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

If you're still being paid pay her.
I'm self employed and over 90% of my income has gone overnight.
I'm no longer paying nursery even though they expect it, I just can't.
My dd starts school in September so there we go, you can't get blood out of a stone, your position is very different.

I absolutely can’t believe the amount of people commenting on this saying that the CM is still offering a services & that OP is choosing not to send their child in. Have you all totally missed the advice from our Prime Minister that states STAY AT HOME!? Only use childcare if you absolutely have to. The OP luckily doesn’t have to use the childcare despite being a key worker. It’s totally different circumstances compared to the CM offering a service but parents choose not to send kids in if they are sick or on holiday etc. This is NOT the same thing.

I understand about keeping the space open for after all this instead of the CMs ability to fill the space & be paid by someone else using it now. I understand the CM still has bills to pay but every self employed family are in the same boat with loss of income. The OP is still working & being paid so the usual fee won’t be missed & both the Parent & CM both have to think ethically here in these unusual circumstances. But to say she is providing a service that the parent is choosing not to partake in is just ridiculous because in these circumstances where parents do have alternative arrangements have been told to do exactly that and not carry on using it unnecessarily just to get their money’s worth.

I absolutely can’t believe the amount of people commenting on this saying that the CM is still offering a services & that OP is choosing not to send their child in. Have you all totally missed the advice from our Prime Minister that states STAY AT HOME!? Only use childcare if you absolutely have to.
They're still choosing to follow the guidelines (and rightly so!).

The bottom line is that it's entirely reasonable and common for childcare providers to have retainer fees for when they're open and parents aren't using them. If the OP wishes to retain her child's place with a provider then it's entirely reasonable to pay the retainer.

Many of us could understand someone needing to discuss fees if their hours have been temporarily suspended, but the OP is being paid in full.

What the OP is actually saying is "I can work from home and am still being paid and I want you to hold my child's space so I can pick it up later, but actually I don't want to pay for this and it's not my problem".

Many places would charge the full fee. This childminder isn't.

@AmelieTayor

I don't get the whole "OP is not sending her dc in because of CV but should still pay 70% and then the childminder get another 80% backdated".

No one should be eating cardboard. Surely if the childminder is about to go bust because of OP not paying 70% there is a bigger problem with this childminding service?

I find these times we are in so confusing. Everybody is effected but it's like the worst off want the less worst off to pay the price for not being as badly effected. OP has said she is still getting paid but has also had to pay for more food, utilities and in-home activities for her child now as well as for herself. However on here that does not matter she is expected to foot the bill and take the hit? And if she says no, she is profiteering? However it's ok for the childminder to get 70% from OP and then get another 80% from the government because that's not profiteering.

It's such a confusing time to be living in.

If I sent my child to the childminder, whilst I was wfh and he or any other child there got sick who exactly would be responsible here?? The CM for using the ‘well I’m open for key workers so self isolating is your CHOICE (it’s not) or the parent for sending them in as they have paid the full fee so decide to use the service... most likely it would be the parents being told... well your wfh you should have been keeping your child home. I’m doing the responsible thing by my child and for everyone else and I think childminders have to realise this. They WILL be re-imbursed from the govt. that’s the whole point of supporting SE people. I highly doubt the CM will say ‘oh hey here’s a refund’ come June!!!!!!!!

@TeaYes & @Pinkstar28 Right!!!!!

If you're still getting paid then you should pay her. Common decency. We're in exactly the same situation with our DS and I wouldn't dream of not paying her! She has bills and a mortgage to pay, kids to feed etc etc.

it's entirely reasonable and common for childcare providers to have retainer fees for when they're open and parents aren't using them.

Yes I fully understand this but what you and many others aren’t understanding is the the OP isn’t choosing not to send her child, she is being told by the government that if she doesn’t have to then she absolutely categorically shout NOT be doing so! It is Not the same thing.

What the OP is actually saying is "I can work from home and am still being paid and I want you to hold my child's space so I can pick it up later, but actually I don't want to pay for this and it's not my problem"

No, what she’s actually saying is “I am in a position where it’s not essential for me to send my child in, therefore I am going by government guidelines & keeping them at home”

CM should be ONLY be in taking children who they absolutely need to just like schools. They have a duty of care & responsibility.

