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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

OMG! Can this be right?

30 replies

QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:08

I require a minder for holidays only (half terms, summer, easter and xmas holidays). Due to my shift pattern I would need between 2 and 5 days per week. I also require occasional Saturdays throughout term time as well as the hols.

I completely understand a retainer for the whole week where I would use only 2 or 3 of the 5 days. But.....

Is it the norm for a minder to charge a retainer for term time weeks even though a child is not looked after by them during these times?

I cannot understand this - even if she charged me only half fee, that would mean I would be expected to pay out £400 - £500 per months for childcare I would not even use!!!

Can anyone clarify this for me? I have e-mailed her back and I expect she will get back to me (she sounds very good on paper, but I thought I would ask the wise world of mumsnet (from whcih I have been absent for a long time!!!!)

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Laura1976 · 22/02/2008 16:16

Hello, In what area are you looking for?

Mum2Luke · 10/02/2008 14:22

I'm certainly not raking it in, I have ONE 4 yr old child paying £40.00 per week as well as my own child (not paid at all for him) so how does that make me well paid?

During the last 4 months I have had 2 lots of parents back out at the last moment, one had signed a contract, how do you think that makes me feel? I am now thinking of quitting childminding altogether due to a shortage of work in my area and trying to work in Surestart creches at £7.56 per hour. I would use a childminder for my lad, hopefully my friend whom I trust and he loves going to play at her house.

This whole EYFS and OFSTED registers thing, charging £100+ has more or less done it for me, there's no way I'll be able to afford what they are trying to implement on us. I have got (luckily) my NVQ level 3 Early Years, Care and Education so I am at least qualified to do those types of jobs. This is going to force alotmof cms out of a job we love and OFSTED/Government have ruined our job. This is how I feel.

Bos15 · 10/02/2008 12:51

as acm i charge higher rates for term tims only ,or school holidays only,that to be as a fair cover for holding a place could be for a full time child at least 44 weeks a year .
say child1 school term only 4.5 pound per hours for 6 hours per day=135 per week*39 weeks=5265pound
and half fee for 13 weeks=877.5pound
all=6142.5 pound per year

and other child full time=4poundper hour10hours per day=200 pound per week
200 pound 44weeks=8800pound

so childminder will lose at least 2657.5pound per year.per child,what about 2 children???

Bos15 · 10/02/2008 12:48

as acm i charge higher rates for term tims only ,or school holidays only,that to be as a fair cover for holding a place could be for a full time child at least 44 weeks a year .
say child1 school term only £4.5 per hours for 6 hours per day=135£ per week*39 weeks=5265£
and half fee for 13 weeks=877.5£
all=6142.5£ per year

and other child full time=4£per hour10hours per day=200£ per week
200£ 44weeks=8800£

so childminder will lose at least 2657.5£ per year.per child,what about 2 children???

Original poster
QueenEagle · 10/02/2008 12:41

I know she has some part timers that fit round my children. My kids have been there for over a year now when she was relatively new to it, so luckily for me my needs were very easily met.

Still that is a lot of money in my book. But a job I could not do myself anymore so all credit to those that can, and give a top quality service.

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seb1 · 10/02/2008 12:18

Queeneagle to take on your kids a childminder would have give up one full time under 5 place term time at say (£135 per week) and 1 after school place term time at say (£60 per week) for the school year 39 weeks that is £7605 they would lose during term time, not something many businesses can afford.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:09

plus there are lots of expenses / wear and tear / etc etc

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:08

yes come school holidays - c/m's can make good money but it's bloody hard work - i'm reg. for 5 under 8 so i could earn approx £15 p/h . . . . .

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 12:05

queeneagle - surely the minders don't have 10 mindees all day every day - generally you are only registered for 3 under 5 at a time - just because there are 2 of them doesn't mean they're allowed 6 under 5 - so if she had 3 under 5 at £3 p/h she only be gettin £9 p/h for the bulk of the day - childminding is very hard work £9 p/h is not well paid really is it?

KatyMac · 10/02/2008 11:51

Nope - that's why we are opening the nursery

We do struggle to make ends meet - DH has a pension but if both of us were healthy we would earn more

Original poster
QueenEagle · 10/02/2008 11:28

Well, when you consider that I pay around £400 on average per month for my children to be looked after only part time and the minder has at least 10 children in her care (she works in partnership with anothe minder to be able to have more kids) then she is bringing in far in excess of £4,000 per month to split between the 2 of them. That's an at least figure.

That in my book is a very well paid job that enables her to stay at home too.

