Childminder holiday fees

Again - she expects a retainer but not willing to work it????

I have just signed on a teacher and also charging 50% over holidays, but only because I do work in the holidays and the mindee will be under 5 and count in my numbers. Her place will be available at full fee should she wish to use it.

She cannot charge for 2wks holiday during a time when she is not prepared to work. That sounds ridiculous.
I would say the half pay over the summer is reasonable if she worked it and needs retaining. But if she isn't prepared to work sch hols but still expects to be paid, that's shocking.

Of course, she can charge what she likes andf if you sign, you sign but she may as well charge you for weekends.

LOL at 'triple pushchair made of diamonds'

You pay half fees all summer when she is not available for work?

She must be the best chldminder on the planet with a triple pushchair made of diamonds.

Ok, I would have said a retainer is normal, however, if she makes it policy not to work over the holidays how the hell can she justify charging anything??? I may have mis-understood you on this? If I haven't, I'm sure the norm is to charge a retainer but the space is available if needed?

As for holiday pay - this is up the the childminder and you decide whether or not to agree to it. I don't charge, others do.

As for the £2000 retainer in the past, if this was because you were securing the place in advance then that would have been for that period and nothing to do with the rest. But like nannynick said, we need a bit more info on that.

Ok, I would have said a retainer is normal, however, if she makes it policy not to work over the holidays how the hell can she justify charging anything??? I may have mis-understood you on this? If I haven't, I'm sure the norm is to charge a retainer but the space is available if needed?

As for holiday pay - this is up the the childminder and you decide whether or not to agree to it. I don't charge, others do.

As for the £2000 retainer in the past, if this was because you were securing the place in advance then that would have been for that period and nothing to do with the rest. But like nannynick said, we need a bit more info on that.

Sounds like you are fully aware of what you have agreed to in the contract. Each childminder will do things differently, so there isn't really a norm. A retainer does sound fairly common. Full pay for CM's own holiday is not as common, though there are CM's who charge that.

Instead of looking at the fees on a weekly/monthly basis... Look at it over a full 1 year period. That way you can then compare it to other providers.

Some providers may not provide any term-time only deals... so they may charge full-fee regardless of if your child is attends or not.

Is it all about money? While it is certainly a factor, there are other things that will make you select one childcare provider over another. For example how well you and your child get on with the person providing the care... the quality of that care, the availability of that care.

"I already paid a retainer fee of nearly £2000 when I decided to use her service back in January."
That may have been to hold the place for your child. Without further information it would be hard to know what that payment is for - I would guess a combination of things: a months pay in advance, a retainer for days between signing contract and child actually starting.

Please be aware that every childminder is different.

I have some parents who use my services during term time only and some who use it most of the time, as kids under school age.

I do not charge those who require term time only a retainer fee or any other fee for not using me during the hols. However if I choose to take on children during the hols I can use the space avail for hols only. As I have four kids myself I choose not to take on any extra children during the hols.