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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

CM charges, does this seem reasonable charge?

54 replies

majorstress · 30/03/2007 09:35

I'm talking to a CM to take my dd1 to school, this year 2 days a week. She offered (her idea not mine) to come to my house at 7:15 am (it's in the next street), collect dd1 and take her home for breakfast then to school. She says this will take 2 hours, though I make it 1 and 3/4 as school starts by 9:00, and she wants £14 a day for that. The home pick-up would be very helpful as we are in London, so every second later I leave means an extra 5 minutes sat in traffic (dd2 as well as me), and no parking when I get to work.

Next year dd2 will need taking to school as well, annoyingly dd1 will be in Juniors which is next to but not adjoining Infants, so quite a big distance between the front gates, i.e.a faff, and I will be full time, so need 5 days a week.

so getting in early will mean a big difference to our quality of life, as I can leave earlier and see more of dds. But will she expect £28 a day?

I think that is a bit steep, please correct me if I am wrong. What should I say?

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cece · 30/03/2007 15:19

My first cm wouldn't do vouchers but was wonderful. But I would want to visit her house and see her registration certificate, ofsted report and any letters of recommendation in her portfolio.

looneytune · 30/03/2007 15:15

Yes, let us know how you get on

Original poster
majorstress · 30/03/2007 15:12

Ok will report back next week if anyone interested!

OP posts:
blodwen · 30/03/2007 14:55

Yes you are allowed in when she is minding other children.

looneytune · 30/03/2007 14:29

I always let people see me when I'm working! The only reason parents don't see me when I'm working is if they can't come during the day as already working.

Original poster
majorstress · 30/03/2007 14:20

I wasn't sure If I was allowed to come in while she was minding other kids.

(I've never ever been in any childminders).

OP posts:
ScottishThistle · 30/03/2007 14:16

< note to self...find a house & an earning DP! >

Eleusis · 30/03/2007 14:10

Not after you buy the house, ST.

ScottishThistle · 30/03/2007 14:05

Blimey after reading this I can see I could possibly have a huge money making business as a CM who specialises in 'anti-social hours' & I'd only have to work about 4 hours a day!

saltire · 30/03/2007 13:51

Even if I had another mindee I would still let parents come round for a visit - maybe not to talk things through - but at least then you could see her in a working environment and see how she interacts with mindees

Original poster
majorstress · 30/03/2007 13:48

Yes I think she has some afternoon charges so I will now ask for a reference too. My problem with the visit wasn't just her, it has been that dh wants to go too and he is not only hard to pin down but even hard to get on the phone to check when he CAN come. So far whenever I've got him in my grip, she is about to go out or has another mindee. I guess we'll have to go round late at night or Saturday. I think he will like her but if he thinks the road is too scary he will baulk (he wouldn't buy a house in that street. Our own one is bad enough!). Actually thinking here, that is WHY he wants to go, - and that therefore we should go Saturday morning, when the local ASBOs are tucked up, the time of day dds will actually be there, to be more realistic.

I don't think she is reluctant per se for us to see the premises.

OP posts:
nzshar · 30/03/2007 13:44

I think that £14 a day for London is quite good, my working hours as a CM are 8-6 double time outside this, my hourly rate is £4.25 and I round up to the nearest 1/2 hour so you would be charged £12.75 and I'm not in London I also do not give discounts for siblings
Though some other things such as reluctant to take vouchers and the decorating thing do seem a little suspicious i would definitely make sure all her paperwork is in order with OFSTED etc before actually taking the place.

blodwen · 30/03/2007 13:33

As another CM, I agree with the others. Make sure you see her registration certificate etc. It does seem highly suspicious to me. Has she offered to collect your dd so you don't see her house?

Eleusis · 30/03/2007 13:32

Oh, I missed her unavailability due to decorating and lack of enthusiasm on the vouchers.

You should definately ask to see her registration and ofsted report.

KaySamuels · 30/03/2007 13:27

Hi there,
Although I think the charge is probably about right for present situation, make sure she is registered, read her certificate, visit her house at least once, and get her some info on your vouchers to read (maybe she is unsure as she not familiar with them?), could you get a reference maybe too?
I agree with saltire even if I was decorating i would still invite a parent round and explain the mess is very temporary!

