Full Fee for CM Holiday?

put it this way the CMer needs to have regular breaks from her work. she physically and mentally needs to have that time to recharge or she wont be providing quality care for any of her mindees. the fact is she will be taking time off and she can only do that if she earns enough throughout the year to cover that time off- in other words, whether you pay for the weeks whilst she is off or she raises her hourly rate to add up to the cost of two weeks care you WILL be paying for those two weeks.

I am a cm. Yes some charge full fees. I have charge half and still parent questioned it. That's why its important to read the small print and asks as many questions as possible, before you sign your contract. Childminders differ a lot in what they do.

I personally would not charge full fee, but that's me. Bank hols also seem to cause some fussing too. I do not charge if I do not work, if I did I would charge a higher fee.

I don't think it's fair to expect you to pay whilst CM is on holiday and also have to find and pay for an alternative but fair enough that you pay when she is there to provide the service and you choose to go away.
I get a bit riled that we have to pay bank holidays at nursery when they are shut - since we only use them 2 days a week, one of which is a Monday, we end up paying for a disproportionately high number of days that we can't use. All nurseries seem to do this though. If it was in the contract you signed then you can only either suck it up or change CM.

I'd look at the overall package. We pay a set fee every month to our CM irregardless of her holidays, our holidays, her illnesses/emergencies, our illnesses etc. It works out a bloody good deal when we look at it as an annual cost, and she's happier because she has a set fee every month (we don't do the same hours or days every week). Some months we might use her more than we technically pay for, if you looked at it on a cost per hour rate, other months she might be getting 'extra' fees.

If you're happy with the CM and with the overall cost, it's not really worth quibbling over.

karoleann- my dad has been self employed for most of his working life- do you think when he cost out his work he doesn't factor in the cost of him taking a few weeks off in the year? he would be mad not to build that cost into his fees over the year- the man would be run into the ground if he couldn't afford to take a break- it's the same with other SE people- they mightn't be so upfront to tell you you are paying for part of their leave this year but you will be paying for it when you hand over that money for whatever job they've done for you. at least CMers put it into the payment plan so you can see what you are paying for.

Karoleann not all CM's charge for their holidays or bank holidays.

Yet another example of CM's being tarred with the same brush. You wouldn't use a CM because some of them charge for holidays.

If it wasn't a valid concept CM's charging for holidays, surely it wouldn't be included in the NCMA's/ PACEY's contracts.

I don't charge BTW.

Find another childminder then.

Its completely taking the mickey anyone self employed should not be charging for holidays- its one of the reasons I would never use a childminder.
I would make your feelings known and is she won't compromise maybe find someone else who doesn't charge for holidays.

and i will never understand the regular comparisons i see on here between childcare providers and a once a month visit with a hairdresser or a windowcleaner. they aren't the same thing at all. for starters you have no contract with your hairdresser or windowcleaner.

a CMer sets their own terms and a good one will be willing to negotiate if she values you as her clients and source of income- however she is entitled to refuse to negotiate on this issue and you are entitled to not use her as a CMer.

some charge full fee, some charge half fee, some charge no fee, some average the year's fees out and spread it equally over every week so you know you are paying the same amount each week but takes into account the leave both you and she will take.

I've said this before, but what you should look at is the whole package and costs over a period (e.g a year). As Cindy has said, some CMs charge for holiday, others don't. But the ones who do may have a lower hourly rate, or include more extras such as trips out, or provide a service which fits your particular needs better than others. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to structure fees, as long as it is properly set out for parents to consider. I also think it is important for the continued quality of care that CMs and other carers do get a break - which she might not be able to afford to take without income. But I would say go elsewhere if you don't like it - it's not fair to seethe and your child may well pick up on the bad feeling. I'd say the relationship with your child's carer is a little more important than that with your windowcleaner (usually!)

Bluecarrot - an employee would get paid holidays, someone who is S/E (eg a CM) doesn't.

DH and I used to be S/E and it used to piss me off no end to pay a CM for holidays that she would not work but still charge for, yet we could not work as had no childcare, so no income.

YANBU OP but you need to check your contract thoroughly which we should have done.

It's one of the reasons that we reluctantly went to a nursery.

Do you get paid holidays at work??

Personally, I didn't charge if I was closed, and did if I was available and they didn't come.

Is your CM changing your initial contract with her?

Some will charge full fee, some will charge half fee, some won't charge at all.

What happens when you take holiday, is that full fee?
What if you took holiday at the same time as them?

2 weeks does not sound that long, some may take longer off than that.

When looking at childcare cost, calculate the cost over a full year, as every provider will have their own terms regarding what they do and do not charge for.