Im not saying CM shouldn’t charge or OP shouldn’t pay. I’m saying you can not put this under the category as the OP choosing not to use the services. Lots of things have changed due to covid19 you absolutely can not tar this with the same brush. If someone posted on here they were still sending their kids unnecessarily just to get their money’s worth you would all be up in arms.

To those still paying their childminder, have you considered she will be profiteering from the situation as the cm can also claim the £2,500?

I am working now, but also need to protect my family financially. We may lose our jobs, and if I pay my cm for months, that could actually be food and mortgage money.

Be fair with your childminder and look after your own finances.

I would never dream of leaving my cm short, my ds’s adore her and she is exceptional, but if she is greedy I will be very upset. A fair and reasonable retainer is a good compromise.

@Pinkstar28 you hit the nail
On the head!!

@Mixingitall

This is very valid and I share your feelings. I’m not greedy just being practical and fair. I’ve paid my childminder on the date the invoice comes in each month for over 2 years now. I’ve been very understanding and flexible with her when she’s needed me as I am a fair person. When I asked her how many key persons kids she was keeping she said 4... not sure if that was including my son or not but let’s say for argument sake it does... 3 other parents ARE paying her.

adiposegirl2 I don’t . I’ve tried every which way on the UC site.
I’m a self employed cleaner since April of last year. I also manage cleaners & clients which is all done remotely for which I am still getting paid.
I’m going to go against to grain here & im prepared to be absolutely flames but some of my clients have said I can garden instead of cleaning which I am.
I’m 49 & it feels like my back is breaking but I have no choice. Not one. I’m feeling desperate & fucking exhausted like many others.
I cannot give up working. I have no other options

I agree with mixingit, our nursery has not charged us from next month, we pay in advance so March is fully paid but we aren’t going to be charged till the isolation period ends and life goes back to normal.

The nursery said specifically they are following government guidelines. They will be claiming for the loss of income for each carer.

The childminder will be too surely?

@frazzledasarock

My sisters nursery are also not charging her til the isolation period is over. Why can’t CM do the same?

"To those still paying their childminder, have you considered she will be profiteering from the situation as the cm can also claim the £2,500? "

What £2,500 do you mean?

I'm a childminder. Very dismayed. In May I should earn £1500. The government will pay me 80% of the three years net profit 2016-2019. Net. This means I will get £300 if I'm lucky per month. My outgoings are £1200 a month. Tell me how to make that work if I don't ask parents to help me? We open our homes and give your child a place in our family for very little pay. We are not profiteering. We are terrified how to pay our bills

So if 3 parents are paying her AND she gets the £2,500, then I would hope she has enough to live comfortably!

I would write her an email, using some of the amazing feedback on this thread including not risking going out of one parent can wfh.

Good luck.

"The nursery said specifically they are following government guidelines. They will be claiming for the loss of income for each carer.

The childminder will be too surely?"

No, the nursery is a business and claims for their staff.
A childminder is self-employed.

Does she get early years funding?

What £2,500 are you talking about, Mixingitall?

No-one can claim £2,500 on top of their earnings. It's to replace lost earnings not as well. Would just mean the taxpayer doesn't have to fund OP's £800 per month childcare bill that she's keeping for herself.

This illustrates yet again why the government should just pay a universal income to individuals and tax it back later.

OP, I would feel obliged to pay to be honest unless you want to give up the place.

I’m having to wfh, I’m not working anywhere near 100% capacity because I have the dcs but I’m still getting paid.

My view is that I “pay it forward”. So, I still pay our cleaner even though she’s not coming around and our childcare provider has asked for a reduced rate which we will pay.

I’m not receiving a service but these are awful and unusual times and I’m not out of pocket by doing so.

I think everyone who is continuing to get a wage should continue to pay for the services they would usually provide.

These are unusual circumstances and if you are lucky to have not taken a financial hit then you should continue with your family budget as much as usual. You are probably already saving in other areas as things have been cancelled.

And food and activity costs really won’t come anywhere close in costs.

I think 70% is reasonable.

If you are seriously and genuinely concerned that you will lose your jobs then withdraw him completely (tell her why) and then you will have to begin again once you are able to start job hunting once this all has finished.

If your child is small enough to need a childminder, then I'd be very surprised if you can look after them yourself and WFH effectively. In fact, I'd say it's impossible. So either you are shortchanging your employers or you aren't paying enough attention to your child.

Tanith, yes you’re right sorry. So she’ll only be able to claim on her previous years profit.