Tricky situation about poss. letting a mindee go

[vix84]

I am starting Childminding again and now have my son Max who is taking my under 1's place.
From May I will have A 1 year old term time only.
From March I will have B 2 afternoons a week for 2.5 hours each time.
Today a parent came about having C a couple of afternoons a week - but they may then need me full-time, so Id have to let B go as Id have 4 under 5's - I would feel so bad about doing this - but obviously I need the money of the full timer.

I was doing a couple of hours babysiting a week for B - and then she asked if I could have him at mine so he could socialise etc.

I could apply for a variation for continuity of care - but Ive already had to apply for a months variation so B could start as he is a month off of a year.
I will also need to do the same for child A when he starts as my son wont be 1 untill June, and A will be 10 months.

I wonder if Ofsted will think Im being cheeky asking for 3 variations in 3 months!


Has anyone else had to let a mindee go before as they were only there for a few hours and you then had an enquiery for a full timer?

[Daftbat]

I have had to let one mindee who was only a few hours a week go to accomodate and existing mindee whose parent upped her hours. KIt was a difficult decision but luckily everyone was ok with it. I explained how much i wished i didn't have to do it but emphasised that i was running a business and had to look at the financial side of things too.

Its really hard - hope you get it sorted to everyones satisfaction:thumbsup:

[Blaze]

I had 3 variations in the first 2 months of minding(due to parent's keep changing time's needed) & didn't have a problem...I would try for the variations before looking at giving notice on a mindee.:)

[huggableshelly]

I havent personally but a cm i talk too often does this on a regular basis.

She will quite happily drop afterschoolers to replace them with a fulltimer then I end up taking on more afterschoolers which suits me fine (apart from having to walk each day).

It might be worth you letting your B know that if a fulltimer comes along you will give preference to that child over part timer hours.

I've never asked for so many variations in such a short space of time but its always worth asking, they can only say no ... but are you sure you want so many little ones?

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Wow that got complicated quick.

I would go for the continuity of care variation as it is only for a short period of time.

[vix84]

I will definalty try for a variation first - just means I will have 4 under 5's in term time, but only for 4.5 hours a week - bet those 4.5 hours will feel more like 10 though:)

[rickysmiths]

I have had to have several variations in a short time and it has never been a problem.

I have also had to juggle children and am about to do so in the next couple of months as I have a sibbling starting. It is never easy but what I always try and do is to find a vacancy elsewhere pref with another cm that the child already knows.