Childminders and holidays or breaks

[marsup]

Does anyone have experience with a childminders? I believe the usual thing is to continue to pay at normal rate when you take your child on hols but to stop paying when the childminder has hols. Would that normally be 3-4 weeks a year? And (sep question) what if you know in advance the grandmas are going to turn up for up to 2 months a year (they both live far away) and want to look after the child - is it likely to be possible to pay 10 months/year, or is that more flexible than is reasonable? any advice welcome (I'm still on mat leave and haven't actually got a childminder yet!)

Discuss this with your childminder at the outset. You can agree whatever terms both parties are happy with.

I have a friend who is a childminder and she has a particular client who often wishes to keep the child at home or has a grandma turning up to look after the child. On those occasions, they have agreed that she will only pay for 5 hours instead of the usual 8/9. You have to accept that this is the childminder's business. If your child is booked in and doesn't attend, you are still blocking that place as the childminder can't take on another child.

Whatever terms you agree, make sure it is in writing.

Thanks Freckle. What sort of 'writing' do you mean - for example a letter of which you'd both keep a copy? or a contract written up between you and agreed, but obviously not in legal jargon or checked professionally?

I have several friends who are teachers who use childminders during term-time, but not suring hols. They all seem to have some sort of "half-pay" arrangement in place for school holidays.

I think that the Chilminders Association has a standard set of terms which parents and childminders can then adapt as appropriate.

Childminders have to complete a formal contract which is supplied by Ofsted and it lists these sorts of things in it. It has a blank space so what you and the childminder agree is written in there. It is quite normal to pay when you are on hols but not when they are or vice versa however my last one wrote into the contract that I had to pay both when she was on leave and when I was which I argued quite strongly. I know some mumsnetters are childminders so they'll be able to help you out more. I have found a little childminders mafia in my area where they all meet up and effectively agree their terms and rates so when you ring them to find out if they have vacancies no one is favoured more than the other due to lower rates. Childminders are in great demand and even though my last childminder tried that clause on me I still think she is just wonderful and has been amazingly brilliant with ds. Each childminder I've had has been truly fantastic so good luck with finding one. I'm sure you can negotiate what you want as long as it is reasonable to both sides.

message withdrawn