CM Advice Needed Please

[WildMountainThyme]

DS4 is 3 yo and has been with his CM since last October. He goes to her 3 mornings a week and to a local nursery one morning.

In December I had to swap one of my CM days with his nursery day as the CM was taking on another child and couldn't have DS that day. This took a lot of juggling on the nursery's part and another parent willing to change days but we got it sorted and the CM assured me that there would be no more changes.

This morning the CM told me that she is taking on another child from May and so she'll only be able to have DS 2 days.

The nursery I use the one day is full, childminding spaces are like hens teeth round here and I have no family within 200 miles. Friends don't mind helping out now and again but can't help on a permanent basis.

I've signed a contract with the CM stating days/hours, can she really take my space away so easily?

It looks like I'll have to leave work if I can't get a space for DS elsewhere and I've only been working for 4 months .

Its unfortunate I know but she can give you notice at any time as per her contract in the same way that you could. It sounds like she has found a more lucrative mindee so doesnt want to look after your DS. I can see her point I wouldnt want to use up a full time place with one child who only did mornings as she will be making alot less money. Have you tried asking id this is the case or if she knows anyone who has places?

The new child is only part time too.

There are no other places, I had a real struggle to find the space I have. There are only a handful of CM's in our area and they are full with waiting lists.

I realise there isn't much I can do but to drop me for another part timer doesn't seem to make sense?

I'd happens Im afraid.
Could you suggest she applies for a variation allowing her to have an extra kiddie one day a week?

I've done this to overlap an hour just 8 times a month.
It IS a faff due to the paperwork, but it means I can accomodate all the parents and children.

However, in my setting, I would NEVER terminate one child to take on Another more lucrative child.

If word gets out that your cmdoes this, parents will think twice about using her.

Hope this helps,

sally x

Rights and wrongs of doing so aside, I agree with you that replacing you with another part timer does not seem to make any business sense. Have you had any falling out over anything, or might there be some sort of behaviour issue that she has not raised with you? In other words, is this a pretext rather than a real reason? I think you need to ask exactly what is going on here, and understand why she is putting someone else's requirements before yours. You also need to let her know that reducing your sessions isn't an option and may well result in you giving up work - perhaps you have been too nice about it and she thinks you are okay with the suggestion.

It doesn't make sense for her to swap you for someone else doing part time hours so there must be something about it that you don't know. Maybe the other parent has offered more money or maybe she is finding it hard work looking after your LO and she is hoping to get an easier mindee. It sounds awful written like that but there's got to be a reason that she's bumping your hours down. She is within her rights to give you notice though. I'm sorry that this has happened to you though, what a pita.

I'd put you LO's name down for the extra days at nursery, a major plus for nursery is that its very rare a child is given notice for a more financially viable option.

As long as your CM has given the correct notice there is nothing you can do. Its morally wrong but not legally wrong.

Flipping cheek, I wouldn't be too pleased to have this happen once let alone twice and as a childminder I wouldn't do it.
You say your child goes to a nursery is there a local playgroup which perhaps another minder does a pickup from, do you take up your free allowance with the nursery and the childminder, you should be getting 5 sessions and bnot all childminders can offer it.
I would say look elsewhere,whats to say she doesn't do it again.