Childminder charging me for her holidays?

Bitsy_Beans

peachyprice wrote: »

But I guess you know that parents will pay your holiday pay because they're desparate for your childcare, even if it means being tied to your holiday dates or having to pay twice for someone else to look after their children while you are away.

I object to the veiled suggestion that I am bleeding working parents dry. I don't take advantage of my parents but I've certainly had some of them do it to me.


Anyway I am out of this thread. it's far too much like Netmums on here for my liking.

Fly_Baby

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

So on the basis of paying £2.50ph you'd really go with an unregistered CM who has no public liability insurance, is not CRB checked and has not been inspected by Ofsted. Sure there are registered CM's who aren't all they are cracked up to be but isn't that the case in all professions. However at least you have some recompense if anything goes wrong and a professional body you can report to.

I am yet to come across an unregistered CHILDMINDER i.e. a complete stranger who offers childcare and charges £2.50 at that. But I would happily go with a trusted friend or a relative with no public liability insurance and CRB clearance - and pay them £2.50 per hour if that's what they would ask for.

I understand that registered childminders have insurance etc and it does give some reassurance if you hand you child over to some stranger. But if something bad happens, I fail to see how this insurance will be any consolation to me. Yes, I would be able to report this person, yes, her licence may be revoked - but my own child will be no better for that. And that's what under discussion here after all - the wellbeing of the child.

clairehi

Its worth bearing in mind that employers have to give employees 4 weeks paid holiday by law, so its only fair for c/ms to have the same amount of time off.

if your c/m doesnt charge you while she is on hols - she is simply absorbing her living costs for her holiday time into the charges you pay the rest of the year.

as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Fly_Baby

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Why I don't up my hourly rate is becuase I not only have other local CM's to compete with but the wrap around at the local school which has a waiting list as long as your arm. Even with my current rate of £3.50ph I am about 35p more expensive than the wrap around so to push it up another 50p means I am even more expensive than wrap around. And since money is the deal breaker guess what parents are going to go for.

I am sorry, still don't get it. Why are other childminders charging this much (or this little)? They don't expect their holidays covered and don't factor that in their rates? Then why should you?

I do set up my own rates but I too work in a competitive industry and if I suddenly decide that actually I wouldn't mind a paid leave through the increase in my service charges I might too lose the clients because they would go elsewhere.

How is it any different? That's being self-employed for you.

Fly_Baby

clairehi wrote: »

Its worth bearing in mind that employers have to give employees 4 weeks paid holiday by law, so its only fair for c/ms to have the same amount of time off.

if your c/m doesnt charge you while she is on hols - she is simply absorbing her living costs for her holiday time into the charges you pay the rest of the year.

as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Childminders are not employees - this has been reiterated more than once. If they want a paid leave like employees do they can either go work in a nursery or become a nanny.

LilacLouisa

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

Just out of interest how do they enforce this? - wouldn't the client just go elsewhere to avoid paying?

My daughter has only ever told one client that she would have to pay for the appointment that she had missed (for the umpteenth time) She did pay and keep better time after that.

If a client becomes someone who regularly misses appointments for no good reason, you are better off without them, it actually costs the hairdresser money.

Mr.Mulla

We also paid for our childminder's holiday off before. We just made sure that her holiday will be the same as either my wife's or mine so we won't need to get another childminder while she is on holiday. Like in your case, she was also the only childminder at our place, so we didn't have much of a choice.

suited-aces

clairehi wrote: »

Its worth bearing in mind that employers have to give employees 4 weeks paid holiday by law, so its only fair for c/ms to have the same amount of time off <snip> as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Unless you're a childminder?

"I want the advantages of being self emplyed!"

"I want employee rights!"

choccymoose

I cannot believe the attitude of some people on this thread, Childminders set their own rates, the parents either sign the contract agreeing to the terms or don't. End of argument, stop making this so personal and insulting! Its a free market!

emma-uk

My Childminder's have the same policy although there is no fee if you have to arrange alternative childcare and they spread it out over the year and try to incorporate our holiday arrangements where possible (It's a Husband and Wife team)

My OH works shifts and they are very flexible, some weeks my son is only there for 1/2 a day of the 3 1/2 they are contracted to care for him. No nurseries in my area could not offer the same flexibilty and still charge 100% fee's whereas we only pay 30% of the standard day fee on those days they are not needed. Overall the monthly cost was double the amount with a nursery. They do not charge extra's for trips whareas many do in my area, last week he went to the Zoo, Museum and Swimming and these are not cheap activities.

My Childminders are one of the most saught after in our area and worth their weight in gold. For the level of care they provide my son who loves it there, their flexibilty and the cost I am more than happy with their holiday policy.