do all childminders charge teachers for all their holidays?

Because that's what is in the contract. It wasn't available because the hours are 3.15 to 6.15pm, so not exactly useful outside of term time! The child minder takes quite a bit of the school holidays as holiday anyway so during that time she's not available at all. Now I know that I could probably vary the hours considerably and use her full time for a week or something, but I'd still be paying about double the amount of many other options. I guess I'm also used (at work) to working with self-employed professionals on a true hourly basis - ie they work for x amount of time and get x amount of money, so the idea of paying when there is no work seems wrong to me. Having said that she's nice and the children like her, I'd just much rather pay her a little more when she is looking after the children and not at all in the holidays, when I manage my work so as to be with the children as much as possible.

yes nooka - if the service wasn't available why did you pay?

nooka why are the hrs not available?

i dont charge in the school hols but for the younger children i think to send them for 1 day per week while your off is a great idea it gives the child a break and keeps a routine and lets you do shopping/ironing/cleaning meaning that your time with your own child is quiaty time

I am a teacher and have never had to pay childminders in the holidays. They fill the holidays with after school children who need holiday cover. I am sure you will find one soon, so keep looking.

Well 33kjs - that's one reason I don't do term-time only anymore (apart from school age)

I think an hour a week is very small for your lo - how old is he

I would say 2 or 3 sessions each 2/3 hours long is probably useful (imo)

We terminated our contract prior to the summer holidays and then picked it back up again when school started again, running the risk of losing our space (we didn't). But we only have after school care, so a bit different I guess. It didn't feel at all reasonable to be paying £130 per week for six weeks care that wasn't even available. In the shorter holidays we use the childminder for the contracted hours but usually for a full day or two. It still works out at a very expensive option compared with day camp type activities though.

I am a childminer and a pt TA so yes. If not you need to make this clear in the contract.

As I said, I AM a cm, but I don't need to charge during holidays, but why don't you see if you can negoiate a deal like llaroggub. Pay the same amount every month, regardless of whether you are there or not? That, afterall, is how you are paid, so at least you can budget accordingly.

I know a few teachers who have managed to find child-minders who haven't charged during the summer holidays. One asked for a deposit to hold the place for the following September which seemed very fair. At DS's nursery we pay half price for holidays if we give 4 weeks notice. You'll need to research it. Can any of your colleagues advise?

I am a teacher and over the years have used 4 different childminders. I have never had to pay for the school holidays - they usually have other children or their own that they mind during the holidays.

Absolutely, MML. I am not a childminder, but my son is cared for by one. She is fantastic, and I would much rather pay her a consistent amount throughout the year rather than half fees for holidays etc. Much fairer I think, after all, I get paid for my holidays.

From the cm point of view, the reason they charge you for time you're not using, is because they have a business to run. CM's can only have a maximum of 6 charges. So they have to have some guarantee that you are coming back after the holidays. It is a space that they cannot fill, because they are holding it open for you. If you suddenly decide during the holiday that you no longer need them and you haven't been paying them, then they are out of pocket and may have turned parents away on the strength of you coming back after the holidays iyswim.

Yes you do get childminders who don't pay for the holidays because it quite suits them to have the holidays too, or to be quieter.

Afraid it just depends on the childminder, though, but it's not fair if you have to pay full whack. Lots work on a retainer basis where you maybe pay half.

Well, I am sorry to be unsympathetic, but that's life. If there are a shortage of childminders in your area then you'll probably struggle. Around here, childminders are struggling to fill their places so you'd probably be able to negotiate a compromise.

Personally I'd want to keep up the childcare through the longer holidays at least so it wouldn't be so unsettling for my DS so I'd get a break too.

Moocowme - keep looking! there are minders out there that will do a term time only contract. I do, but that purely because, I know I have others that come holidays only. If I didn't have that income, I would certainly be charging a retainer for the holidays.

I do offer term time only contracts escpecially forteachers children as my dh is a teacher so i don't wnat a house full when he is off and we get our quality time together!

where are you? can i help!

some c/m's do some don't - i didn't but like katymac said i lost out in holidays - 13 weeks with no pay is very hard - but you may be lucky i know some who only work term-time

i pay half im holidays

I have a teacher colleague with 2 dcs who shares a cm with her neighbour. She needs the cm in term time and the neighbour needs the cm for the school holidays - so they both pay just for the care they need. Don't know how common this is.

In answer to the OP I used to pay my childminder half the money.