Is my Childminder being unreasonable?

[Tulips99]

To ask for 50% of fees whilst closed to retain my child's place?

I think that’s fair, otherwise she will go out of business she hasn’t told you not come the government have

No. We were effectively given 2 days to close down. No government support except ssp. No 80% wage. If you can afford to pay then please do.

I think it’s entirely fair. She has to keep her business going.

I think 50% is fair. Don't you want the childminder to still be there when this is all over?

If you are still being paid, you need to pay your childminder full wage. Don’t make a profit from this situation. You will want the place when things return to normal. Unless your own finances are compromised, it’s unfair to do anything else.
I am a key worker and could send my child in. I’m not but will still pay.

My childminder was charging full fees. Luckily I am a key worker so I can actually use what I'm paying for. But I'd have happily paid full fees anyway to ensure she was still open for business after this al ends.

Hmm, she can't exactly give your child's place to anyone else, can she? I'm a tutor, if people can't get to me I won't try to charge them at all. The government is making provision to the self-employed - I think SIBU.

I'd pay it, if you're still getting paid IMO it would be morally wrong to not pay her.

My childminder is not working. She is also now not working but I still have to pay her full pay. I am also a key worker.
I think 50% is more than fair to secure your place & to keep her in business.

Mine has asked for 50%, we are paying no question.

Every where would do the same, how do you expect her to carry on living? Also be grateful you arent at a nursery as they charge full price.

If you dotn like it, dont pay, but dont be surprised when shes no longer got a place nor child care.

Hmm, she can't exactly give your child's place to anyone else, can she? I'm a tutor, if people can't get to me I won't try to charge them at all. The government is making provision to the self-employed - I think SIBU.
£94 per week is what the self employed will be getting. However, their staff will be getting 80% salary

However if the government do go ahead and make provisions for her then I don't think you will need to. At this point though they're not due to get anything.

Personally I wouldn’t pay.

People saying ‘do you want your CM to still be there?’ - are you maybe getting confused with nurseries?

The CM is a person, living at home - of course they’ll ‘be there’ when this ends.

I think it’s open to negotiation to be honest. Everyone needs to do their best to maintain as normal an economy as possible.

If you are still getting paid as normal, morally, I would pay your childcare.

If your pay has been affected, open a negotiation as to what you can reasonably afford.

That is what I will be doing with childcare providers this week. I don’t want to have to sacrifice their spaces but the bottom line is I will not be able to afford full fees as I am unable to work.

We are paying our cleaner in full even though she is no longer coming. We offered as we are able to work from home on full pay, so felt its fair to help people who don't have that option. 50% is reasonable but I understand that would be difficult for people to keep paying if their income is also affected, so depends on circumstances really

Posted too soon...

I’m not paying my windowcleaner who can’t come or the £15 a month I usually pay for my dc to have open access to the local trampoline park.

It sucks for businesses and the self employed, it really does. But it’s not my responsibility to prop them up and pay for services I’m not receiving.

I’m not on my arse but nor am I so wealthy that I could pay a few hundred quid a month without concern.

I think she is being reasonable in halving the fees. I am paying full fees at my child's nursery and am happy to do so. He won't be in.

If you’re being paid pay it. Even if you’re only on 80% it’s more than most self employed people.

We were fully expecting to pay full fees to nursery, we are key workers but in a fortunate position we don’t need to send DD. Her nursery is the best and I wouldn’t want all of this to affect them and mean they closed, or reopened at a lower quality

What everyone has said above. My nursery has closed and waived all fees which I am grateful for, but I’d have happily paid up to 50 per cent to support it.
Another friend has been asked to pay 50 per cent fees and another the full balance. I think the latter is unreasonable, but not up to 50 per cent. As the poster above said, if we can help the economy keep going we should.

I’m charging half to all who are still receiving a wage, most of my parents have said whilst they are being paid in full, I will be paid in full which I am immensely grateful for. I still have the same bills I had before.

I’ll be paying my childminder full pay if she is closed down.

I need her. She is part of the backbone of my family. When this returns to normal I will still need her to enable me and my husband to work.

I am lucky enough to be paid and so is my husband so my childminder will be too

Can you afford to pay? If so I think it would. if you can't because your job is affected I would explain this to her

I’m paying 50% of our private nursery fees currently. My daughter qualifies to be there for now due to my husband’s job but I’m at home so nursery isn’t needed. Her space has been given to the child of a front line worker. To retain her place when normality resumes we’ve been asked to pay 50% of the fees. We’d like to have a nursery to return to so we’re happy to pay it