Anyone been excused Jury service due to childminding?
Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. #1
    Penny1959 Guest

    Default Anyone been excused Jury service due to childminding?

    The letter popped through the door today - jury service for end January.

    I have no objection to doing Jury Service - and in fact if was still in old LA job I would have loved to be given the opportunity.

    However- I am struggling to see how the parents of the children will managed to arrange cover - especially as no idea how long for, worried about the impact on the children especially if goes on more than a few days - and worried tht if a very long tral that really the children would be better off not refurning to my care - due to their needs particullarly their attachment and continuity of care needs.

    So have any of you been called for Jury service - did you just do it? did you ask to be excluded and if so were you successful?


    Penny

  2. #2
    Pipsqueak Guest

    Default

    yes - twice and once because I was breast feeding

    i just explained that it would cause a lot of problems for several families in trying to source childcare etc...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    In a house
    Posts
    2,921
    Registered Childminder since
    July07
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Good
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    This is something I worry about...I wouldnt be able to do it. I have no car in the week and no childcare for my own children. Then the loss of earnings and all the parents I would be letting down for wht could be a lengthy case.

    I know you get compensation for wages and travel but it would be so inconvenient. I'd be interested in knowing this too.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    In a muddle!
    Posts
    2,119
    Registered Childminder since
    Nov 93
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Outstanding
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    A CM friend of ours has recently done it, she was told she could be excused but she would be called agian, so couldn't see the point. She only had one mindee and got a another CM to cover. However in your situation Penny, things are a little different

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    498
    Registered Childminder since
    Apr 10
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    When you are called to jury service, you will receive a summons to attend for jury service. If, as a childminder, you want to be excused jury service, you should explain why in section 3 question C of the summons reply. A jury officer at the Jury Central Summoning Bureau will make a decision as to whether or not you can be excused based on the details given. If a juror is refused excusal they have the right of appeal against this.

    Although no guarantees can be made that you will be excused jury duty, many childminders have already been excused jury service.

    When you make your case for being excused service, explain exactly what childminding is and tell the authorities how many children you are providing day care for.

    Explain how difficult it will be to help parents find alternative childcare.

    Explain your concern for the disruption of your minded children’s care and, not knowing how long your jury service will be for, how difficult it will be to resettle your minded children on their return to you. Stress the importance of continuity of care.

    You may also want to consider approaching your parents, telling them what has happened, and asking them to give you a letter of support, which you can send to the Bureau. Ask parents to explain how your jury service would adversely affect them personally.

    Keep copies of any letters you may receive from parents and send the originals, together with your reply to the summons by special delivery.

  6. #6
    Penny1959 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pipsqueak View Post
    yes - twice and once because I was breast feeding

    i just explained that it would cause a lot of problems for several families in trying to source childcare etc...
    Thanks Pipsqueak

    I have read that you need to explain about childminding and get parents to write letters - but no idea if anyone had been successful.

    So good to know it is possible - especially as none of my parents have straight forward care needs apart from the twins - but then again 2 full time places?

    The one has to be collected at 6:30am, another (as you know) does very ,long days sometimes 15 or 16 hrs- includes earlys, lates, overnight, weekend.

    Oh and the other two might be ok normally as have grandparents who provide care when I am on holiday - but can't at the moment due to their ill health.

    And I must not forget Dominic - although my grandson - he needs a lot of support - and will already be coping (in Jan) with new baby, new school - afgter 6 months of not being in school - so a different childminder would cause difficulties - that is if anyone would be willing to care for him.

    Penny

  7. #7
    Penny1959 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave View Post
    When you are called to jury service, you will receive a summons to attend for jury service. If, as a childminder, you want to be excused jury service, you should explain why in section 3 question C of the summons reply. A jury officer at the Jury Central Summoning Bureau will make a decision as to whether or not you can be excused based on the details given. If a juror is refused excusal they have the right of appeal against this.

    Although no guarantees can be made that you will be excused jury duty, many childminders have already been excused jury service.

    When you make your case for being excused service, explain exactly what childminding is and tell the authorities how many children you are providing day care for.

    Explain how difficult it will be to help parents find alternative childcare.

