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

Your argument is that people should only be paid for the service they're providing?

Sorry if this point has been made - but are your employers paying you in full? Even though you can't possibly be working at full capacity if you are taking care of your son at the same time?

Therefore you are providing a reduced service to your employer - by your logic, you should be paid a reduced rate.

*Sorry if this point has been made - but are your employers paying you in full? Even though you can't possibly be working at full capacity if you are taking care of your son at the same time?

Therefore you are providing a reduced service to your employer - by your logic, you should be paid a reduced rate*

^this

@NotMiranda Their very bold assumptions for you to make... neither of which are true.

I'm working & doing childcare/educating. I'm part time so am doing some work in the day, then at night & weekends. I paying my cm a retainer & she is claiming EY funding.

Nobody here knows what I do for a career.. but I can tell you things have quietened down massively (SHOCK) and I start work before my DS is up. Don’t make shitty assumptions. I also have other people wfh in my household at home.

(The June payment) will be back dated, but ... it’ll be far less than 80% of their usual take home

And this is exactly why I asked what arrangements the CM is offering to safeguard any "placeholding" money paid, in case of business failure

@iggly and @NameofTheWind

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

That's my understanding - and she won't be able to claim it until June.

Someone mentioned early years funding. Some childminders offer this, but not all because they can't afford to: it doesn't cover their fees.
Not all the children would be claiming it anyway, only the 3 and 4 year olds and a very small number of 2 year olds.
It won't be paid until mid-April/May.

You have a great attitude, Iggly.

Why the

I’m wfh with my dcs as is my husband.

There’s absolutely no way we are working at capacity. None. Because we have the kids.

Thanks @GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou

I’m really worried for a lot of people and how they’ll survive when this is all over. I hate to think that they may go hungry and lose homes because people want to keep extra cash for themselves.

@iggly She has other kids atleast THREE.. I have also paid her for one full week (over £200) and she has £243 in childcare vouchers AND the govt will pay her 80% of her lost earnings.
Im sure she won’t be going hungry or homeless and if she said she was of course I would help, but that isn’t the case.

She’s asked you to pay 70%? So you’re getting a discount.

You’re making judgements when you’re not in a position to do so.

I don’t know if my cleaner will claim UC or not or whether she will still have an income.

I’m still paying her because this is an unprecedented situation and I’m not out of pocket as a result of doing the morally right thing.

The Government has said they will pay 80% of the average of her last three tax returns in June.

She may have other children on her books, but you don't know their arrangement or circumstances. Perhaps one or more of her families has no money at all coming in and can't pay her.

She has been advised to do this by PACEY for a reason.

Would you ignore similar advice regarding your income, BusyBee?

I very much doubt it.

I'm paying my cm in full. My choice.

Dh and I are able to wfh so do not need childcare and will not lose any income. We are lucky. I do not want my cm to have financial hardship when she works so hard and is very fair and kind.

• Someone mentioned early years funding. Some childminders offer this, but not all because they can't afford to: it doesn't cover their fees. Not all the children would be claiming it anyway, only the 3 and 4 year olds and a very small number of 2 year olds. It won't be paid until mid-April/May.*

I pay a top up like most people for the early yrs funding. My cm will get it in April for the next term & I have already paid full fees up to April 1st. I also pay my childminder 52 weeks of the yr.

People who are furloughed on paye don't know when they will receive the money yet either, it depends whether their companies can afford to pay them upfront.

Like I said I'm happy to pay something but there is no way I will pay full fees for 6 weeks summer holiday when my youngest is starting nursery in Sept & I have no idea how long I will be employed for. I would just give notice.

Well good cm are hard to come by. When it's all over she will probably have other families looking for a place . Ok will end up having to look for another cm

*op

Do as you feel you must, but don't expect any considerations from her regarding your DC's place there in the future. Who knows how long this situation will persist, and quite frankly many childminders may not want to or be able to simply pick up where they left off.

You may find yourself without a place, and competing with others to secure a new one. You may even find that childminders are at an even greater premium, and you may be priced out.

People will not forget the kindnesses small and large during this time, and people will also not forget those who seek to profit or take advantage at one end if spectrum, as well those who might of helped, but didn't.

I think you made your mind up before you typed your first word, and at end if the day, you'll do what suits as most of us do.

"Like I said I'm happy to pay something but there is no way I will pay full fees for 6 weeks summer holiday when my youngest is starting nursery in Sept & I have no idea how long I will be employed for."

Op is talking about the April invoice. I would hope that, by the Summer holidays, the Government money has started - they said June.

We don't know how long this will last. The more optimistic think it will be over by the end of the Easter holidays. The pessimists think we're in this for the next 18 months (sobs).

Personally, I would review each invoice as it comes and make a decision on whether you should, or should not, pay it in full or a percentage according to circumstances - yours and hers.
Things are changing so rapidly and so much has yet to be decided and confirmed.

Well my contract is 6 weeks notice so it's something I have to think about beforehand. I'm pretty sure schools won't go back until Sept

The 80% is for people not working!

She's working. So she won't get it.

Pay her if you want your child to still have a space.

@Itwasntme1

Was thinking the same. 100 odd people say pay her. YABU

2 say she's not.

See. People think the same way

Blows my Mind. Why ask the question?

Here's the thing OP.

After all this is over, a lot of people are going to be reassessing their relationships.

Believe it or not, people are going to remember their "friends" who boasted about stockpiling 200 loo rolls, the work colleagues who took the piss about home working and yes, the customers of the self employed who despite being lucky enough to still earn a wage decided to renege on their contracts to their financial benefit.

You seem to be of a mindset that your childminder will be eligible for govt funding. She won't because she is still working - providing essential support for key workers and as such is one herself.

She's stepping up to the mark here and even offering you a very generous discount.

Even if she wasn't working, again you misunderstand what she'd be eligible for. The govt have offered 80% of profits not revenue.

So for your £1000 a month, she wouldn't get £800.

Most businesses are lucky to operate at a profit of 30%.

Therefore she'd get 80% of £300 i.e. £240 and that's gross not net so after income tax potentially even less.

In the meantime you are wfh with full pay, whilst being disgruntled at the prospect of your childminder of over 2 years facing a massive drop in income regardless of whether she continues to work or not.

We all have a choice here; to do what's right or to be an arsehole.

That's the choice you are making right now - make no mistake about it.

Remember that, when you refuse to pay and we will look forward to your posts in the future where you bemoan the fact your child no longer has a place and you are (like many other CF parents) trying to find childcare assuming childminders don't talk to each other and will give a heads up on whose priority was saving money (despite unlike many still having the luxury of employment) rather than supporting a key worker.

So justify it all you like OP and celebrate the other posters agreeing with you, but this will come to an end and those of your ilk will find that people will remember your behaviour.