Jaw dropping moment - holiday fees.

[Donkey]

I would say that I hadn't heard of a nursery doing this!

I would tell her that the other way she could do it is pay extra in advance to cover so that she doesn't actually have to pay that month.

If she wants to send lil one to a nursery of course that's her choice and that's fine and not to forget you require a months notice in writing.

Don't be blackmailed

which of course does not include any holiday period, so the notice period starts when she comes back...

DO NOT BE BLACKMAILED!!

[Lilylulu]

It's really hard to say they cant come back, as the little one is just the best, so chilled out and easy going and a gorgeous little character, would hate to lose the child. Parents probably realise that too would just like them to play fair.

[Tealady]

It's really hard to say they cant come back, as the little one is just the best, so chilled out and easy going and a gorgeous little character, would hate to lose the child. Parents probably realise that too would just like them to play fair.

Did they advise you of their intentions or just get in touch for an immediate start when they want to come back?

I would either do a fee increase and save that part to use when they go again or say that asvtjis is the second time they have left and come back that this time their deposit is no longer refundable.

[EmmaReed84]

It's really hard to say they cant come back, as the little one is just the best, so chilled out and easy going and a gorgeous little character, would hate to lose the child. Parents probably realise that too would just like them to play fair.

perhaps you can do an overhaul on some of your fees and policies for NEW contracts, give all parent s copy but state clearly, FOR NEW CONTRACTS signed after XX/XX date!

Then IF they do it again, they will sign to a new set of agreements that are more suited to you dealing with this situations again

[jaswinder bedi]

As everyone Mentioned stick to your words. You are not doing any thing wrong. X

[Mummits]

I had a Mum a while ago who said she didn't want to pay for a fortnight's holiday as her parents had unexpectedly and generously paid for them to go on a foreign holiday and she wanted the money for spending. If I didn't agree she would give notice - so I said feel free and she did. Sad to see the little one go, but you can't wor with people that selfish.

I had another one from a baby to three years old whose parents were always messing me about. In the end it got to a point where I just couldn't do what they wanted and they went to another childminder. Six months on, she came to me for advice on how to handle them. Apparently they had refused to enter into a proper contract and were insidting on doing short term ones for 28 days. Then at the end of each contract they would have a few days, a week or even a couple of weeks "off" unpaid before starting again. I said I wouldn't personally offer more than one short term contract but obviously it's up to her if she chooses to be treayed like that (in other words avoiding saying anything about the particular family but keeping to generalisations). Anyway, she has decided to give up childminding altogether (she had a few problem families but I suspect they drift towards the CM who is least businesslike).

Anyway (phew what an essay), my advice would be to stick to terms you find acceptable, and let the families who won't play fair do their own thing. If they gave notice on me to take holiday I would say I hoped that I would still have a place when they returned, but obviously couldn't guarantee it, and if or when they did come back it would be to an offer of a contract on my new terms.

Good Luck!

[gegele]

i think i would find it really hard not to be sarcastic. But after a big struggle with myself I would say " I have bills to pay whether you're on holidays with plenty of notice or not."

Seriously do they think that we take their fees and buy gold blocks to build a garden wall or something??

if you back down now and leave them take time off without paying you be ready to lose plenty of income when they're going to be off to grand parents... you say yes once you set a previous, you shooting yourself in the foot. STAY FIRM!

great kids do turn evil at times LOL don't get fooled ah ah ah ah ah ah

[Saaliha]

Same situation with me ..!

I mind her two daughters, one 18 months who comes full time

Second 4.5 years part time(after school)

I put on 4.5 mindee's contract not to charge when i m off, but full charge for thier holiday. I m not charging for 18 months old full time mindee for either of our time off.

Now, mom asking me to negotiate the contract for 4.5Y. Dont wanna pay for her holiday if she gives early notice for long holiday (month or so)

Which i think not acceptable.. We cant fill up the place during that time.

I am available to work during those days..!

[chez]

She said nurseries do it if they get enough notice because they can shift the staff somewhere else. Do they really?

Even if they do - we cant say how every nursery works as they all work diffrently like all childminders do. We can not shift the staff somewhere else, where does she think youll be shifted? and what about the other children in your care if your shifted!?!