Is my Childminder being unreasonable?

[Tulips99]

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

“@Nekoness
Expenses....
Food,petrol,wear and tear,percentage of council tax,gas,electricity, water rates, insurance, nappies, baby wipes ,toys,art and crafts,entrance to play areas, training courses, national insurance, income tax,cleaning products,stationary........anything we pay out for our business. Fair few expenses really....
Because we are a business......we don't just do it for a bit of pocket money!”

Those are not fixed expenses. They’re expenses you have when you have clients Your home mortgage isn’t a business expense for your childminding. It’s your home mortgage. Your income tax? Well you won’t be paying any without clients.

For fucks sake. It’s like nobody but childminders are self employed.

I'm more than happy to keep paying nursery fees for my child. She loves that nursery and I want it to still be open once all this is over. I appreciate that not everyone is still being paid though, so circumstances are different for everyone.

I guess I'm lucky as my nursery aren't charging us!

If you are being paid by your employer, I think you should pay. It's their livelihood. If you are self-employed, I think it I would explain/negotiate.

This is standard pretty much. I housed to have to pay her full pay for holidays and bank holidays though so she is being quite reasonable. And if you don't pay her she will probably let your kid go ....so I dunno re these people who are saying don't pay...

No she isn’t being unreasonable.

My childminder said pay 20% of fees to keep the place, I can see the logic behind it. We handed our notice in as I am going to be at home now for at least 3 months and didn't think it was worth keeping the place and paying for something we're not getting

50% is fair. I know its not easy but self employed people still have bills to pay. We’d expect our employers to still give us a wage and even claim back from the government if they can. A lot of nurseries are charging full monthly amounts even though they are closed. Many people not taking their children out of them but that will leave them stuck whenever things ‘return to normal’ 😕

"If as the parent you had lost your job but needed your child in care for 6 weeks or more for free would your childminder have facilitated this? To save your business and financial security. If the answer is yes you should probably pay, but I’m not sure how many people will be able to say that."

I can. I"ve done it, when parents have found themselves in that exact situation. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I've given free childcare on many occasions to help and support my parents. I've supported parents through bereavement, through divorce. In some cases, I've fed parents and bought their shopping when they were desperate.

A childminder is often far more than just the childcare. They become friends and someone the parents turn to when they need help.
It's why we're staying partially open and taking key worker children. One was told their nursery was closed and they didn't know what to do until we agreed to take them.

Perhaps that's why I didn't even need to ask my parents. They came to me and told me they were paying me. I've done so much for them, they said, they wanted to do something for me in return. It's been one of the many moments this last week that has had me in tears.

But then, I have decent parents. They appreciate me and they don't just regard me as something that can be switched off when I'm not needed any more. They certainly wouldn't dream of profiteering.
I know some won't be able to pay anything. I'm grateful to those who can. It means I can carry on looking after those key worker children, and paying some of the self-employed people I've relied on who are also facing ruin. I've been lucky; I'm passing on that luck.

I won't be back on here, so don't bother to reply. Many of you understand and are as decent as my parents, but I don't think I can face seeing more replies from the mean-spirited posters after what we've been through this last week.

If your income hasn't been affected then I'd pay - The self employed may still get gov support.

My sis was asked to pay full child minding fees!

Our childminders asked for a voluntary half fee. I think it was only far. But since asking they have now closed up completely. As they are self employed, they get no help at all from the govenment.

Our childminder is still charging the full cost. You should be happy yours is offering a 50% discount.

She's being a CF. Everyone is facing wages/job uncertainty and she is no different. She has no right to ask for anything, it's not your fault. Don't pay her and look after your child yourself.

I'm on a zero hour contract that I've had to give up to look after my child despite being a keyworker as my husband is expecting his letter to self isolate for 12 weeks. I won't be getting paid, my sister has 2 businesses, both of which require customers, they are both closed for the foreseeable future, she won't be getting paid either. This is the price we both pay for the flexible working we've enjoyed. My childminder is not charging any of us to save a space, she also understands that this is the downside to self employment. You can't have it all ways 🤷‍♂️

50% is absolutely fair. It’s an even split. Why should she be the one to lose out 100%?

"Scotland32

50% is absolutely fair. It’s an even split. Why should she be the one to lose out 100%?"

Shall I ask my employer to pay me half pay even if I can't do any work because I need to look after my children then?

She should lose out because she is a business and not able to provide the service.
It's tough but it's tough for many out there.

This is Absolutely reasonable. In fact if full pay was asked, if you can afford it I’d suggest it’s no time to be difficult if your wages are not affected.
I know strictly she knows she can’t expect you to pay anything but i think since this is hopefully only a couple of months how you treat her will have an affect on your working relationship In the future as well as preventing her going into debt/ being unable to pay her mortgage or fees her children

Our nursery are asking for a voluntary 20%. They are amazing though

If you are being paid then I think what your child minder is asking is fair. If your own income is significantly affected, then perhaps your childminder would be willing to reduce what she is asking for.

I and other choir members are paying our self-employed choir leader three quarters of the weekly session rate until things get back to normal - which might not be for some time yet. It is not an additional cost - it is a cost we would have paid anyway and it is not our choir leader's fault that she can't do her job. Admittedly, it's a relatively small amount compared to childminding fees but the principle is the same.

The person who looks after your child is a very important person who deserves to be valued and treated as such. In this dreadful time, we all need to support each other, as far as we are able.

Is there a guarantee in that the childminder will still be there (after this all blows over) even if you pay 50% retainer?

If your childminder wants pay. Ask her for an alternative to her services. What does she usually do with the kids?? Can she prepare some ideas for games, arts & crafts.....something that stimulates the child’s mind?

I don’t mind supporting people who try & find an alternative. I’m not really up for people demanding money because they have you in a difficult situation.

The government is telling mortgages lenders to give mortgage holidays. Insurance’s, utilities & other services are instructed to do the same.

I agree with others where you shouldn’t benefit by saving money in a situation like this, but soon it the other way around. The childminder is making money she might not be spending.

It’s very hard call to make. Are you still receiving your wages??

No x

There is no guarantee that my childminder will still be in business. Whether or not she is, I will know that I didn't profit from the pandemic by declining to pay her while still receiving my own full wage.

The issue is not solely to do with whether it makes financial sense to pay to guarantee a future spot, part of it is a moral decision.

It's your choice. Presumably you won't be surprised, when she opens up for business again, to find yourself at the back of the queue?

There have been a couple of threads about cleaners and a good number of us will be paying our cleaner while we are in isolation.

my cleaner (when I had one) cost £24 a week, my cm £195 a week so it's quite a big financial commitment. Plus during term time my childminder will now get £175 of funding. I'm reluctant to pay full whack (no funding) for the summer holidays.

I think with the current directives they are pretty exposed , mine has been very honest and has also said if they are given any compensation by the government she will pass it back. We’ve upped ours to over half as she does after school and holiday cover for us so we’re paying her the full £243 we buy in vouchers as it’s not like we can spend that money. For months containing holiday that will be more than half and for non holiday months that’s more than a month. Ultimately she is a brilliant childminder, she’s offstead outstanding and has helped shape our kids to what they are today. We want her to be able to continue and with no income she can’t. We aren’t flush at all, but we have to try and support people where we can. Who knows you may be able to ask your Childminder for learning materials and ideas to help with your home learning.