Do Childminders charge for a whole day if child is in school?

I suppose another thought on this would be for 'half days' or such that you do get with schools.

If the parent expects the CM to pick up the child, should they pay the full day? It's interesting.

Bluebear - i'm with the majority on this one. I only charge for before and after school for 'schoolie's'

What area are you?

I don't charge for when kids are in school, but I do charge for hours pre schoolers are in playgroup or nursery, usually 2-3 hours.

I'm in Scotland BTW.

vickiyumyum, that is very unusual and your childminder is certainly in a very minute minority. It is not normal to charge for a schoolage child during the day. Schoolies are in a different age category ( 5-8's) so they are not taking up a place that could be filled by another child, so she is not losing out on income. The childminder would only have under 5's during the day.

Surely if one of your children needed to be collected from school during the day due to illness, the childminder would not be able to have the child anyway, because of infection.

You are paying a lot of money unnecessarily, or a very generous parent who really wants to keep this childminder, in which case I have a lot of respect for you!!

Incidentally, I was also paid by the family of the children I looked after, one at full time school and the other at nursery every day until 1.15, but both parents were frequently out of the country at the same tiame, so could never be on call. They were paying for a a peace of mind service!

It would be interesting to see what NCMA's( our professional body) view is on this and I will find out.

I personally haven't considered asking parents for the full day school fee.

I'd charge for taking them to school and picking them up, for the hours worked. Unless someone tells me I'm on standby for the whole day, in which case I'd charge for the whole day but I'm sure that would put them off me being on standby!

THe only difference being pre-school, if say I have a child full time and they go to preschool 5 sessions, I'll charge the full fulltime rate as I have no chance of filling 5 2.5 hour sessions.

p.s i don't get a sibling discount either, but she is the only childminder in the area that has

in the area that i live in childminders charge while said child is at school, as basically a retainer, to make sure that there will always be a space for your child.
the only exception to this that i have come across is that if the childminder manages to place a child for between school run hours only and no school holidays then won't charge while your child is at school, because ther will be no space for them between the hours of 9.30 and 2.30.
the people that live inareas where the childminder doesn't charge for school hours are lucky! i pay £315 per week for 2 full time space where one is at school all day and the other is at nursery three mornings a week.

Agree with Alibubbles. I only charge for befor and after school for my 3 schoolies., and also have a minimum charge.

Only if the cm is 'on call' so to speak during school hours. As she wouldn't be, a definate NO

As a childminder of two schoolies. no!

I charge a minimum fee of 1 hour for before school and a minimum of 2 hours for after school, regardless of how short a time, otherwise it would not be worth the effort and expense of taking to school, especially when you take into account after school snack, activities and equipment, ie crayons, paper, etc

Mine only charges pre and post school - I think this is the norm

No, not in my experience as a childminder.

Good God, no! She'd help me out but it is me who is on call.

I am sure most childminders charge per hour for before and after school care. Mine certainly did otherwise with three children I would never have been able to afford it!
They may charge a half-fee retainer for during the school holidays though so you will need to take that into account.

It's a long time since I used a childminder, but she did charge for a whole day because she both dropped DS off and picked him up again. She was basically "on call" for any accidents or whatever. She also provided full day care during school holidays and inset days.

If she were only doing the drop off or the pickup, then it would have been before or after school care.

Have been wondering the same thing so would be interested to see any replies!