Childminder's notice

[mamitou]

Hello,
I am really confuse about this and would really appreciate if someone advises me.

I started a temporary job end of last year and entered into a six month contract with a childminder for my two sons. I gave her notice one month before the end of the contract. After the end of our contract, because i was actively looking for another job and needed to have at least one day a week for job interviews, i asked whether she could keep my sons on a part time basis for two days per week, which she agreed to and this lasted for two months. We did not put this into writing btw.

I then found a new job, she agreed to have the kids back fulltime, but said she could not have them until 6pm everyday as i requested. We agreed to give it a go and see how it works. I finish work at 5pm and i do a bit of commuting on the motorway. I told her i could guaranty to pick them up at 5.30pm as she's requesting, if it's too much pressure i will have to find alternative childcare.

The real issue is that two days into my new job, childminder call me at work and tell me she got an emergency and that i should come and pick up the kids. I had to find a new childcare provider the same day otherwise i would have lost my job. I have no close family around and i am a single mum. Now childminder is sending me messages that i should pay her four weeks notice. Can somebody tell me what to do?

From what you have posted I understand:

1. you had a CM for 6 mths
2. when that contract ended your CM kindly accommodated your request for ad hoc childcare
3. she then luckily had a space for your kids when you got a job and was open with you that the later finishes would not really suit her
4. she had a one off emergency which required you to collect your kids
5. as a consequence you have withdrawn your kids from her care

Yes I think you do owe her 4 weeks notice. Sounds like she has bent over backwards to accommodate your needs. Unless her emergency was such that she wouldn't be able to work for 4 weeks then it was you who terminated the agreement knowing she used a 4 week notice period.

Did you have a contract for your second lot of full time childminding?

Don't these sort of emergencies happen with childcare all of the time?? I had to take a week off work in the first month back at work after dd contracted an infectious illness and couldn't attend childcare. Your employer generally cannot fire you for this. Unless there is more to this than meets the eye, I think it's unfair to withdraw your child after one incident and agree you should give a proper notice period.

Can somebody tell me what to do?

Yes, pay your childminder her 4 week notice. Even if you don't have a written contract for this second period of minding, you have used her services and it is implied by that, that you agree to her terms and conditions.