advice on giving notice to CM

[cascade]

My friend has just given notice to her CM. CM looks after children before and after school, term time only, but pays half pay in holidays. On the contract it states 4 weeks notice to end the contract. My friend then said OK last day will be on x.
CM says no that is not the date, as one of the weeks is half term, and you only pay half pay (retainer). So the end date will be one week later.
Is this normal, or should it be 4 weeks from handing in notice?

If it is an NCMA contract it does state that no holidays can be part of the notice period

Not sure what contract it is, il have to ask friend. All I know is that she has to pay a retainer, but cant use the space as CM has other children in the holidays.
Thanks KatyMAc.

If the CM has other children in the holidays that mean she can't have your friends child then I don't think she should be charging a retainer....the retainer allows the parent to call upon the CM during that period (paying then full pay for hours used)

Does that make sense....seems a bit odd.

The retainer is not really for the holiday - but to ensure she comes back

So if I had a child (A)on a Term-time contract who didn't pay a retainer, then they came for the Summer term, but then I got offered a different child (B) for the Autumn term.....I would say no because child (A) is coming back.

Then on 4th August I get 4 weeks notice.....so I get nothing.....& I already refused the other child

I think its the last straw for my friend. She wanted to change contracts with CM as she didnt need the CM on two afterschool sessions, CM said yes then said il have to put up hourly rate by £1. Friend would have been no better off. So when this ending of cantract confusion came up, she just wants to check if that is right way to do it.

contract oops

KatyMac, if I've understood you correctly then in your case the holidays would be part of the notice period. I.e. child A's parent could give you notice on August 4th and you would accept, and keep the retainer.

Cascade's friend's CM seems to plan to keep the retainer and charge notice on the top - is this right?

No mine was about explaining that the holiday retainer is not about the holiday space but about keeping the place open for the following term

(& child (A) didn't pay a 'retainer' in my example)

Yes, I can see how annoying that would be.

It isn't a retainer to hold the space over the holiday

It's a retainer to hold the space until the next time you want to use it (so the childminder doesn't give the space to someone else who wants it now)