CM-Why are my parents complaining!

I also wonder what is to be gained with having a free settling in period? You can't necissarily see in 8hrs whether a child will be happy at your setting, if they are upset or young if can easily take 2 weeks before they are comfortable. I suppose it is nice for parents to think they are getting something for nothing but I see no reason for it to be free of charge if the parent isn't on site. I have the first month as no notice needed from either side to terminate the contract, but I assumed everyone did that?

I don't do free settling in periods, if I have sole charge of a child then I should be paid for it, what has settling in got to do with it, I've still worked those hours thus should get paid for them!!

I allow the parent to come to mine for coffee and a playmate as often as they like to settle the child in, as I am not solely in charge of their child I obviously don't charge. I will then offer a half day/reduced hours if they would like it and calculate for the hours used rather than my normal daily rate.

I had settling in at nursery over a month but this was exceptional and a lot of it was with me or another member of family present so we weren't affecting the ratio. While settling in you couldn't have them there full time so the idea was to get both parent and child happy with the nursery and then you'd be happier with them in the long term. It was a lovely nursery.

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. If parent 1 employed a nanny they couldn't refuse to pay them for hours while dc is at playgroup/school and this is effectively the same thing.

I never had a settling in period with my cm (when we switched to one for a couple of days a week). We went round for tea one sunday so ds could meet her daughters and her and that was it. It wouldn't have crossed my mind to ask for one as she's obviously paid by the hour.

Another parent here.

Of course you need to charge for the space for the morning if you are taking child 1 to playgroup.

How do you propose to charge for the afternoon, just from 3.00pm or all the afternoon. If the latter then again of course you should charge for the extra hours when playgroup is closed.

Re settling in. My two went to nursery and settling in was free. It consisted of 1 hour with me there, then 2 hours with me leaving them, then a morning (3 hours including lunch) so 6 hours in total.

New2cm, what did you charge per hour for the settling in? I have only had older children who didn't need settling in as they already knew me.

I had a call today off a parent who wanted childcare for his 18 month old. I charge by the day £28 which includes breakfast, lunch and all tots groups' fees(£1.50 per session) which I think is reasonable for Greater Manchester area. It also covers my diesel costs to get children to and from school in the morning and afternoon and to various parks in the holidays.

I will probably do what you do and have a no committal clause in my policy if the child would not settle for any reason.

I am a parent but I've started a bit of childminder training. I would think if you're the child's emergency contact while he's at playgroup, then of course you should charge. I pay my childminder for the hours when my son is at preschool. I think that's standard isn't it?

I am a parent and think YANBU.

I do not give free settling in periods either. What I do offer is a no commital clause for the 1st month. So, for example, if by week 3 either the parent or myself or both of us are unhappy, they can leave my setting without having to give notice. I always charge upfront so I am never out of pocket.

I agree with maidbloke.

I wonder if parent 2 is just crossed wires
I have settled DS into a couple of nurseries and the "settling in" sessions they offer are all free - but nowhere near that long - maybe she just couldn't believe her luck when you offered 3 days!

I am a Cm and offer up to 8 hours settling in free, depending on what space I have and amount of days child will be using, ie a full timer will be eligible for more settling time than just 1 day etc.
I also find that inthis line of work you HAVE to have mutual respect with parents, if they are moaning and complaing, showing little care for the hard work you do or your business then its time to show them the door. Listen to your gut, I have learned the hard way and am now more care about who I take on.
Good luck with no 2!

Nurseries do give free settling sessions, and having worked in them for over 8 yrs the norm was a hour with parent, 2 hours without and then another 2 if felt it was needed. Anymore than that and it would be when the child started before the parent went back to work, so they may do half days/shorter hours but all charged for.

Both parents are trying it on.

As long as you are giving notice of the change to parent 1 (and it sounds like you are) then just politely explain that's what is going to happen. Let parent 1 leave and try to find a CM who will not charge for those hours - I bet she won't be able to. She'll then be stuck without childcare.

Parent 2 is taking the mickey expecting 24h (3 full days at 8h/day) of free settling in. My CM wife would offer half a day.

As someone else said: It's your business. You decide the rules. If they don't like your rules they have a choice to walk.

Stick to your guns, and if they keep complaining get rid.

They are probably upset, because they have signed up to something that seems to be changing (unless I have read it wrong).

You can change your policies and contracts, with sufficient notice (as I see you have planned).

I charge a full day fee, regardless of hours and I charge for settling in.

You are not in the wrong (I am a cm) Be firm and smile. Be prepared to let them walk away, then next time explain your terms clearly before they agree to sign.

I would still charge her. No way for free!! lol As i;ve said, probably unlikely that you would get some to fill tbhat space and then of course if u did the whole thing with hols etc wouldn't work if you did give away her space lol

Sorry, but most CMs DO NOT give free settling in. The most I offer is 4hrs, the rest of the time is chargeble. Any parent who expects almost a whole day free needs their head testing.
Cms are self-employed and set their own terms.

So does parent 1's child go to school?

Parent 2 - if you didnt discuss fees then she probably did think settling in sessions were free, as nurseries are free for that. So i can understand where she is coming from. I guess you can only just tell her that she needs to pay?

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Right, so what hours do you have parent 1's child for? Is it like 8-9 then 12 till 6 say? If so then you are completely within your right to charge for those hours. Every oher cm will charge for them as it is probably impossible to find another child that wants 9.30 till 11.30! PLus if you did that then you would not be able to care for parent 1's child when pre school is closed cos you would be full!!! lol

Parent 2 is taking the mick! lol Did you explain for the go what your settling in policy is?

If either parents dont like it then quite simply tough shit!! lol You set your own terms as you are self employed, but of course you need customers so you can bring home the bacon. If they dont like it then i would be quite happy to say to them to see if they can find anyone else that will do all of that for free and they will shit themselves when they see that everyone else charges (in both of your scenarios).

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