Childminder charging me for her holidays?

suited-aces

choccymoose wrote: »

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!

Some posters have mentioned there is only one viable CM in their area/ If this is the case, then "sign the contract or don't" is not a fair comment. If you only had one potential energy supplier, would you advocate the same put up or shut up policy?

thatgirlsam

suited-aces wrote: »

Some posters have mentioned there is only one viable CM in their area/ If this is the case, then "sign the contract or don't" is not a fair comment. If you only had one potential energy supplier, would you advocate the same put up or shut up policy?

but they are not forced to use CM's, there are other options although i know some areas have problems with waiting lists for afterschool care etc

what surprises me is the way some parents really seem to begrudge paying for childcare at all

its part and parcel of having children if you work or are one of the lucky ones that has family to step in

children are very expensive

also, if you are one of or the only person that provides a service in your area then you are lucky in the fact you probably won't have to compete for business

peachyprice

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

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.

I do apologies the 'you' was not aimed at you personally, rather childminders in general, and nothing was 'veiled', where was any suggestion that you personallly were 'bleeding parents dry'? I do seem to have hit a nerve.

cannyscot_2

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I heard the opposite, that we are entitled to 4 weeks paid leave.

I personally don't charge for my holiday - I have to compete for work and I think it can put potential clients off.

However a CM friend does charge for her holidays - but she ensures that on the 2nd Jan all her parents are given details of the 4 weeks holiday she is taking and thereby ensuring that they have sufficient notice to make alternative arrangements or take the same time off.

CM's are self employed and as such are free to set their own business rates. However for all the comments about CM's being greedy just bear this in mind:
hourly rates are significantly low for a self employed person, the amount of work that has to be completed to cover the EYFS is shocking. It's not a babysitting service anymore, CM's are expected to provide a professional service and yet hourly rates don't reflect the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. It's not a case of sitting at home drinking cups of tea, observation, planning and development have to go just the same as in nurseries and pre schools.

You could pick a CM who doesn't charge but has an increased hourly rate - either way you'll end up paying.

In order to be self -employed there are criteria you have to meet. Paid holidays would be an indication you should be treated as employed. As I stated the National childminding authorities have issued guidance to CM that they should not charge full for their holidays for this reason . I checked this very throughouly when the issue arose for me.

I am really suprised that a person running courses would be teaching CM that they should charge full or that they have a choice. Once again they are putting a risk a very benefical status-self employment.


As a I work in this area I think it is something I will follow up. Probably time the whole matter was investigated more thoroughly. The childminders in my area have 6 children at £4 an hour =£24 an hour they are the able to deduct a huge amount of expenses -including an element of their own household expenses. The net result is that they are getting a very reasonable amount of money whilst often doing what they want to do ie shop etc.


The whole less than the minimum wage arguement does not hold water .

I think if you want to be treated as self employed then you take the risks and disadvatages of self employment ie that you don't not get paid for holidays. It is acceptable to take a notional or reduced fee to hold a place but it is unacceptable to take a full fee for the CM own holidays or for Bank holidays when you are by your own choice not providing a service.


I'm grateful to the OP as it has reminded me how much this situation annoys me and I will make sure I speak with the relevant people at the Inalnd Revenue and at the Childminding Association.

thatgirlsam

cannyscot wrote: »

In order to be self -employed there are criteria you have to meet. Paid holidays would be an indication you should be treated as employed. As I stated the National childminding authorities have issued guidance to CM that they should not charge full for their holidays for this reason . I checked this very throughouly when the issue arose for me.

I am really suprised that a person running courses would be teaching CM that they should charge full or that they have a choice. Once again they are putting a risk a very benefical status-self employment.


As a I work in this area I think it is something I will follow up. Probably time the whole matter was investigated more thoroughly. The childminders in my area have 6 children at £4 an hour =£24 an hour they are the able to deduct a huge amount of expenses -including an element of their own household expenses. The net result is that they are getting a very reasonable amount of money whilst often doing what they want to do ie shop etc.


The whole less than the minimum wage arguement does not hold water .

I think if you want to be treated as self employed then you take the risks and disadvatages of self employment ie that you don't not get paid for holidays. It is acceptable to take a notional or reduced fee to hold a place but it is unacceptable to take a full fee for the CM own holidays or for Bank holidays when you are by your own choice not providing a service.


I'm grateful to the OP as it has reminded me how much this situation annoys me and I will make sure I speak with the relevant people at the Inalnd Revenue and at the Childminding Association.

surely they would only have 6 @ £4 an hour full time during the school holidays?

as they are only allowed 3 under 5 at any one time including their own, and only one under 1 year old

the potential to earn is quite good, just not as good as you are making out

dangers

I'm a registered c/minder and I do not charge for my holidays. However, I do charge full when the children are sick/on holiday as I am keeping a place open for them.

From a parent's point of view, I would not like to pay a c/minder if they were on holiday as I would incur extra costs in arranging childcare; or having to take time off myself.

property.advert

I don't know why people get so upset about this. Anything other than not paying when the CM is on holiday is ludicrous. You do not still have the papers delivered and the milk left on your door step when on holiday and neither do you pay for them at that time. CMs are self employed and if they cannot supply the service, then they cannot charge. If they insisted, there is no law which they can quote to help their case.

galvanizersbaby

Fly_Baby wrote: »

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.

Yes I agree with you - I have wondered how being insured would be any consolation.
I guess though that if a childminder was properly registered you could report etc....which may help prevent anything happening to another child.

rozzy_2

The rate that they charge you per hour or whatever should include an element of uplift to cover for things such as holidays etc. I don't think it is right for the CM to say I am having a week off but I still want paying and you have to find an alternative while im off.

Fly_Baby

thatgirlsam wrote: »

but they are not forced to use CM's, there are other options although i know some areas have problems with waiting lists for afterschool care etc

what surprises me is the way some parents really seem to begrudge paying for childcare at all

its part and parcel of having children if you work or are one of the lucky ones that has family to step in

children are very expensive

Not that it's any childminder's fault or responsibility - but I do find it odd that capable professional women are forced out of the job market solely due to the cost of childcare. And it doesn't even have to be "fancy" childcare like a private nanny - childminders are generally considered the cheapest option but even their services work out too expensive for many women that consider going back to work.

That's a shame and that's definitely not right.