Below is a summary of the key changes introduced in the new versions of our Terms that come into effect on 19th August 2026. These updates affect the General Terms of Use, the Childminder Terms of Use, the Parent Terms of Use, the Funded Placement Terms for Childminders and the Ending a Childminder Registration page.
The headline change is the introduction of automatic collection of Charges ("autopay") for Childminders who receive their local authority funding directly, rather than into their Tiney Wallet. This is entirely opt-in — autopay only ever happens if you actively choose to switch it on, and you can turn it off again at any time. You can still access the previous versions of each document (linked at the foot of each page) for comparison.
The headline change: automatic collection of Charges (autopay)
We've added a new, opt-in way for Childminders to pay any Charges they owe tiney (for example, a Membership Fee on a payment a local authority made directly to you, a late-payment fee, or a refund we issued to a Parent on your behalf).
Who this mainly affects: this change is primarily relevant to childminders who receive their local authority funding directly to their own bank account. Under the updated Terms we ask that funded payments are made into your Tiney Wallet, so the Membership Fee can be collected as the money arrives. Where that isn't possible, and your funding is instead paid directly to you, the Membership Fee on it becomes a Charge that autopay can collect.
- It's opt-in — nothing changes unless you choose it. Automatic collection only ever happens if you actively authorise it through a separate acceptance step in the App. If you do nothing, autopay is off and you continue to pay each Charge yourself by its due date, exactly as before.
- You stay in control — revocable at any time. You can switch autopay off whenever you like — in full, or just the card or Direct Debit parts — in the App or by contacting us.
- Collection order. If you've opted in, then on and from a Charge's due date we collect the unpaid amount in this order until it's paid: (1) from your Tiney Wallet balance, then (2) from a stored debit or credit card (under a continuous payment authority) and Direct Debit (subject to availability).
- 14-day review window. Every Charge appears in the App with its amount, reason and due date, and we allow at least 14 days before the due date for you to review or dispute it.
- Disputes pause collection. If you raise a dispute before the due date, automatic collection of that Charge is paused until the dispute is resolved.
- Only applies going forward. Even once you've opted in, the authority covers only Charges created on or after the date you give it, never Charges already outstanding.
- Not a right of set-off. Each collection is a payment you authorise and instruct us to make; it does not operate as a lien, deduction or set-off over your Wallet balance.
This authority is set out in the new Section 7 (Charges, and how we collect them) of the Childminder Terms, mirrored in the Funded Placement Terms (clauses 5.5-5.8), and referenced on the Deregistration page.
Detailed overview of all changes
We've clarified our Terms and Conditions to make sure they accurately describe our services and make the terms easier to understand.
Below is the full list of the other changes we've made to each document.
General Terms of Use
The General Terms have been rewritten and restructured (with numbered clauses) as part of a wider legal refresh. The key material changes are:
Clarified role: Section 6 now makes clear that we provide a platform and regulatory support but do not actively match individual Parents to specific Childminders, and do not guarantee placements or availability.
Expanded liability and disclaimers: Section 6 adds disclaimers on site accuracy, viruses and malware, our role as an intermediary in childcare arrangements, training and guidance content, and the Childcare Agreement (we are not a law firm and give no legal advice).
Stronger user obligations: Section 3 expands your obligations around accurate information, protecting your own devices from malware, and references the Computer Misuse Act 1990. We may disable your login if you breach the Terms.
No AI training / scraping: A new Section 9 prohibits text and data mining, web scraping, and use of our content to develop or train AI systems.
Promotions and loyalty schemes: A new Section 10 governs promotional offers and codes, and our right to withhold benefits obtained in error or through misuse.
How we change the Terms: For material changes we'll give at least 30 days' notice, with a 30-day Review Period during which you can terminate if you don't accept the change. Minor or non-material changes (for example, corrections or clarifications that don't reduce your rights or increase your obligations) take effect when we publish the updated Terms.
Complaints and disputes: A new Section 13 sets out our approach to disputes between Parents and Childminders, confirms consumer rights, describes when we may issue a discretionary refund to a Parent (and recover it from the Childminder), and links to the tiney Complaints Policy.
New document referenced: The Funded Placement Terms for Childminders are now listed among the Terms that may apply to you.
Childminder Terms of Use
The Childminder Terms have also been rewritten and restructured. Beyond the autopay change above, the key material changes are:
Membership Fee defined: Section 6 defines the "Membership Fee" (a fixed percentage or lump sum of each payment to you), explains reconciliation and how the fee is deducted as funds enter your Wallet, and confirms fee changes need at least 8 weeks' notice.
Parent fee: We may charge Parents a fee on certain contracts or services, as set out on the Pricing page.
What happens if a Charge is overdue: If a Charge stays unpaid, we may add a fixed £50 late-payment fee plus interest at 4% per year above the Bank of England base rate. We may also cancel your registration and take recovery steps — a statutory demand, a County Court Judgment (which may affect your credit rating) and debt collection.
Third-party funding schemes: New provisions cover schemes such as Student Finance, including our role as your agent, your responsibilities, and consequences (including non-refundable Membership Fees) if fraud is found.
Refund reimbursement: Where we refund a Parent for care paid for but not provided, you agree to reimburse us unless you can show the care was provided.
Your profile / listing: New content standards apply to the photographs and content you post on your profile, and you grant us a licence to use that content to operate and promote the platform.
Our obligations: We've added a set of our own commitments (regulatory diligence, reliable Services, support responses within 7 business days in at least 80% of cases, and maintaining the Quality Framework).
Termination notice period: Notice to terminate your contract is now 1 calendar month (previously 6 weeks). Membership Fees are owed in full for every whole or partial month you were registered, with no refunds for partial months.
Parent Terms of Use
The Parent Terms have been rewritten and restructured as part of the same legal refresh (there is no autopay change for Parents). The key changes are:
Clarified role: The Terms are reframed around tiney's role as a registered Childminder Agency, rather than a marketplace that "matches" Parents with Childminders.
Your information and privacy: A new section adds a truthful/accurate-information obligation and describes login by email, password and mobile number.
Services and benefits: A new section describes the tiney App (journal, sign-in/out, chat, invoices) and any third-party benefits (such as 24/7 GP access), with a "not responsible for third parties" carve-out.
Funded Placements: A new section sets out eligibility, the details you need to provide, headcount deadlines and EYPP consent.
Fees and billing: Expanded detail on payment methods, reconciliation and the Membership Fee (an arrangement between tiney and the Childminder that doesn't change what you pay). The old 8-week notice for fee changes is removed; fees may vary from time to time and won't apply retrospectively.
Liability and indemnity: A new section adds a 6-month fee cap, an indemnity, a safeguarding-duty framing, and discretionary goodwill refunds.
How we change the Terms: For material changes we'll give at least 30 days' notice, with a 30-day Review Period; minor or non-material changes take effect when we publish the updated Terms. Notice to terminate your contract stays at six (6) weeks.
Funded Placement Terms for Childminders
- Charges (including Membership Fees on funding paid directly to you) can be collected under the same autopay order described above (Wallet, then card and Direct Debit (subject to availability)) — but, as with the Childminder Terms, only where you have opted in.
- You get at least 14 days to review or dispute a Charge before its due date, and raising a dispute pauses collection.
- Interest on overdue amounts is specified at 4% per year above the Bank of England base rate.
Ending a Childminder Registration (Deregistration)
- When your Tiney Wallet is closed at the end of the deregistration process, if you've authorised automatic collection we will first collect any outstanding, undisputed Charges (created on or after you gave that authority) from your Wallet balance before transferring the remainder to your bank account.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact us.
