Income protection and business continuity
Being self-employed means that if you cannot work, you do not earn. There is no employer sick pay. Planning ahead for this is one of the most practical things you can do as a childminding business owner.
What your Morton Michel insurance covers
As a tiney childminder, you have public liability insurance through Morton Michel, included as part of your tiney membership. If you employ assistants, your cover also includes employers' liability.
Morton Michel cover does not include income protection if you are unwell or unable to work.
ℹ️ Insurance is an FCA-regulated activity, so tiney cannot give advice on your specific cover. Contact Morton Michel directly to understand exactly what your policy includes.
Income protection insurance
Income protection is a type of insurance designed for self-employed people. It pays you a regular income if you are too unwell to work for an extended period.
tiney does not recommend specific providers, but you can compare policies via a comparison site or speak to an independent financial adviser. Some childminding associations also offer group schemes that may be more affordable.
Key things to look for: how soon it pays out (the deferred period), how long it pays for, and whether it covers your specific type of work.
Planning for closures
Even a short closure can significantly affect families who depend on you. Getting ahead of this makes a real difference.
When you know in advance
Tell families as early as possible; message them through the tiney app
Be clear about the dates and whether sessions are suspended or cancelled
Confirm whether fees are payable during the closure, your contracts should already cover this
When it is unexpected
Contact families as soon as you are able
Keep the message simple, parents need to know the dates and what to do
If you have an assistant, they can cover up to two hours of unsupervised care per day per child (with parental consent)
Checking your contracts
Your contracts include terms covering what happens to fees during a closure. Review them in the Contracts section of the tiney app. If you are unsure what your terms say, contact the tiney team.
Longer-term absences
If you are going to be unable to work for an extended period, contact the tiney team as soon as you can. We can help you think through how to communicate with families, what happens to your active contracts, and what it means for your registration.
ℹ️ If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for Universal Credit as a self-employed person. The government's Check benefits and financial support page is a good starting point.