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To still use childminder if nursery closes
Musereader · 12/03/2020 22:20
I'm not sure if it is negating the point of the schools closing or not.
Childminder is one that picks up 3 yr old dd from nursery, where she goes in the holiday and where she was before nursery. It's just as a single parent I need to work and i cannot take the time off to save the extra money.
I'm also thinking i will have to tell tax credits about the increase in costs as it is £100 more per week.
Chickychoccyegg · 12/03/2020 22:29
Im a childminder and we dont know yet if we'll be allowed to stay open , if thry schools and nurseries are closed.
We are still planning to work if allowed, as are all the other childminders i know, lots of parents provisionally booked extra hours already, just in case.
Because we work with small numbers , maximum of 6 children, we may be allowed to stay open, but at this stage we know nothing at all.
Musereader · 12/03/2020 22:34
She has 3 little ones that she has 2-3 times a week each. Mine is the only school aged one. She should still be open. I didn't think they could be forced to close as that means they would have no income as they are self employed, they can't do that to her if insurance won't cover it can they?
adaline · 13/03/2020 06:17
She could be forced to close, yes.
Lots of self-employed people who work outside the home could be made to stop working - which is why there's a petition going round to the government saying they should be entitled to sick pay in this case because they're being forced to stay home by the government.
Being self employed doesn't mean you get to stay open against government advice and unfortunately situations like this can cause severe financial difficulties for people who are SE.
adaline · 13/03/2020 07:21
@toomanycats she can say whatever she likes but if the government shuts down all the childcare facilities like they've done in Ireland then she won't have a choice.
Childminders maybe self employed but they're still bound by government regulations.
I'd be very surprised if they're allowed to remain open when other childcare is forced to shut. Why should they be treated any differently?
modgepodge · 13/03/2020 07:28
Well to be fair, schools and nurseries are ‘mass gatherings’ - tens or hundreds in the same building which is where the greatest risk of infection is. CM tends to just have 3 young children, up to 6 under 8s. I know they can have more older ones but I don’t think many do. So risk of infection is similar to a few mums getting together for a play date I suppose.
I wouldn’t be surprised if rules for CM were different for larger childcare providers. But if the government says all providers, of course that would include them. Mine has said she will be open if she can, but if forced to close we will receive a refund.
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