Anyway.....I have had some replies plus I have contacted a couple of local day nurseries for info...so fingers crossed.

looneytune....there have been a few little things that I have thought a little odd about her but on the whole she has been very good. But I guess the saving grace for her has been the fact that my son loves the other one she works in partnership with. But it has become more of a problem for him and I am seeing her in a different light now...so time to change.

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looneytune · 10/02/2008 08:04

QueenEagle - I remember your thread and how appauling your childminder is and not at all surprised you are looking elsewhere!!!!

As a childminder I'm afraid it would depend on who I have atm. I do have a Term Time only mindee so would be happy to do school holiday only care HOWEVER there are certain areas who just don't get the calls for Term Time only care (i.e. I struggle to get holiday only enquiries) and if that's the case, they'd be VERY out of pocket and their business would suffer without charging a retainer. I can see how you wouldn't want to pay lots of money for a space you're not using but it certainly doesn't mean the childminder is raking it in.

I hope you find someone suitable

ThePrisoner · 10/02/2008 02:31

For what it's worth, I will do term-time only and holiday-only contracts for any ages, and I know other minders who will do the same. If I have places available, I will do ad hoc care as well (odd days during the holidays, for instance). It's a case of contacting minders, and finding out.

Katymac - do you pay yourself a salary from your income, I don't understand how you can survive if you make so little? (Hope that didn't sound rude!)

nannynick · 10/02/2008 00:15

If you only need childcare during school holidays, then consider:
Holiday Playschemes (some will take children from age 3)
Temp Nannies
Students
The occasional Saturdays may be an issue, but again Students and Nannies may be able help out.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 00:03

in my area all childminders seem to do things differently - some charge only when child comes - some have full paid holidays - some only take term-time etc etc

if you're not happy with what c/m wants to charge shop around!!!

i've been too soft with some parents and it means i lose out -
i normally earn approx. £4p/h i work 32 hrs p/w at the moment

i'm definately not raking it in

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:49

I'm sorry I was so harsh - but we have a capped income & can only charge what the market will hold. I started off being generous with stuff like that but have had to stop

I work my arse off this year & I have yet to break even (April 07-08)

If I'm full & If I don't have to close (for illness or like when we had the flood in October) I just about make £3.50 to £4 an hour

Original poster
QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:44

I have e-mailed a day nursery who do holiday clubs to see what they can offer.

I guess I was a bit naive to think it would be easy. And it is all so stressful knowing things are not right with your minder when you really need to concentrate on work.

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Original poster
QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:41

LOL!! You remember?!! (It's good to come back and see what's going on )

I took it home with me, scrubbed it with a stiff brush and washing powder solution - guess what? The shit flew right off! I don't think she even tried to clean it. I took it back with me the next day and said it has come up beautifully, then left it with her before she could argue!

This is the same minder that my son is having probs with, she can be a bit stern. Even playgroup said they can see why my son has a problem with her when she dropped him off he was having a right old tantrum, then became his usual calm and placid self once he walked through their doors. He only has a problem with her, he loves the other minder (2 work together) and problesm only arise when stern one is alone with him.

OP posts:
elkiedee · 09/02/2008 23:40

I know a council nursery near me that says they can offer some holiday places. Perhaps looking for a minder share with a teacher would be an answer, surely you could work out some solution for training days.

Tommy · 09/02/2008 23:38

DS3 starts at (day care) nursery after half term and he is only doing term time. If they do only term time then you might well find that they could offer a school holidays option

JeremyVile · 09/02/2008 23:36

Queen Eagle - I absolutely DEMAND to know what hapened with the CM over the mattress!

KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:36

Yes for the TT only - but do watch the teacher training days as both of you would need those days

Can't 3yo stay at the nursery I presume s/he's at?

Nurseries might do it - worth an ask

Original poster
QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:33

Ok, I understand you need to make your living.

So if a minder had term time only kids not requiring holiday cover, I would have more luck?

They must be out there somewhere! I have sent lots of e-mails so should get lucky.

Am also trying day nurseries - would they laugh at me then if I asked for holiday cover only?

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KatyMac · 09/02/2008 23:30

Not necessarily you would need to present me with a package or I'd just say no thanks

I think a lot of minder would - it's not a good deal

Mind you if I already had a term-time only child I might consider it - but I generally say no to them too (as I can't afford them)

Original poster
QueenEagle · 09/02/2008 23:27

Is it not down to the minder to find other children? I thought childcare was about choice for the parent. Lots of parents must be being ripped off. Minders must be absolutely raking it in.

I am definitely in the wrong job!

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