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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

waiting for a place

32 replies

mogwai · 14/08/2005 00:19

I am considering an ofsted-registered childminder for my DD when I go back to work in february. She will be seven months old at the time.

I have met a childminder who is willing to keep a place open for me. She initially said I would need to pay a retainer, which is reasonable, obviously, but it turns out that the retainer is a full months childcare costs - ie, I will be paying as though my child was in attendance.

If I am to pay for my child to be in attendance for the next five months (almost £1600), even though she will be at home with me, I think I ought to be able to leave her with the childminder for a few hours on the days I am paying for, so that I can get some housework done, or whatever. It hadn't been my intention to leave her with a childminder before february, but I think I should have this option if I am paying for the place.

However, the childminder will not take children below the age of 6 months. Apparently, she once looked after a child who had colic, which was problematic.

I'm not sure whether it is standard practice for a childminder to charge full costs to retain a place, and I feel concerned that she is happy to take the money every month, yet will not look after my DD on the days I am paying for.

Any thoughts??

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HellyBelly · 14/08/2005 10:53

I agree!

feelingold · 14/08/2005 10:45

I am also a childminder and I would charge 1/2 rate for a retainer and my understanding was that if you are receiving a retainer from a parent you must be available to have the child eg can't be charged if you are on holiday etc. I would say to her that if she is not prepared to take your baby during this period then you are only prepared to pay 1/2 fee or look for another childminder. If the 2 of you can not work things out now I would be worried about working things out in the future. Obviously this is just my opinion but I think that the full fee is a bit excessive when she isn't prepared to have your baby.

ayla99 · 14/08/2005 10:23

I've seen retainer rates from £15 weekly to 2/3 fees (1/2 rates is more usual) but I don't know any childminder who would charge full fees when the place can't be used.

However, although the place is not immediately available to you it is available to older children - she will still have to turn others away (who might have wanted more hours per week) to hold your place for you.

dorset · 14/08/2005 09:59

Hi, i charge half fee as a retainer and have the place open for when the parent wishes to use it. If a retainer is being charged NCMA suggests that the childminding service must always be available during the retainer period. full fee charged if the place is used. Is the place available now? if not a deposit should be paid.

HellyBelly · 14/08/2005 08:04

It does seem a bit much but I'm not sure what other childminders do. I recently had a lady wanting to start in January and I told her that I can save a space but if I had a call which could mean me starting sooner, I would then call her to let her know and see if she would pay me to keep the space free for her. I probably wouldn't ask for the whole lot, maybe half (first request for advance booking). I would however definitely take the child when needed (although would require full fee for this).

Hope you manage to sort something out.

p.s. I suppose it also depends on where you live and how many childminders are in your area? I live in a part of Reading where there's less than 10 but I have another friend at the other end of town who has around 70 in her area. Obviously they can ask for more if there's a shortage of minders as people will pay to know they have a space. HTH

jabberwocky · 14/08/2005 02:23

OMG mogwai, you mean you would have to pay for care for five months before you even leave your child the first time? What if you decided you didn't care for the childminder after the first few weeks and went somewhere else? Is this your only option?

ThePrisoner · 14/08/2005 01:47

If she charges a retainer, then the place ought to be available should you wish to use it. Childminders can charge whatever they want as a retainer, although I don't know many who would charge the full fee. If the space is not available (because she doesn't want small babies for instance), then I think she is being a bit unfair.

If I have space available before the day a baby should start, I would usually suggest some trial hours/days (whatever parents want) to get both of us used to each other. I would also charge my normal rate for this.