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

Also if you’re managing to pay a nail tech, hair dresser, dog groomer, beautification and valeted and you’re now not paying for Jose services; surely you can afford a 20% childcare retainer? It all comes down to priorities. Eyelashes & nails average £30 each so that’s £60 per month...

Oops! * beautician and valeter

Gosh, I expect there are alot or people in the same boat. I can pay it just about but it feels horrendous seeing as its not money I budgeted for and I'm keeping him home. Its like I'm doing the right thing not sending him but am left out of pocket if I do. I understand the cm needs money too, this is the government's fault not hers. I'm not quite sure what to do

What’s so special about childminders?

The difference is childminders ARE still working and in demand and they can’t afford to sit around with empty spaces. Your hairdresser can’t open right now, but when she can she’s not going to leave an appointment open to you until you can afford to get your hair cut, she’s going to give her spaces to clients who can pay.

Everyone is right, they do not need to pay & I agree they shouldn't pay for children not attending. If you are at home & can look after your child then the government shouldn't be paying for an empty space that the childminder could fill with someone else.

If you can't pay then you would need to cancel the space & hope there is availability when things go back to normal.

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
Actually the government provides MORE free childcare to parents on benefits because the children are presumed to need that additional support. Benefit claimants can send their children for free childcare from age 2, compared to everyone else who only gets free childcare from age 3.

My point is that benefit claimants who have already signed their children up for free childcare before this Covid situation occurred, may now wish to keep their children at home. But if they do so, they will end up with a bill that they can’t pay.

If your favourite beautician, valet, cleaner etc all said you cannot use the service ever again unless you pay a retainer you may change your mind. Especially if every other beautician in your area couldn't take you on because they were too busy.

I'm a childminder, I don't think I'm special but I do have an ever increasing waiting list and if someone wants to pull their child out they can either pay a retainer to keep the space or I'm giving it to somebody else that needs it.

We are able to work and have not been shut down like other services.

But if they do so, they will end up with a bill that they can’t pay.

Well it’s the government you should be annoyed at then, they’re the ones making all the decisions.

Why are childminders so special?! I used to work as one and there’s no way I’d have expected anyone to be paying full whack when their child couldn’t attend!! As a self employed person, it’s a choice you make to be responsible for your own income. She’s not an employee so shouldn’t get ‘furlough’ from you while she sits on her arse.

I get that she didn’t have a choice to close. Guess what - neither did hairdressers, entertainers, those in the wedding industry etc Many of us have been adversely affected and not everyone was able to claim the self employed income support, but if she’s not part of a larger childcare group, she would have been eligible for help with her income. Sounds like she’s been taking the piss.

And the government aren’t paying while your DS is off, so why the hell should you?

if someone wants to pull their child out they can either pay a retainer to keep the space or I'm giving it to somebody else that needs it
That sounds reasonable, but it will unfortunately impact on kids with poorer families who were claiming free hours and cannot pay to retain their space. Also I question how such people could pay the one month notice that would normally be required when removing a child.

The government has said you can send your ds in so she is correct in that she cannot claim and if you want the space kept you can be charged - she is a professional, it's her income and she needs the income. Personally I would send him in the 30 hours and negotiate a fee for any extra hours you aren't using

@SpikySara

if someone wants to pull their child out they can either pay a retainer to keep the space or I'm giving it to somebody else that needs it That sounds reasonable, but it will unfortunately impact on kids with poorer families who were claiming free hours and cannot pay to retain their space. Also I question how such people could pay the one month notice that would normally be required when removing a child.

I wouldn't charge a months notice, I would just let them leave with immediate effect.

I had that exact situation last lockdown. I wouldn't be looking to profit twice under any circumstances.

I don't agree with the government stance on funding and actually in my LA the funding claims for Spring have been suspended whilst they try to work out a fair way.

As others have said, the DfE have said they will not fund places that are not being used this term. So you have two choices. You either pay for the space and use it or don’t use it. Or you give notice on the place (and possibly have to pay for that notice period as it is not covered by funding) and then apply for a place again in March when you need to go back to work.

If you want to be annoyed with anyone, take it up with the DfE. Once again, early years have been screwed over by them.

If you don’t want the place, why is it fair that the minder doesn’t get paid? I have people enquiring all the time, why should I hang about holding a place for free for you, when someone else is will I get to pay me?

Obviously now she’s open then she has every right to charge a retainer or indeed full fees if the space is available for use, regardless of whether her customers choose to send their child, whether the child has to isolate or is indeed ill with COVID or anything else. However, last year when that was not the case, she really shouldn’t have been charging anything. Not giving away her spaces for this year to the highest bidder.

This is what our council have said:

Providers should advise parents that funding cannot be transferred, once the parent has signed up for the term and make parents aware of funding considerations and options if they leave mid-term or take up a place after the start of term. We may ask for written evidence that the parent has been adequately informed where there is a dispute over funding claim.

· Providers should make clear to parents the number of funding hours they are claiming and the number of fee paying hours their child is accessing.

· If you have allocated a place and have a signed Parent Authorisation Form for the spring term 2021 and the parent/carer chooses not to send their child due to concerns over covid19 then you may still make a claim for the funding. In this situation, the place must remain open and available to the child for the rest of the term should they wish to access it and the child must not be in attendance elsewhere.

@MarkRuffaloCrumble

Why are childminders so special?! I used to work as one and there’s no way I’d have expected anyone to be paying full whack when their child couldn’t attend!! As a self employed person, it’s a choice you make to be responsible for your own income. She’s not an employee so shouldn’t get ‘furlough’ from you while she sits on her arse.

I get that she didn’t have a choice to close. Guess what - neither did hairdressers, entertainers, those in the wedding industry etc Many of us have been adversely affected and not everyone was able to claim the self employed income support, but if she’s not part of a larger childcare group, she would have been eligible for help with her income. Sounds like she’s been taking the piss.

And the government aren’t paying while your DS is off, so why the hell should you?

Erm maybe you aren’t aware but childminders aren’t closed?! That’s the point of the thread! They are open and able to take the child.