parent dropping kids off early

[Hayleycm]

how early is too early.

i am paid from 8.30 but they always drop off at 8.20, i know its only ten minutes but im usually getting the others ready for school, its my first long term contract and dont want to annoy them by saying something?

i did mention 5 minutes was fine but they actually start work at 8.3o so they drop him off early to get to their wn work on time.

or should i just leave it?

hmmm did this issue not come up when you were talking about taking him on??? did they not mention what tiem they start work?

i can understand why they do it, but if it was agreed that you would have him from 8.30 then that's what it should be

otherwise start charging them

Do you want the 10 minutes in time or money? Because if they need to be at work at 8.30 they need to drop off when they do. Yes, they should have made that clear when they signed up, but it doesn't change the start time they need. If they have to find another minder who starts earlier, can you fill the space? Or would them paying (which they should!) be OK?

If they start work at 8.30, it must have been obvious to everybody that they could not drop the baby off at 8.30 and it is unreasonable of them to think that they need only pay from 8.30 when the baby is always going to be there earlier. However, I think you made a bit of a rod for your own back by agreeing that 5 mins early was OK because you have created a situation where they feel free to add on a few more minutes (you say 10, they will probably say 8!)

Yes, I would say we need to change the contractual drop off time to 8am or 8.15am and child cannot be dropped earlier due to your own commitments.

I had to do the same.

tbh I think they're taking the p*. If they were paying for a nursery and it only opened at 8.30, then they'd have to change their working hours. If they realised that you could only take the children from 8.30 and their working arrangements didn't facilitate this then they should have found alternative childcare

i can work earlier, i only charge 3pound an hour so charge by half hour chunks?
just not sure how to approach subject. they might say they will come ten mins early at end of the day? what would i say to that.

i suppose i could say from 8.15 and add another 75p, didnt realise 3 pound could be split 4 ways! baby will wake up soon, sp will have to check this thread later.

the thing is though if they same they'll come early at the end of the day, this again is open to flexilibity and them messing around again. I frequently pick up DS early from nursery but would hardly expect a refund, it's my choice

The quarter hour option sounds fine - I think you should go with that

If they have started recently, are you due for a contract review?, if so then I would log all the sessions where LO was early and suggest that as this is the norm for drop off time that the contract be adjusted to reflect the changes. I charge my hourly rate for part hours as well, sadly I learned the hard way that an offer of a few mins early / late here and there generally leads to much taking of P*ss.

If they start work at 8.30 then its reasonable to ask them to adjust the contract times, you could say that you need to be clear on start times for health n safety/insurance/ratios or summinc.

yy elf n safety can be a great help when problems crop up

I would nip this in the bud now, I had a parent before I gave up cm, who started off being ten minutes early and then gradually it crept up to half an hour or more!! Despite me bringing it up, and deliberately not being there till start time. She was just consistently early, and picked up late too. I had to just start chargning for all the extra time, and she did get a bit better, but was still ALWAYS on the door step when I got back with DS's from nursery, even though she wasnt due till ten minutes later. Very annoying.

you need to be paid for those 10 minutes - so tell them that. I wouldn't suggest that they pick up 10 minutes earlier as they probably won't do that - or might start to, but it could slip.

Just be direct with them, you're the boss

argh ok ill ssee how it goes this week and write it all down and talk on firday as this is where i have a sit down and discuss little boys progress,

im not sure she will be having as many hours as she hinted today that she might have t drop hoursm shes not a work tomorrow or wednesday but im still having her son, but after this week i think she is reviewing her contract at work, boo hope it doesnt go down!

thank you for all the advice i am going to say it due to my insurance that i cant have a child on the premesis outside contracted hours!

Good Luck, if she drops her hours remind her that she needs to give you notice (ie, pay until notice has ended) I had a couple try this with me would book f/t use for a few weeks then reduce days down whilst still getting Tax Credit for the f/t hours .

One even said when caught out well i'll put them back in f/t then (this parent only worked 4 hrs a day 3days a week anyway, dc's were booked in 8-6pm Mon-Fri) some people have no shame at all.

well im still in the settling inmonth i insist on with young children

if she wants to cut her hourse does she give 4 weeks notice? i ask for 4 weeks pay in advance and 4 weeks notice to end contract

Are you NCMA?

yes

Ok - with NCMA during the settling in period, no notice period or notice payment will be required if either party wishes to end the arrangement, but all other areas of the contract will be applicable.

Although if the parent has booked X amount of sessions and now decides they only want Y I would assess whether it's viable for you to keep the place open.

true but i onyl have a child after school at the moment, so not earning much at the moment, my boyfriends wants me to have another one of my own, says its less stressful!

LOL - I think he may be right

Ok so then I would perhaps run with it and see what happens.

Intrigued to know how you manage CMing with "boyfriends" you must be well knackered

hes a long term boyfriend, got a 5 yr old and 2yr old with him,we went to school togather, we bought our first house last year :D he wont marry me so i have to say boyfriend that sounds very childish! but when i say partner he says it makes it sounds like a same sex relationship!

I had the boyfriend problem when I started childminding he has now got his act together and we are happily married, it does make me feel so much better saying husband, I feel like I'm allowed to be a grown up with a business and kids

No Hayley you put an 's' on the end of boyfriend in your post, wos just pullin ya leg

i want to marry him but he said no!!! boo to im!

well done for getting your sot marry you!!! he needs to have a word with mine!