Childminder charges during lockdown

[NoEndInSight1]

Hello, I'm just after abit of advice as I'm not sure what's being charged to me for care of my DS is right. During all of last years lockdown I was charged full from my childminder despite me keeping DS home. I am currently on maternity with DD so I could have him. I paid full as I thought this was right. My DS is now 3 so I have set up 30 free childcare hours from this January. My childminder has now said she's been notified that she can't recieve the 30 free hours funding if I'm not sending him in so I will need to pay her using my childcare vouchers, despite him being home. I can't believe this is right. Can anyone help me out with links or info either way, I've looked at Pacey but can't find anything. Thanks

Our childminder didn't charge anything during last lockdown as she was closed and instead claimed from government. Since she is open this time we are using her. If we chose not to use her whilst she is open then we'd need to pay to hold the space. Basically, she charges if she's open, and doesn't charge if she's forced to close through illness/government closure etc.

In your case, it seems you paid full last lockdown which is perhaps strange. But maybe she couldn't claim from government?
This time, she is open so yes you'd need to pay even if not using her, and I think that is right about the 30 free hours. Could you just hand in your notice as seems you don't need her?

Also, she should have policies that cover this?

If you are choosing not to send him in and don't want to pay then give a months paid notice and take him out.
The government are not funding for children not attending.

It’s true that you can’t claim FEL for children not in attendance but absolutely do not pay her in full if you’re not using it.
If you want to keep his place, offer her a retainer of 20% of normal fees.

Well I am returning to work during march so do need the space for both children. I'm just surprised that I have to pay her when I have 30 free hours from the government.

Not all childminders offer 30 free hours as it doesn't make sense for them as the pay is so little. I would find someone else so you can use your hours or use a nursery.

Did the childminder open last year? The competition authorities ruled that they shouldn’t charge if they didn’t provide service www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law-advice#issue-1-charging-high-or-full-fees-for-services-not-provided-during-lockdown

With regards to this year I think it’s different as they still kept giving funding to settings last year for children not attending however this year I don’t think are. Is there anything in your contract with her?

You don’t get 30 free hours from the government unless your child attends.

I know that nurseries were able to claim during last lockdown even if the child didn’t attend. That stopped in December as I understand it. It might have been different for childminders.

Your child has to attend in order to get the funded hours. If he's not attending the LEA will not pay the funding. It's a bit off that she's charging you full fees not a retainer but it's up to her afaik.

This is quite worrying. In a few weeks my youngest will be eligible for free hours and I was planning to claim them. But if the government changes their mind about paying for those hours there’s absolutely no way I can pay out of my own pocket because I don’t have the money. I imagine there are a lot of parents in that situation.

OP can you even afford to pay for these hours? I’d be inclined to tell the childminder that you’re relying on government funding and in the absence of that you don’t have the ability to pay. I wouldn’t pay her to hold the space either, it’s not like it’s going to get filled at present.

What is in your contract? Is she closed or are you choosing not to send him?

@SpikySara well you can claim them if you’re sending your child in? If you’re not sending your child you wouldn’t need to claim.

@SpikySara don’t bet on places not being filled. I’m the finance manager for a nursery and we’ve just had 4 requests for places this week from mother’s returning to keyworker roles (3 are NHS) from maternity leave who are going back earlier than planned and can’t use grandparents as planned as they’re now shielding.

If you send him in, she will be able to claim the funding from the government.

Its a bit of a bonkers situation that you pay if he doesn't go and its free if he does, but that's the way it works.

You can't expect the childminder to hold the place open and not get paid for it. If you are choosing not to use the space it needs to be paid for in full. As the government won't pay for hours not used, then you will have to.

Of course, if the childminder is shut, they can't charge.

If you are choosing not to send our child then no she can not claim the funding and if you want the place you have to pay at least a notice period or give up the place

@Twickerhun

If you are choosing not to send our child then no she can not claim the funding and if you want the place you have to pay at least a notice period or give up the place

^This.

Childminders are open in England, Wales and Scotland.

SpikySara well you can claim them if you’re sending your child in?
But what happens if the Covid situation gets worse and reaches a point where I don’t feel it’s safe to send him in any more? If I pull him out of nursery the government will then refuse to pay for his hours and I’ll be billed for them, and I don’t have the ability to pay.

@SpikySara yes they will only pay if he attends. I completely understand what you’re saying, it’s a catch 22. The government can’t afford for pay for places not being used, especially with furlough and everything else but not can the parents. My nursery is allowing parents to pay a 20% retainer instead of full fees / loosing the place. As far as situation worsening goes; I think it’s a matter of if not when, unfortunately.

@SpikySara

SpikySara well you can claim them if you’re sending your child in? But what happens if the Covid situation gets worse and reaches a point where I don’t feel it’s safe to send him in any more? If I pull him out of nursery the government will then refuse to pay for his hours and I’ll be billed for them, and I don’t have the ability to pay.

Well what do you want the cm to do? Hang around not earning until you decide it’s time to use her again? She has bills to pay! This is a crap time for all but you can’t hedge your bets and expect her to pick up the tab. I’ve had an influx of enquiries and would have I trouble filling any spaces if my clients started not paying.

In the first 2 lockdowns the government agreed to pay the free entitlement even if the children weren't attending a setting. However, with this lockdown that has been withdrawn. Therefore, when settings put in the claim for this term to their LA, who administer the payments, if you child is not attending the setting on 'headcount day', which with my LA is in the week beginning 18th January, we are not allowed to claim payment for this term. I can therefore see why the childminder is saying that you need to pay as she needs an income and can't claim for the free entitlement money if your child isn't attending. Perhaps you could send your son part-time therefore enabling you childminder to claim the funding and ensuring you have the space you need in March when you return to work.

My nursery is allowing parents to pay a 20% retainer
I can’t even afford 20%. I would only be sending him because it’s free and it’s good for his development. But if things get bad and I have to pull him out, the government won’t pay and I can’t pay. My point is that there must be thousands of parents in this situation? For example, every parent on benefits who has a child at nursery but has now decided to keep them at home. How are they handling it?

Well what do you want the cm to do? Hang around not earning until you decide it’s time to use her again?
That’s what literally every other business is doing. I’m not paying a retainer to my hairdresser, my beautician, my dog groomer, my dry cleaner, my car washer, my nail technician, or anyone else who offers a service I previously used. I don’t currently need their service, therefore I don’t pay, and they just have to cope. What’s so special about childminders?

I presume therefore from above comments that as long as the child is in on headcount week that the funding can be claimed for this term? So you could send him/her until then and then keep at home if wanted till the end of this term?

You can't claim funding if not going.
If u want his space held send him.

@Myusername2015 no you have to provide full attendance figures.

@SpikySara with all due respect to those on benefits; if they’re at home anyway then there’s no real need for their child to be in a childcare setting just because it’s funded. Especially during a pandemic when there’s a stay at home order.

Hairdressers don’t have a ratio they are allowed to work too and limited spaces. It’s not the same at all.
You don’t pay for every 3rd Tuesday at 5am. If you wanted to reserve that then I would expect the hairdresser to ask for a deposit as if you decided not to turn up, she’s then lost any potential income from that appointment. Surely you can see that?