    Explain your concern for the disruption of your minded children’s care and, not knowing how long your jury service will be for, how difficult it will be to resettle your minded children on their return to you. Stress the importance of continuity of care.

    You may also want to consider approaching your parents, telling them what has happened, and asking them to give you a letter of support, which you can send to the Bureau. Ask parents to explain how your jury service would adversely affect them personally.

    Keep copies of any letters you may receive from parents and send the originals, together with your reply to the summons by special delivery.
    Thanks Dave for your comprehensive response - most useful

    Penny

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    374
    Registered Childminder since
    1998
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    And also explain that you are self employed and will be losing x amount of money and cannot afford to live without this income (check what the maximum daily allowance paid is thesedays). I did jury service and at the time the maximum they paid out was £55 a day, I actually lost money doing it and if I was totally responsible for bringing in all our household income I would have got into debt over it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Cheshire
    Posts
    49
    Registered Childminder since
    Feb 11
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I was called for jury service, due to start at the beginning of January.

    I just filled in the form and attached another sheet, explaining how difficult it would be and how disruptive for the children in my care and awkward for the parents.

    I didn't attach any letters from parents (I was keeping them as a reserve, in case I needed to appeal their decision!)

    I got a letter in return, saying that I had been excused, so no need for me to appeal and use the parents letters - this time!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Somewhere West of Watford!!!
    Posts
    9,085
    Registered Childminder since
    Aug 94
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Good
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I have been excused twice now and dh who could do it hasn't been called in the 30 years I have known him!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    4,564
    Registered Childminder since
    Nov 94
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Outstanding
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I was excused - it would have been a nightmare for me to get there as I don't drive and I had 4 families to sort one of whom was an new starter baby who had just settled in. Then there were my own children to think of.

    DH did it when he was called - he had it deferred once as he is a farmer and it was harvesting time in the summer - he was recalled the following Jan.
    Happy to be back with the Greenies

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Wiltshire
    Posts
    146
    Registered Childminder since
    June 05
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I've only been called once and was excused because we were living in Germany at the time (hubby was HM Forces)

    Jacqui

  13. #13
    Penny1959 Guest

    Default

    Thank you everyone for your replies

    I shall be asking to be excused.


    Penny

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Cheshire
    Posts
    37,504
    Registered Childminder since
    1994
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Outstanding
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    21

    Default

    I was called for jury service many years ago at Crown court in London.

    It was a dreadful time for my employer as she had a new baby and was trying to run a business but they refused to excuse me.

    I sat in a jury room for 3 weeks. I wasn't called for a jury in all that time. It was a total waste of time and money

    I wish I'd been given the opportunity to serve properly I think it would have been very interesting.

    However now it would be a total nightmare. I hope you get excused Penny

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Surrey
    Posts
    12,122
    Registered Childminder since
    Nov 04
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Good
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    i was given an exemption totally for as long as *****mind. In 20 years I worked in an office I was never called. they wanted me in september in a year I had 2 new babies starting (both from first time parents). I explained how this would affect the mums, babies, me and costs and they gave me a complete excusal from service until such time as I'm back in employment (not self employed).
    if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    North Notts
    Posts
    2,735
    Registered Childminder since
    Nov 90
    Latest Inspection Grade
    Outstanding
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    My sister was called up when her four children were all very young - sister lives about 100 miles away from family members. She rang and asked what her chances would be and was told it all depended on how many of the others who were called asked to be excused - obviously people who had health reasons for not attending/awaiting operations etc were before her in the que! My sister got excused - not easy to find someone to look after four children

    Cx

 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Quick Links and Advertisements

Important Information Links
Some Useful Quick Links
Advertisements

 

You can also find us on:
Anyone been excused Jury service due to childminding? Anyone been excused Jury service due to childminding? Anyone been excused Jury service due to childminding?

We use cookies to make this site as useful as possible. They are small text files placed in your browser to track usage of our site but they don’t tell us who you are.
By continuing to use this site you are consenting to cookies being placed on your computer. Find out more here: Cookies in Use

Childminding Help and the Childminding Forum are part of Childcare.co.uk