Original poster
majorstress · 30/03/2007 13:04

HI Eleusis-yes the pickup offer was a surprise, I don't think she had thought of morning run, but we live close by her and the school. Maybe it's as hard to get parents in a sensible range as it is to for the parents to get childcare!

The main reason for wanting a registered CM is that they are able to easily take vouchers, even if they don't know it. Few nannies and no cleaners are registered. They save me and dh over £1000 a year in tax and I had to KILL myself to get them from work, so I want to use them.

I have met her, she babysat once and she seemed nice, enthusiastic and the dds like her. I will check the house out of course, it's just she hasn't been hugely accomodating about it, or the vouchers, but she is new at this. I'm planning to a) look very hard for someone who WILL take vouchers, I'd rather drop off kids to CM myself as long as I can use the vouchers, and b) tell her and dds that I am going to keep looking for someone who will take vouchers so they don't get a surprise if we change CM.

So this is not an unreasonable charge by this CM in some people's view, and I'm within reason to some of you not to expect to pay the doubled amount for both kids next year.

OP posts:
princesscc · 30/03/2007 12:35

I think £14.00 for being in London and unsocialable hours is actually not bad. Would also agree that she shouldn't charge double for both dc. I usually give discount to siblings. I can see she is doing you a favour by collecting dd from you, but I assume you are going to look at her house and check credentials etc?

hellywobs · 30/03/2007 12:16

It sounds good to me - before 8am and certainly before 7.30 is anti-social hours. I would go for it.

Eleusis · 30/03/2007 11:52

Hi MS! I think it's reasonable while she is a childminder, she is providing a service that you would normally only find in a nanny. But, I wouldn't be willing to double it when DD2 joins them. Also, if she is at your house picking your kids up she isn't exactly available to take on other kids as well.

I'd say £14 per day now. And £20 when she adds DD2 to the equation (breakfast included)

I suppose it's a bit pricey. But not outrageous. And with all the trouble you've had I'd just do it and be done with the hassle.

saltire · 30/03/2007 11:48

As a childminder I wouldn't hesitate to let parents, and even if she is re-decorating, or whatever excuse, it's not going to be going on all the time is it? Alarm bells definitely started ringing when i read that bit. Also the anti-vouchers thing. I don't know how they work, i've never used them, and don't know how you go about using them, but if it's a legitimate way of apying for childcare then what's the problem.

I would probably charge you for 2 full hours as well, but not £14 a day!
Have you asked to see her registration certificate? Has she offered you the chance to see it, or her policies. have you actually met the woman?

kittypants · 30/03/2007 11:37

i pay £10 for 4 hours from best cms(married couple) in world!

Original poster
majorstress · 30/03/2007 11:34

We haven't got space for an au pair, and I spent years struggling to get and retain a good live out one, they just don't want this work. They want a full time job and this would stop them doing that. Even if they accept it, they soon find a better job and quit, upsetting dds. Around here a live out is minimum £70 a day, plus paying tax adds up to about £100 a day.

OP posts:
ayla99 · 30/03/2007 11:29

the charge I was referring to was £14 mentioned in op.

ayla99 · 30/03/2007 11:28

This is not an unreasonable charge for what she is offering -
before 8 am is often double time so you'd be paying 3 hours per day. So £12 per day if you came to me.
Breakfast may be a separate fee I charge £1.25 brings it to £13.25.
If not within walking distance there is usually a separate charge for using car. (but I wouldn't be offering this as I have other children arriving at different times and my own ds is often still in bed at 8)

However, alarm bells ring loudly at your not being able to visit. I don't know any childminder who wouldn't invite you to visit when you first contacted them (except when providing emergency cover), whatever else has already been planned you would be offered an appointment for a future date.

ScottishThistle · 30/03/2007 10:57

Blimey at £44 per day you'd be much cheaper having an Au-Pair though I guess your not into that idea!

Perhaps you could advertise for cleaning/childcare help?...No?...I'm sure many cleaners would consider this type of position.