Should a childminder still charge when the child is a playgroup?

Thanks

It is tricky balancing my need to earn money with what is fair & right

The ability to provide eye is very good for both parents & children but it is quite hard to manage effectively

You sound like a great childminder, Katymac, and I think you're right to charge full-rate. The parents/children who come to you are lucky!

I provide funded Early Years education so my parents benefit from EYE at a ratio of 1:3 rather than 1:8

I can only earn for 3 children between 8 & 6 to take a child for less than 6 hrs is not very economically sound unless I can guarantee to fill the rest

So if I had a child 7:30 - 9:00 & 15:00 - 18:00 & then took on someone 9:15 - 14:45 who would get the space in the holidays?

I can see your point (although as I work part-time and only have to pay for the days I work I'm not sure where the FT/PT thing cuts off) but the frustrating thing for parents is that children who go to nursery full time just get the money off. It would put me off using a childminder next time knowing there's no benefit when he hits 3.

If the child is under 5 then they take up a F/T space - I couldn't afford to not be paid for 6hrs & what about the school holidays?

I can understand the childminders' points of views on here but what about when the child is at preschool from 9 till 3:30 so it's more like school? I wondered whether any would think a retainer fee appropriate or just treating it like after school and holiday care.

yes i would still charge for all the reason most others have listed - emergency contact and limited possibility of filling an hour or two slot.

Plus, most pre-school activities are free of charge after the child turns 3 (so the parent is not paying twice)

Thank you I will have a look tonight. It's a hard one as my childminder is also a relitive. Burtie

Basically burtie, it depends upon what is written in your contract & what you signed for

My childminder is away (ie out of the country) for the whole of January. I know if I notify her about any holiday's I have, I only pay half for the week. Which I understand as I am paying for his space. But she still wants me to pay half when she is closed?? for a month, is this right? As I will also have to pay someone else to look after my son for the whole time she is away? Can someone let me know if she is right or should I question it? Burtie

I charge full fee whilst a child is at nursery.

For one thing, the child is taking up two childcare places and I don't see why they should expect me to subsidise one of those places. A daycare nursery wouldn't hesitate to charge in the same circumstances.

For another, it's certainly not money for nothing. As Lucy says, we have to do the running around, travel costs etc. and look after the child for holidays and Inset days. Also, the EYFS means that I now have to work and liase with the nursery. That means extra work that wouldn't be necessary if the child wasn't attending the nursery.

I think I'm entitled to expect payment for the additional hassle and work involved.

I currently charge half-fee, but am going to charge full for new mindees.

My CM does charge, but her charges tend to be for the place rather than for the amount of hours the child is there. Another parent sends her DD to the same CM after school and holidays only and still has to pay full fees because it is for the place rather than hours.

shoshe could i have a copy to please? I will email you. thanks

I think until you are able to fill the space you shouldn't charge

Our cm charges half fees as we drop off. charges from when she leaves her house to pick up dd.

I have 2 CMs, one does, one doesnt.

midweek blues lucy??

Glad you're not my childminder with that attitude!!!!!!

I have always charged full fee. Its parents choice for them to go. You couldnt possibly fill that space for the 2 hrs slot on whicheverodd days parents decide. You also have the pleasure of walking little Johnny there and back in the rain maybe. Youre the one who will have to stay behind if mindee doesnt settle. Usually you will be on call if theres a problem/illness etc. It its closed one week theyll soon want your services then! Oh and by the time you`ve returned home in the rain you probably have just enough time to dry off before you reverse the trip for another soaking!!!!!!

Yeah right. FULL FEE EVERY TIME!

We do the following

If we drop off and collect - full fee

If we collect only - pay from collect time

If we drop only - pay until drop time

But if parents require us to be 1st contact if child is ill or nursery / play group closed they pay full fee otherwise if nursery /playgroup call and ask us to collect we say no. If parents are not paying whilst the child is not with us we are not insured that's my rule.

For mindees who start school we charge a fee for before and a fee for after school.

hksi - I would say no - if you drop off at playschool and mum picks up I would say thats a part time morning only space. But mum needs to understand that you are not available if playschool is closed. If she wants you to be then she must pay the retainer.

re the op's question - I charge a half fee retainer for the hours they are at playschool - and then if the child ends up with me I top up to the full rate

What about if the child is going to the childminder for the morning then play school after lunch and picked up by parent after play school? Would it be o.k to charge whilst the child is at play school??

School age children are in a different age band so are treated differently

So 3 under 5's plus 3 5-8's - iyswim

Yes