Childminder wanting to still be paid 70%!!!!

[BusyBeeMummy1]

Hi all,

I am a keyworker and so is my husband. My Childminder has remained open for Keyworkers children but I am lucky enough I am able to wfh until things go back to normal.

I told my childminder that DS won’t be going back For April atleast. She told me she was advised by PACEY (A childminder body) that she can charge on a child by child basis and as she’s open for keyworkers its our choice to keep him home and she wants 70% of her usual monthly pay.

I pointed out to her that as she charges monthly she has also been paid in full for the week coming and that the childcare vouchers I pay her with had already automatically been paid to her (inadvertently) and FURTHERMORE the govt are meant to be paying self employed 80% aren’t they!

Please can any childminders or other parents using a childminder advise me on this because I don’t think it’s right.

Thankyouuuu

i think if you want to keep the place you should pay-its p to you or you could look for someone else i have a feeling u wont find much avialbility

She's right, she can still charge you if you're expecting her to keep the place open for you.
It's kind of her to reduce the fee by 30%.
You should pay her.

Keyworker here. I’m paying mine in full as I’m choosing not to send my child. She didn’t ask to be paid in full but she is still able to provide the service so why wouldn’t I? I also would like my children to continue going there for the next 5 years which is another deciding factor in why I am continuing to pay her. Why shouldn’t she accept other keyworker children in my child’s place if I didn’t pay her?

Just curious...What would you all do if your childminder was closed?

I have offered to pay mine fully (just after school care). I am wfh mostly but will probably need to go into work on a rota basis to supervise vulnerable students (FE college). I won't need childcare either way.

The service is open lawfully and you could use it. That would also enable you to work better from home than if the child were around.

The 80% of pay thing will probably end up being pie in the sky which hardly anyone gets.

I am a childminder and am open for my key worker parents should they need me.

I have asked them to pay me as normal for April with 50% of fees from May onwards until they feel they comfortable to send their children in to me. (all of my parents are teachers).

With regards to the grant that is being offered to self employed people, this is what I have put in a communication to parents regarding this payment.

....The first thing to note is the grant is based on my net income. I invest very heavily in my business, regularly buying books and other inside and outside resources, taking children on outings that are not always passed on in invoices, buying quality food for your child etc ... so my net is going to be very low.

The other main thing to share with you is that this grant will be taxed (-20%) and probably subject to class 4 NI (-9%) and the chancellor said they will be putting up our HMRC costs to pay for his generosity, so by the time it goes on my tax return it will be worth a lot less than 80% to me - probably less than 50% of my net (not turnover). The grant payments will not be available until June.

If you are contracted to pay your childminder then you ought to abide by that contract and pay her. If she goes out of business or finds other employment then you will be looking for alternative childcare.

Give up your place or pay her! I would have sacked you off for arguing it to be hones!

If you no longer want to use her as a childminder, what does your contract say about payment when you give notice?

YABU.

I’m a key worker and my childminder offered to have my daughter but she would have been the only child there and as my husband (also a key worker but a teacher) is able to work from home, we decided not to send her. We said from the very start of this that as long as we continue to be paid, we will pay our childminder in full. She’s brilliant and we absolutely want her to still be in business when this is all over and hopefully not to have suffered any hardship in the meantime.
Whether or not she is able to claim 80% of losses is her business and makes no difference to us. I suppose it is possible she will be able to offer us a partial refund if / when the money comes in June but I trust her to do the right thing and I won’t be asking for it.

You need to pay her or be prepared to find a new childminder. You are choosing not to send your child. As she is open and working/earning she won't get paid from the government. And other keyworkers who can't work at home are relying on people like her to stay open to be able to stay at work.

You therefore won’t have a childminder to go back to when you do go back to work

The key workers taking up places now are doing so because their usual childcare option isn’t available be it school or grandparents. If they are looking for a childminder urgently, they likely don’t ordinarily use one.

It's a simple choice, either pay her to reserve your child/ren's space or let it go and be at the back of the queue when she is open for business again.

As an ex-childminder, I say pay her.

She will stay keep your place for when this passes and a decent childminder that your child/children feel comfortable with is worth its weight in gold!

Yes she can claim for help in June under SE guidelines but until then she won't have any money coming in due to reduced hours.

The 80% only applies if you can't work

Treat it as a retainer - she could always take on another key worker’s child and then she won’t have the space for your child when your child returns.

Feels somewhat unfair that I’m out of pocket for following guidelines.

You're not out of pocket, your 30% of her fees better off. Alternatively give up the place and hope it's available when you want it back - and that she is happy to continue to provide a service to you.

All of the childminders near me are still charging full fees. At least you’re getting a discount. However, you’re right not to send your child. The Government rules are keyworkers should only send children to childcare/school if there is absolutely no one at home to look after them.

Either pay her or serve her notice to terminate your arrangement, but don’t be surprised if she won’t have your child back. You’re choosing not to use her service so why wouldn’t you pay for it.

just because you think that self employed people will actually receive 80% of what they would earn.
Because as a SE person, I can tell you were not!!

No we can't claim anything until June. As your contract states she is there to provide the service, you are choosing to keep your child home. You're lucky she isn't charing you full. You are both still being paid full, so pay her.

You need to pay her. She won't get any help until at least June. If you don't want the space, tell her so she can fill it with someone who will pay.

You are paying for the place. Whether or not you use it is up to you. If you do not want to pay her, she can release the place to another key workers child. You should also bear in mind that good childminders that you and your kid like and trust are like gold dust. I think you’re getting a bit of a bargain to be honest.

Of course you need to pay her. She is providing a service, you are choosing not to use it. I'm paying my nursery 100% fees because both me and dh are key workers so entitled to use the nursery but are choosing not to.

Agree you are not out of pocket at all. How can you not see this?

You are able to work from home, your childcare costs have actually fallen, so you have gained financially??????

Yes you can’t use the service, but your work is allowing you to work from home therefore you are in a fortunate position.

I think we all need to be a bit kinder.