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Problems with childminder: ask the expert
My children have been going to a childminder for over a year. She emailed me this month after a few days of messing us around and not having the children saying that she will not be having my children any more as of then. She attached her invoice for November which I believe she is overcharging for as she took time off then as well. I have had to pay for temporary childcare and my husband is going to miss some work which he will not get paid for while we desperately try to make more stable arrangements. I was wondering what would be our position is regarding her breaking our contract and being paid as with all the missing work etc it will cause us a lot of financial difficulty now.
Childminders are self-employed so they set their own policies regarding breaking contracts as well as holiday pay. It is a good idea to check the contract you signed when the childminder started looking after your child and see if it gives details about termination. If you have signed an agreement outlining the termination policy, you are both bound by these terms. If she is not following the policy you agreed, you should contact the Early Years manager at your local authority.
The National Childminding Association can also advise on more common practice among childminders with regards to fees, contracts, holiday and sick pay. Contact them on 0845 880 0044.
Daycare Trust is a national childcare charity working to promote high quality affordable childcare for all. www.daycaretrust.org.uk.
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Comments [3]
Clare Gibson says:
I am off work since 21st December 2016, due to my 12 year son was in a accident by a driver who hit him.
I have a child minder & she is been funny with me, saying that I should have gone to work, as I have a 8 year old son too.
End of the day she is still getting paid, I am looking for another child minder & I feel I shouldn’t pay her for February
Thank you
Clare Gibson
Mandy Garner says:
Hi Clare,
Is she looking after your other son? It would depend on the contract you have with the childminder. For instance, does it specify non-payment if children are off sick or on holiday?
Clare gibson says:
No she isn’t looking after my other son & if she did it would have cost more. And I pay her 12 months of the year. If no payment no place for the both of them