To think that childminders take the piss.

[perfectshadeofgrey]

I think that some childminders take an advantage of parents. The last childminder I saw demands 24 days of paid holiday + paid bank holidays + paid Christmas + 6 days paid sick leave. We would also need to provide the food, nappies, wipes, bus fares etc. WTF?
I don't agree with this. For a start, she's self employed so why should I pay for her holidays and when she's off sick.
AIBU to think that this is not right?

Well it wouldn't be in the hourly rate as a 'bit added on for Xmas pay'. But yes, if you're self-employed your hourly rates cover all your expenses like insurance, bills, pay and holiday pay for yourself.

I think that it's good that she's being transparent so that you can choose whether to accept the terms or not....

My childminder charges £3.50 per hour. I would supply nappies. She supplies food (hot and cold meals) and doesn't charge petrol or for outings. As a one off she has taken DS to pizza hut and not charged. She doesn't charge when DS is not there for whatever reason. I think the terms of this childminder are unreasonable but in my experience I prefer a childminder to a nursery (having used both).

Well for a start you are overgeneralizing, and therefore YABU.

My childminder does not make such demands. The holidays she takes are quite sensible in length (around 2 weeks per year I believe). If she is sick, we do not pay. If one of her kids is sick and she can't work, we do not pay. If DD is sick, we pay.

TBH, 24 days holiday PLUS bank holidays PLUS Christmas holidays is a bit excessive and definitely over the legal minimum of 4 weeks per year (which I believe includes BH).

I really can't understand why you signed on with your CM if you feel this strongly about it. Surely you knew that each childminder has different terms and conditions?

ohanotherone - you are very lucky to have found someone like that.

Things may have changed since I used a childminder, but at that time if she was unable to mind because she was sick, it was unpaid, her holidays were unpaid, and any other days when she was not available to mind.

Things like nappies, food, formula, toiletries were purchased by the parents, with older children food costs were factored into the fees. Money for special outings or activities was paid by the parents, e.g. my DS went to the local tennis club with her DC and other mindees to learn to play.

If my DC was away because of holiday or sickness, the fee was half, as a retainer to keep the childs place. The fees were calculated on an hourly rate, so would be less during school terms when DC were at the minder before and after school, and full days during holidays. I think the hours at school were charged at half rate in case the minder needed to pick up a sick child in case the parents couldn't get there sooner.

Hopefully some actual childminders will be along to give you an idea of what they charge.

banana87 - I haven't signed with her. I won't be using her. I was just wondering if her demands are normal and whether I maybe had the wrong expectations when I was looking for a CM.

Thinking about it, I don't pay when CM is on holiday. And her rate includes snacks and meals. She then invoices me monthly for soft play, etc.

My CM doesn't charge for holidays, illness or changed arrangements. She is very flexible. Her rate is £4 per hour and this includes all food, drinks, nappies and outings.

I think she is unusually good :) But I also think the CM in your OP is unusual in her demands.

And most are somewhere in the middle.

My CM charges half rate for her holidays and our holidays and sickness on either side (but to be honest, she has never been sick and is happy to look after her mindees if her own dc are sick, but checks ok with us).
I provide nappies. She provides outings, petrol and charges £1 per meal for food (which I think is worth it's weight in gold!).
Some CMs take the piss. Others are fair. My CM is now like extended family and an absolute star.

It's all swings and roundabouts anyway. It's either included in the rate or paid for separately.

It's up to the CM how much & how they charge - the same as it is with the plumber, the electrician or the local garage.

So long as the terms/fee structure are clear & upfront then they are neither taking the piss nor taking advantage.

Congratulations to the child minder. She/he has laid out expectations so no questions later. I'd much rather have that than a vague contract. If you don't like it, don't use them.

I'm of the school of thought that subscribes to SOME cm's are overpriced con artists (my current one for example £5ph, expects paying when she's on leave (but we've put a stop to that!) wants paying weekly in cash and chases 2 days before pay day and is a pita to get hold of) but others, like my previous one, are well worth their weight in gold and couldn't ask for better childcare provision.

Sadly i'm stuck with this CM, she's good, takes good care of my children, but is the only one with spaces in the area so until we can get into after school club there they must stay. Bring back the £3ph childminders that do it all in you don't pay them on days off but pay when you have time off food included. Should be standard.

my cm like most self emplyed people put these costs into her prices

Yabu I charge £3 an hour parents provide nappies etc I charge extra for food and special outings, I pay for toddlers etc.

I don't charge for my hols but ncma do recommend that we take paid time off and I don't charm the if my kids/I'm sick but I do charge for their hols/sickness otherwise people would just keep kids off if they were a bit skint and I would have no income.

dd's cm charges a retainer of half pay in school holidays-dd is a teacher but does not charge at all for the weeks when she is away herself.Dd provides nappies/wipes etc[or did] and sent a packed lunch or paid £1.50 a day for cm to provide a meal. Her rate is £20 a day [8.15 to 4.30].

Does she get custom with those terms? If so, there is obviously a ridiculously high demand in your area.

I suppoer she can charge whatver people are willing to pay.

That CM is taking the piss. Mine is an angel. Don't generalise.

I was briefly a cm and used to charge around £4 per hour iirc. I only charged for time that I was prepared to work, so not Christmas etc or if I was ill. I would charge a parent full rate if they decided not to use the service (if they were on holiday, for example).

I expected parents to provide nappies/formula/baby food, but would provide food once a child could eat whatever I was making. I didn't charge for playgroup entry etc, but then again, I did go to cheap or free places. I used to buy the kids treats and didn't charge the parents, as it was my choice to buy them.

I think retainers are fair enough - a cm has to protect their business.

Mine charges £6 per hour and is planning to increase her fees to £9 per hour. Food is £4 per day and she doesn't charge for outings. If she can't work, we don't pay but if we're away she charges half.

She costs at least £10 per day more than the others I looked at but DD loves her so I'm happy to pay.

The only PITA is that I get paid by the hour so if I have to stay home with DD because she can't work I still lose out.

£9 per hour?

Also, we provide nappies but she provides wipes and cream.

If I paid £9 it wouldn't be worth me going to work