Is it offensive to offer more

I think it's a nice thing to do and right if you can afford it. Very often the type of people go into childminding/nannying/early years are empathetic and non-confrontational, and then end up undercharging or even being taken advantage of (I'm not in early years, and am fairly tough, so I'm not claiming this for myself!)
There's no way her costs haven't gone up.

My friend is a cm and gets loads of parents with sob stories of why they couldn't pay her more, or.for public holidays - regardless of the fact that she was barely turning a profit herself. I've interviewed nanny candidates being paid under the minimum wage, cash in hand only, with no.protection.

Op you would be doing her a double favour by paying more and also maybe making it more ok for her to ask others the same.

This is a really lovely gesture and I’m sure she’d be thrilled. I’m a childminder, and I think this would actually reduce me to tears. What a wonderful way of letting her know how valued she is. It wouldn’t even occur to me to raise my prices for other parents as a result. What an odd suggestion.

You cannot compare childminding to any other sector. Childminders invite your children into their homes and form some of the most important and crucial years in a child’s life. Do whatever you’d like to 💗

I understand your point. Childminders are underpaid. I agree. So are nursery workers. I just don't think that's relevant to this specific scenario i.e. how is this one parent going to give more money to this one childminder. I personally think, giving it as a bonus would be better and less presumptuous than giving her a 50p an hour 'pay rise'.

But we can agree to disagree on that can't we? We agree on the main issue, which is it's a lovely gesture and the childminder totally deserves the extra money. I think everyone on the thread agrees with that.

People do pay more for services they value....they tip the staff like hairdressers that often now are self employed and hiring a chair...they give the plumber or tradesman what is termed a drink typically £20 or more.

Exactly, which is why people are saying give it as a cash bonus/a tip rather than trying to interfere with her hourly rate.

There is not a single post here saying don't give her extra money. The debate is HOW best to give her the money.

[quote saraclara]@jannier we've pretty much all said that a big tip for the CM is fine. It's putting up the hourly rate that isn't OP's place, any more than putting up the plumber's or the nurserie's hourly rate is.[/quote]
People have said its up to her to set her rate I'm pointing out its not that simple....let alone when the government set rates for most of your customers despite it being your business.
One said you wouldn't pay a plumber more but when you tip someone you use for an hour you are increasing their hourly rate

Customers have individual billing they maybe in different rates due to being term time or part time or becouse they are funded their bill is done showing free hours and may have food or consumables added....so the one customer on s different rate might make billing hard dosent really .....many cms will charge the same rate to an existing customer but up new business rated becouse they hate asking existing families for more money....I know loads like this who are still charging existing customers the rate they started on 10 years ago.....I know not good business practice but many cms worry about the child's family so much they go without themselves.

Give her a cash bonus

If you up her hourly rate it will be harder for her when doing invoices as will be one for you and one for others

You sound lovely @hellosunshineagainx

What? Nursery's!

@jannier we've pretty much all said that a big tip for the CM is fine. It's putting up the hourly rate that isn't OP's place, any more than putting up the plumber's or the nurserie's hourly rate is.

I dont think people understand how cms rates are determined. They can in theory set a rate but if they are in an area where there are lots of illegal childcare, where parents wages are low, where there was an influx of chain nurseries offering discounted rates to force out competition setting a higher rate means no work at all. I live in outer London where a three bed house is £1200 to rent but childminder rates are £4.50 in the North of my borough where accountants, company directors etc live its £8 an hour but if I decided to charge £5.50 I'd struggle even though I've been outstanding for the last 3 inspections.
Despite my degree and experience earning above minimum wage is not easy....yes some will say get another job but that means no parental choice, the loss to families with various needs including SEN of my extensive experience and me leaving a job I'm passionate about.
The rate would not go up for everyone why would it?

£100 cash at Christmas.

What a lovely gesture! Childminder will be over the moon. Your words are so kind.

I suggest that it's better for you to offer a sim as an extra than it be part of the hourly rate

I do not believe you should keep someone's wages down on purpose

Nobody is keeping anyone's wages down on purpose. The CM has her own business. She sets her rate like anyone else who provides a service - just like a plumber, a decorator or a mobile mechanic or hairdresser.

It's not up to one person to unilaterally pay a different rate which could risk other people's finacial security, especially now when the cost of living is about to rise sky high. And it could almost end up with that person's child somehow being treated differently to the children whose parents are not paying this 'enhanced' rate.

But just as you can tip your hairdresser, OP can 'tip' her CM and a couple of points in the year without risking the CM's other clients financial stability.

I think that it's quite patronising not to acknowledge that the CM has her own business and is her own boss. Some people on here seem to see CMs as employees instead.

I would just say to her that you've had a pay rise and that without her that wouldn't have happened so you'd like to share a bit to help with the increased cost of fuel & food etc would she like fuel/food vouchers, bank transfer or cash. Contributing to expenses rather than her invoice amount might be beneficial.

I'd give it as a cash in hand lump sum bonus at the end of every month. Then she doesn't have to declare it if she doesn't want to.

In any other area of work or service, you pay what it is worth to you, subject to minimum wage legislation.

No. You pay what is asked for.

No-one has a plumber come round and pays them more than they ask for because they did a good job.

No-one goes to Sainsbury's and says 'these biscuits are only £1 but they're delicious so I'll be paying £2'.

No-one pays more than required for nursery fees because they love the setting etc.

The childminder can set her rates as she sees fit. It's disrespectful to her business to talk about her 'wages' or 'giving her a rise'. She is not an employee. Mention how great she is and how you feel she's worth more, but do it with respect for her business.

To be honest, I really struggle with this.

It tends to be women work, or work that is done in the home, or work that is done on a part time basis, or work not governed by employment contracts where such attitudes pervade.

Imagine this person is not a child minder but a shopworker...working at a shop through an agency. Should Sainsburys not pay that worker more because they are doing a great job and are valuable to them in case Morrisons can not pay the same?

I do not believe that "just" because someone is a child minder and self employed they are therefore different..because that is what women have been fighting for hundreds of years, equal pay, equal value, equal recognition.

People should be paid their worth. We can not have a situation where a child minder is treated differently specifically because they are a child minder. Your child minder is personally not responsible for the local market rate for child minders.

In any other area of work or service, you pay what it is worth to you, subject to minimum wage legislation.

I do not believe you should keep someone's wages down on purpose, because you fear other employers/people that are paying for a service can not also meet the same rate.

Agree with the posts saying give it a bonus for whatever occasion instead

They're not employees with wages for a start. They run a business and set their fees.

* I'd give it to her as a cash bonus at the end of the year.*

^This

If OP wants to give the CM a cash bonus, that's absolutely fine. Any excuse to do so (birthday, Christmas, start date anniversary) is good. But single handedly putting up a rate that the CM (and other CMs in the area) are happy with and that her other clients (not bosses) have been able to afford, is unfair to those other people for whom an extra £25 a week expense might be catastrophic.