What is voluntary childcare, statutory childcare and private forms of childcare?

Small Claims: Childcare Fees NCI?

• I am a parent that receives government assistance for childcare. So I Pay a Monthly fee based on my income. I paid my childcare fee on June 4, 2010 for the entire month. When I picked my daughter up the night that I payed the provider, my daughter reluctantly told me that the provider had hit her on the arm. I asked my daughter several times just to make sure that she was not mistaken. My daughter stuck with what she said. I told my daughter that she would not return. I immediately called her and she did not answer so I left a message stating that the matter was really important and asked her to call be back asap. I never received a call back! Which brought me to the conclusion that the incident was true. There were several problems with the provider a in Home Based Provider. Being that I was on NCI a childcare subsidy, I thought that the NCI agency would reimburse me the remaining amount for my fees for the month. What a mistake, I would have to get the refund from the provider. She had taken the Memorial Day Off and that Thursday the 3rd Off. Getting paid for nothing! She also states in her childcare contract that she has to be given a two week notice before the parent can end their childcare. From a legal standpoint can I take her to small claims court the amount is a little over a $100. She refused to give me my refund back of course! The NCI Agency does not have any provisions for situations like this which I hope to change. Or in my oppinion parents will continue to be taken advantage of by providers like her!

• Answer:

  Her hitting the child makes her two-week clause null. Calling isn't going to work, obviously; she's just going to ignore you. Send a letter, registered, or go in person (I recommend the letter). Make it clear that you are pulling your child out due to her hitting the child. That due to this action you can no longer in good conscience take your child there. That you expect a refund of the unused time and, if necessary, will take her to small claims court to regain it (which would put her on the hook for not only the cash but court fees and other expenses). Suggest that she may want to avoid having this incident discussed in open court. The last is a thinly-veiled threat and if she has any sense she'll see that. At risk is her license and possibly her freedom.