when she needs me especially since the hours have changed so drastically from 9 to 16 hours a week.
I also will point out about the minimum daily £10 fee.
I dont really know what the issue I have is, I worry about the little gil alot, she really doesnt seem able to conect with children or if im honest me, although she will cuddle me when upset etc. She does seem volatile-today she asked me to blow some bubbles for her I had been for quite some time but had stopped to eat my lunch sat next to her in the garden, I said (and gesticulated) that I would again in a min but I was eating my lunch and she blew right through the freshly dipped wand all over my face, I was then covered in bubble liquid-I obviously told her off and she withdrew completely for about an hour. She did come round again and was fine by hometime but trying to explain this to the mum was impossible. She also is a bit light fingered and forever trying to halfinch things from whereever we go including my home! I trealise that she may not have much, for the outings we have been on her reaction tells me that she doesnt really get out a lot, I know they dont have a garden and seeing as mine is a bit of an adventure playground! I can see why she loves it here, and am pleased that the mum is happy enough to up the hours but I dont really know where I am.
I feel like I need to keep a diary of things that occur in order to cover my back-what from ive no idea!
I dont really know why im posting, I know i havent a clue what to do, do I say no sorry to the extended hours and stick stricktly to the contracted ones, so I just let it go-she will be a school in sept so then not in my care anyway.........
This really isnt how I had pictured childminding! I seem to fumbling through the dark and I so want to do the right thing by me and mostly by the little girl, but the lack of language and the obvious differences in upbrining and expectance of behavior are making things tricky!