childminding...and insurance...confused

building

the people i know who run a childminding business say they cannot take our daughter on a few months basis but would have to tie us into a 6 month contract because of how their insurance works (public liaibility if anything happens to the child) which is not good for us. do all childminders because of their insurance tie people in for 6 months? the nursery down the road did 1 month contract so i am confused why this is 6 months. any tips on insurance welcome. thanks in advance.

Savvy_Sue

I have no idea what the insurance has to do with it, but if they only want to offer a minimum 6 month contract then that is their privilege. As it is yours to walk away from it if it does not suit you.

katskorner

My childminder has to have public liability insurance but she does not tie us in for more than a month - and this has nothing to do with her insurance. If she did I doubt she would get any business! Do not commit to anything that does not suit you.

inmypocketnottheirs

My wife is a registered child minder, and there is no correlation between insurance and minimum term. It would appear someone is just trying to get you to commit to a six month term. Shop around, and I am sure you will find someone more flexible.

Spendless

Just a thought-but would they also offer the same the other way round. ie they are committed to looking after your child for a minimum of 6 months, and could not give you notice till this time is up?

Queeny

I am a registered childminder. Insurance is a completely seperate issue to contracts and timescales! Perhaps there is a friendlier explanation rather than it being anything financial. It is often hard for childminders to take on children for a few months because if a permanant full time child comes along they might not have a place and the parents will go elsewhere, and the childminder loses out. Also, we become attatched quickly to the kids and its very hard to part with them even after a short time! Maybe they have six months minimum so they have time to get to know the child and its less of a disruption to them and the other minded children, for whom the new child becomes a friend! Nurseries will undercut most childminders, and have kids for very short periods of time but the service is completely different! Please think of childminders as extended family, rather than someone you have to have for the sake of your work and children. Hope that helps!