Childminder fees during lockdown. What should I pay?

[Idolovechocolategimmygimmy]

My childminder yesterday said she can no longer look after my child because we are both not key workers. My husband is a key worker and I'm working from home. My job is at risk as my industry has come to a stand still. We already struggle financially and this virus could cripple us and send us over the edge.
Anyway childminder has said we are still to pay 50% of the fee. Today the government have announced that's the self employed will get 80% of pay. How does this work? I can't afford to put extra money in her pocket when it is highly likely I'll be made redundant or take a pay cut.
I could use some advice. This is all very stressful.

We are paying our childminder full rates on the understanding that she will reimburse us for anything she can recoup from government.

Until I lose my job, we can afford it. Lots of parents have refused to pay. She rents her home and her husband is self employed and can't work either. If we don't pay she risks losing her home and, with that, her business. I have no increased costs as a result of DD being at home. If I don't pay her I will be profiting from her misery. I understand that different people are in different positions, though.

There has been no official help for the self employed yet, except the ability to claim statutory sick pay. The papers are reporting it's coming but it isn't here yet.
If you want your childminder to stay open and your ds to still have a place when this is over I'd pay. I think 50% is a fair compromise.

Thanks I'm just interested to hear people's thoughts. Stringer I think that's fair if reimbursed later. I feel for your childminder I hope she makes it through this. My childminder owns a big house and her husband's job is safe though. I just don't want her to recoup 80% then get my 50% on top. But like someone said it's too early to know how it will work. I'm happy to top up her lost earnings but not in a way where she makes a profit! Knowing self employment though she may need to claim it back in a year or something though rather than as you go along.
If anyone knows how this 80% works I'd gladly hear it.

Bump for more opinions and view points

My childminder hasn't said anything she charged in full up to march but never explained it just said that's the bill. I don't mind as I'm being paid in full this month. But my ex (who pays half) is now earning 80% and my Job is finishing in Sept if not before. So being selfish I can't keep doing it.

I'm not sure about next month. I don't understand how this latest announcement fits in.

I guess if u want a place after all of these u pay.

I don't mind paying but it wouldn't be fair if she's making money out of all this when everyone else is suffering. I know she's been inundated with calls looking for childcare. I'd be annoyed if she filled our slot with key workers kids then she was getting another 50% from us too.

I’m in similar situation. Two weeks isolation in March, meant my CM could not look after my child, although was offered no reimbursement. I’m not her employer, I’m a customer so don’t expect to have to pay sick pay with no service. I didn’t say anything as don’t want to damage the relationship but on principle don’t agree with it. Now being asked to pay 50%retainer fee for following months during lock down, if this goes on to June that means I’ll only need max. 6 weeks of childcare as son will go to new school in Sept and finish up with her in July. If financial support being offered by Gov, then I should be expected to top salary up. I’m not an employer. I’m undecided what I’m going to do about it yet, I’ll be stuck without childcare for 6 weeks if it is needed before Summer hols. It feels like a bit of a p*ss take if I’m honest.

Hi, hope you don’t mind me jumping on OP but I wondered how you resolved this? I’m in a similar position but feeling a bit awkward about it all. We paid full fees until she could apply for the self employment support, assuming we’d be refunded the difference once she’d received this or it would be offset against fees once they reopen this month. I’m happy to top up to make it up to full pay for her but I’m not happy at the thought of paying out well over a grand while actually having to A) do the job we were still paying her for too as well as work full time and B) pay out for more food and nappies when they were included in the fees, so we’ve essentially paid for them twice! We’re not massively high earners so childcare makes a pretty big dent in our income.

They’re nice people so I’m sure they’re not trying to rip us off but it does feel like a p*ss take. I had to bring it up when they closed, then again once they’d started taking applications for the self employment support and now I’ve had to raise it again and she’s said she’ll get back to me. It’s making me feel like I’m being a money grabbing tight wad!