Childminders charging for my holidays

[Eunhae]

Hi team,
Do your childminders charge full price when both you and them take holidays?

Do you get any discount when you take time.off with advance notice?

I have told my childminder we only need childcare the first two weeks of Decmeber after she has told us she is taking the full week of 23/12 off but we need to pay full that week.
I asked for a discount on the third week but she has said she will charge the full 22 days in Decmeber even though we are actually only using 10, and only have 17 available.

Thoughts? Advice? I obviously want to keep good with her, but she seems to think she is an employee rather than self employed claiming every expense including 25% of her home rent!

I think it would probably go down better not to ‘charge’ for the days off and instead spread the cost over the year.

Not necessarily. I work term time only, and parents have approached me asking to spread payments through the year. Different terms will work for different people. Which is why it's important to read the contract before you commit.

I meant as well as saying no payment when she wasn't available (sickness, unpredictable appointment), does it mention anything about her paid holidays? If not then you point this out and don't pay the Christmas week she's not available.