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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

is this normal?

16 replies

bethoo · 16/12/2009 14:07

i dont want to appear petty but it seems that whenever my cm has ot make a doctors appointment for her or her children it is always on my time so i have to leave work early. this may seem unreasonable but i work part time so there are plenty of opportunities to make them after my time. for example i work til 12 on a friday and becasue my ds creche only opens dead on 9 am i am always late for work adn have to leave work early to pick him up from crech otherwise i get charged so on a friday i get to work at 915 and have to leave at 1145. now this friday i will have to leave at 1045 as she has booked an appointment for 11am. why could she not book it for 1215 or til the drs close at 5pm?
am i being unreasonable, it just seems that i am spending alot of my time looking after my children when i employ her to do it. my attendance record must look terrible especially as i have recently been transferred to another company and i honestly wonder how long they will put up with my absences!
feel free to tell me i am being U!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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hennipenni · 16/12/2009 14:15

no your not being U, I make all my appointments in my time not my mindees (unless it's a hospital appointment - then they usually come with me)

xoxcherylxox · 16/12/2009 14:15

hiya
i am a childminder and wrk most days and quite long hours if i have to phone the doctor if my child istn really herself that day i get the appointment that day but try to get it during the day when i have only the little children and no after schoolers and i take them with me alternatively i also have an assistant that can keep a hold of the children or my mum is also a childminder so she can cover me for 20mins/ half an hour.
if i need to book an appointment for me in adavance then i try to get it a friday as i dont usually wrk on a friday or i get it for my quiet day with only 1 child and just take them unless it is for something quite personnel

allthatglisters · 16/12/2009 17:36

It is really hard where I am to choose a time for a gp appointment - lately it has taken 6 or 7 days for the first available one so you can't be too fussy - also very difficult to get appointments on a Friday afternoon, or late ones, as everyone wants these. However I wouldn't charge for my own appointments - what does it say in your contract?

looneytune · 16/12/2009 19:33

Well it's almost impossible for me to get my appointments when I'm not working as I work 7.30am - 6pm Mon-Fri. Having said that, I take my mindees with me if the parent is happy and if they're not, that's up to them and they get a refund.

If she's not offered to take your child with her to the appointments and she's charging that time then you are NOT being unreasonable. However, if you've chosen for your child not to go then yes, you are imo.

Luckily most of my parents are more than happy for them to tag along, plus I always try and go when there are less children. But some appointments this isn't possible (i.e. I had MRI scan for over an hour at the hospital today so no way could I take my own children let alone mindees).

Whatever your decision about whether or not she takes your child with her, she should definitely not charge IMO, however, as she's self employed and not employed by you, it's up to her what she puts in her contracts (I just wouldn't dream of charging)

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 16/12/2009 19:35

I think you might have to accept some inconvenient appointments but not a huge amount and why is she having so many appointments?

RosieGirl · 16/12/2009 19:45

Like looney I work 7-6 every day so mindees come with me. Obviously if my children were really ill, I wouldn't be open anyway, but for routine appointments, they come with me, I always let the parent know and will usually call in at the park nearby on the way or way home, and have a discussion about going to the doctors, what they do etc etc.. my doctor is used to me trailing in with several children and usually chats to them all and gives them a sticker. Otherwise for a 10 minute appointment parents would have to take a lot of time off, so none have every worried about it.

RosieGirl · 16/12/2009 19:46

p.s I would never charge if I had to take time off for an appointment.

AvadventCalendar · 16/12/2009 21:13

Can she not take your child with?

Appointments are v har d to come by, some of them will be in minding hours, can;t be helped, take it out on your surgery not the CM.

Original poster

bethoo · 17/12/2009 10:00

she will not take mine as she is not yet walking and buggies are not alowed in the medical centre, she has her own chld with her who can walk but she feels she could not manage!

OP posts:

Danthe4th · 17/12/2009 12:34

Crikey how often does she go, i've got 4 children of my own plus minded children and i've been once this year.
If I had to I would take minded children if the parents were ok and it didn't involve undressing!!!
Why can't she manage, I would be more worried that she can't manage with one baby and one toddler. I take 3 under 2's out and can manage its called planning and being capable. I would question her capabilities, does that make me sound awful?

Danthe4th · 17/12/2009 12:36

adding to that I would also question her commitment to offering you a decent, reliable service so you can work.

Original poster

bethoo · 17/12/2009 12:41

put it this way i have not worked a full week yet as i get calls cos she has sneezed etc! she is lovely yet i know she lacks confidence as when she had my son she once told me she was afraid to put her baby on solids incase he choked and she would not know what to do!
i dont know if i have been charged for the days she takes off as she is very irregular with the form filling in etc.
now i sound harsh!

OP posts:

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 17/12/2009 13:09

I would be looking for a new CM immediately.

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/12/2009 13:30

ditto fab

xoxcherylxox · 17/12/2009 17:44

By bethoo Thu 17-Dec-09 10:00:37
she will not take mine as she is not yet walking and buggies are not alowed in the medical centre, she has her own chld with her who can walk but she feels she could not manage!
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Danthe4th Thu 17-Dec-09 12:34:58
Crikey how often does she go, i've got 4 children of my own plus minded children and i've been once this year.
If I had to I would take minded children if the parents were ok and it didn't involve undressing!!!
Why can't she manage, I would be more worried that she can't manage with one baby and one toddler. I take 3 under 2's out and can manage its called planning and being capable. I would question her capabilities, does that make me sound awful?

it mite be hard to talk to the doctor get them to take blood pressure or whatever while holding a child and letting the other toddler run about a possibly be touching everything. i do take children with me but i make sure that they are in a pram. plus i think thats daft a medical center that doesnt allow prams what about new mothers seeing the doc/mindwife is it thats there isnt space so therefore technically wheel chairs wouldnt fit either.

ChippingIn · 18/12/2009 09:30

I would be looking for a new CM. Partly due to her needing you to take time off work so frequently, but more so due to her apparent inability to handle 2 children and not beign confident to put a child on solids. She would make me far too nervous to leave a child with her...

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