Child maintenance and summer incoming

[Nic2300]

I have 2 children with my ex partner who I pay child maintenance too as I only have my children 2 nights a week atm. She has send me a schedule & bills that would be expected for summer schemes and sports activities for the summer for the children. These activities fall on one day. but she’s sent these as if I’m expected to pay for the whole week for the summer (pay 50/50 with her )I don’t want arguments but I don’t no how to respond without being called a deadbeat

Do the kids want to go to the activities? If they really don’t, the alternative is that you offer to have them all week? Lots of camps are such that you have to book them for the week or not at all, and I can see why summer activities are important for school age children with a new sibling at home.

But yes, if my children have summer activities they want to do, I’d pay 50% or whatever is proportionate given my earnings because I’d want my kids to be out doing things they enjoy. I don’t work at the moment and my dc still do summer activities, which we pay for equally. It’s not just about childcare, it’s about having fun and life experiences.

Why doesn’t she work?
And why does she need them in clubs if she’s sat around at home all day?

If she's on mat leave and the clubs aren't needed on your days I would just send a polite message saying something along the lines of 'thank you for considering me but I don't require the children to attend these clubs when in my care during the summer holidays so I won't be contributing towards this. Moving forwards, to avoid any disappointment for all involved, please do not book anything for when the children are with me withoutdiscssing this with me first.I am happy to increase my childcare arrangement to 50:50 as previously suggested'

I would reply that you don’t agree to them doing the clubs as they aren’t needed for childcare for either of you. That she shouldn’t be booking anything that she expects you to pay 50% without running it past you.

Presumably you use all your annual leave to cover school
holidays.

If you want to return to 50:50 take it to court as it will likely go in your favour especially as you did this previously.

This is exactly what you say

Are you only having them 2 days a week all summer? 5 days is a lot of childcare for her to organise if she has work.

If both of you are working on the same day I think 50% of childcare costs is fair.

If you're not at work, why are they in childcare?

Neither are working during the day.

Mum is on leave (maternity)
Dad works nights.

Neither needs the holiday club.

Mum's booked them in for 4 days a week (3 days are her days) then told Dad he has to pay half, on top of his CMS. Lol.

So in effect, Mum wants to put them in a club for four days. Then Dad has them another day. So despite being at home all day, Mum only wants them for two days a week and expects Dad to pay for it. She refuses the 50/50 care Dad keeps asking for though, because she doesn't get money that way.

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid. If you don't want to look after your children, you can't have them sleep at yours to get paid CMS (to help fund your maternity leave with someone else's baby), but simultaneously expect Dad to then pay for someone else to look after them all day. Give them to Dad. Like he's asking.

Ah I see.

Yep, Dad needs to go to court for 50/50 and definitely doesn't have to pay for a club they don't need to go to.

Thanks for everything