I saw a post on social media this week were a parent stated that her child minder had still charged when her child didn’t attend because he was unell.
When I was working as a registered child minder I would charge parents if a child was unwell because this is what I was advised when I attended the pre-registration training.
Child minders are self employed, so if they didn’t still charge when children are unwell they would have a drastic reduction in their income, especially if several children were absent at the same time.
As early year proffessionals child minders are not premitted to look after sick children as this could put other children at risk.
Personally, I was O.K. with children coming with a regular cold and runny nose ( that seems to be most of the colder months in the average child) but I wouldn’t accept a child with other symptons.
Occasionally I had the odd parent who would try to convince me that their child was fit and healthy; mainly because it was difficult for them to take time off work to look after their child, but most of the parents that I worked with were honest and understanding.
I didn’t charge parents if their child was so unwell that they were in hospital, as I figured that they had enough to worry about, without the stress of having to find the money to pay me too.
Child minders should always explain about payments to parents at the initial meeting more here
Plus everything should be clearly written into the contract that both parties will sign before the child starts to attend the child minder.
What happens if it is the child minder who is unwell, I hear you ask?
More on that here
If you are a child minder, do you charge for an unwell child who doesn’t attend?
Hopefully any parents who use a registered child minder will now understand why they may still be charged if their child doesn’t attend because they are unwell.
As always questions and comments are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
x
Linked with
I’ve always struggled with the fact that parents are happy to leave their most precious human with a childminder but do not see that person as a solid professional. I’ve always kept my contracts as solid as my professionalism and give myself the rights that most others have which is, 52 week contract, 5 of which are paid holiday, 20 days sick pay for myself and staff and full fees irrelevant of whether the child attends or not. How else could I run a professional setting, how else could I provide an outstanding excellent service? As I have said to many childminders these are my rules for my business spelled out at the initial interview and if a parent doesn’t like it then I’m more than happy for them to look elsewhere. I’m glad you have raised the issue, but until childminders acknowledge themselves as solid professionals providing one of the most important of all services parents will always resort to, why should I pay 🤷♀️🤷♀️
Thanks for your detailed explanation, of how you work as a professional registered child minder, I do appreciate you taking the time to do so
I’ve never used a childminder so have never really thought about this, but I can see why it would make sense to still charge even when a child is unwell and to make that part of your business contract. I assume that the same would be true of nurseries. #MMBC
Thanks for your comment, Louise
I’ve not used a childminder so never really thought about this but I can see why it would make sense for a childminder to charge and for this to be included in their contract with parents, and I assume that nurseries would do the same. With most of the activities I do with the children, we are charged by the term and if they’re unwell one week, we’ve still paid for that session and wouldn’t expect to be refunded. #MischiefandMemories
Absolutely, Louise, thanks for stopping by
It is tricky as you can’t help being ill. Children often get ill but the child care provision still has a booked place so it is fair to charge. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
Thanks for leaving ypor thoughts and for having me as a part of the linky, Laura
Whilst it is irksome to have to pay when you aren’t using the service I think any reasonable person would be able to see that isn’t the childminders fault and so expect to still have to pay.
#MischiefandMemories
Absolutely, thanks for leaving your thoughts
I did charge when a child was unwell, but I never charged when I myself got sick and needed to close for a day or two. #MischiefandMemories
Thanks, Heather, that’s the same as I did