Parent wants to change hours

[Velleity]

Annoyingly I've just had an e-mail from my before/after school parent saying they've changed their work hours so no longer require certain mornings. She said she'll reduce the payments (immediately!). I'm pretty sure my contract would be four weeks notice for changes though I will have to double-check. It if WAS four weeks notice, considering their contract is term-time only, what would be the earliest date I would let them make the change?

Thanks ^_^

[shortstuff]

If it does say 4 weeks notice you count 4 school weeks

[Kiddleywinks]

If your contract states 4 weeks notice, that is what she must give, however, if the hours no longer suit you, you can refuse to accept the change and instead give notice. Same as if you decide to change something and a parent doesn't agree/isn't happy

[bunyip]

If it does say 4 weeks notice you count 4 school weeks

This is a common misconception caused by the poor wording on current commercially-available contract forms and the rather strange idea that the function of notice periods is to make extra money for service-providers. They aren't. The purpose of a notice period is to give both parties a reasonable time to make new arrangements (ie. find a new client or childcarer) and not to have sudden changes sprung on them without time to prepare.

The 'holiday' clause is worded in the current pacey contracts thus, "Such notice of termination must not be given whilst either the registered childminder or parent [etc] is on holiday." It's basically so bunyip doesn't have to abandon his private yacht in the Mediterranean and fly home on his private Learjet to start looking for a new client.

Any sensible solicitor will tell you a week is a week, irrespective of whether the children are at school, and that "on holiday" means time away from home.

For the doubters, please recall the parent we had on Forum (briefly) and ***** last year. Her CM tried just this very same thing and add 'holiday' weeks to the notice period being paid. Mum let CM take her to court and the CM was duly laughed out of court.

In any case, we wouldn't want it if we thought about the implications for a moment. As ever, you can get a better understanding by asking, "what if the tables were turned." If I found out in late July for some reason I had to give notice to a TTO client, I don't want to have to still have that child for 3-4 weeks in September because the school Summer holidays have intervened. In fact, if there was a reason why I couldn't provide care in September, I'd be liable for the family's loss of earnings/emergency childcare fees. Who wants that?

[tess1981]

I would say 4 weeks starts the day the parent gives written confirmation or at the least the Monday after to give 4 fulls weeks. Refer parent back to signed contract and say as per our signed written agreement 4 weeks is required for any changes. Payment for the next 4 weeks shall remain as they were and on X date ouour new fee will be in place. That's if u can accommodate the new hours

[Merlot]

I do 4 weeks from the date of notice and always request it in writing - even if it's in a text message. I have however had 2 different parents stopping immediately because they had lost their job and one for going to prison! What can you say when there's no money coming in or a parent to drop off the child. To keep a good business I agreed to end things on their terms. They still speak to me and recommend me and I still occasionally childmind for them when they require and if I have a space. In general though, I do keep to my contracts and would in your situation as it's not your fault she's suddenly changed her hours.