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Paid childcare

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

Giving notice just before summer holidays?

13 replies

indie37 · 05/02/2010 11:21

Okay, I have a moral dilemna and DH thinks I'm totally out of order for even thinking about this. We pay our childminder 12 equal monthly installments even though she doesn't work school holidays and only charges half price for those 13 weeks. I have a nursery place for my two year old dd confirmed for Sep. But obviously I have to find alternative arrangements for her for the summer holidays, (possibly our lovely summer nanny who did it last year). I think it's appropriate therefore to give notice to the childminder the month before the summer holidays and finish dd2 off mid-July, have summer nanny over summer and then start nursery in Sep. DH thinks this is totally out of order and that it's really unfair to childminder to be without money for the summer. What do you think? If we do it his way, I'll give notice mid-summer and finish paying end of Aug but won't actually use childminder for summer hols. This will cost me about £350.
We've been with the childminder over a year, it is her choice to be paid this way and we only have to contractually give one months notice, so I'm not sure, do you think I'm being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
indie37 · 05/02/2010 11:32

Bump

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 05/02/2010 11:38

Not unreasonable at all, seems perfectly fair

In fact if you could see your way to giving her even more notice she would love you forever

MissAnneElk · 05/02/2010 11:43

I can't see a problem. Any reason why you couldn't tell her now when you intend your DD to finish, then if money is tight for her she has the option to work over the summer if she wants.

indie37 · 05/02/2010 11:44

That's true, I could give her six month's notice. You don't think that would back fire on me and she'd get rid of me sooner. Guess it's a risk you take.

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 05/02/2010 11:47

No reason for it to backfire, most CMs I know are v reasonable and would very much appreciate the heads-up

you sound a lovely parent to work with, your CM is v lucky

BoysAreLikeDogs · 05/02/2010 11:49

arf MissAnnElk do you have a theory

dmo · 05/02/2010 12:08

if you let her know now she may be able to fit another child in for August.
i know a child is leaving me in sept due to school start which is fab cause i was able to arrange for a new child to start for the september

MissAnneElk · 05/02/2010 12:08

BoysAreLikeDogs

indie37 · 05/02/2010 12:11

Oh thank you boysarelikedogs. She is a fabulous childminder to be honest and I would love for her to be my childminder again, it's just a problem with her not working holidays. But I think giving her six months notice is the answer, then she's prepared.

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HSMM · 05/02/2010 16:07

I am a CM and I wouldn't mind at all. Like the others though ... I would like you to tell me now, so I don't turn anyone away who asks me for future work. There will be people out there who had Christmas babies, looking for childcare from Summer onwards.

WeWantYourDoofDoofs · 05/02/2010 20:19

But if you pay the yearly amount in equaL INSTALLMENTS THEN THERE WOULD BE SOME ADJUSTING TO DO RE HOLIDAYS AND STUFF AND WORKING OUT IF EIHER SIDE OWES MONEY SURELY?

Oops too lazy to change it now.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 05/02/2010 20:54

yy some adjusting possibly, not overly hard though

lollipopmother · 05/02/2010 21:34

Definitely just give her extra notice although I don't think you're being unreasonable at all in just giving her the contracted notice, but seeing as you already know.....

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