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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wibu if your childminder did this....

56 replies

Neverhaveenoughmoney · 28/05/2023 12:56

Said they couldn't offer a term time contract anymore.
I've NC for obvious reasons. I'm a CM and work with my husband. We are very busy but with all the increasing costs the business is really struggling. The main reason for this is in the school holidays we lose about two thirds of our income due to the fact that so many of our children are term time only.
When we first opened we had some older children in the holidays and some little ones and it was all ok. We earnt less but because the normal months were better financially we could always save for the lesser months.
However now this is not the case. Despite cutting back as much as we can without it effecting the quality of care most months we go overdrawn. I've done some costings for the summer hols and we are not even going to have money to pay half our bills let alone shopping etc.
I've been so worried this week I've barely slept and we have both looked for 2nd jobs.
So the term time parents only pay £15 per day during their contracted days in school holidays to retain the space for term time weeks. So instead of a daily rate of between £43 - 47 it's a big loss for us. All our school children are also tto and no one needs school hol care as they are teachers.
I'm considering saying I am going to have to stop this off and start charging half or full fees all year round.
I imagine this will cause so much upset but I don't know what else to do. We tried having older children in the hols last year and it was a disaster. They were so demanding and it took 1 of us to look after them and the other left with the little ones. Outings were a nightmare too when we could get out as it was hard to fit in the car.
Would really appreciate other parents views on this.

OP posts:
ItsNotRocketSalad · 28/05/2023 13:00

I'm not sure what the point is in asking for views as you don't have a choice. You can't pay your bills with your current arrangement so it can't continue.

Have you thought of giving up childminding altogether and doing something else?

Clymene · 28/05/2023 13:02

If your business is making a loss, it's not a viable business, sorry. I would scale right back and just offer after school /before school care for those children who make up the bulk of your income with only one adult caring for them. So 6 kids I think is the limit?

And the other one of you get a full time job.

Whatabouteverything · 28/05/2023 13:03

It's unusual you're both childminders.. it's an incredibly low paid job. I'd say stick as you are with a general fee increase and one of you gets a better paid 'normal' job

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 13:04

In your shoes I’d consider a nursery nurse qualification for a school or some career change. It’s becoming unviable in general. Or look into working in the school holidays in a club or provision, the international school pay can be fantastic.
Alternatively change your policy for new parents, which will discourage those looking for term time. I think you’d lose current children if you change now, you’re talking a massive increase in costs and people will seek alternatives. Whether you need to or not, they are likely not to be able to adjust to that extent

Divebar2021 · 28/05/2023 13:05

What kind of area are you in? I live in a commuter town and I’m pretty sure my childminder could have filled her available spaces twice over. I personally would not expect childminders to even offer term time only unless that was their own preference. Was that due to lack of demand ?

Bunnycat101 · 28/05/2023 13:06

You obviously have to do something as you’re not profitable. our nursery offers a limited number term time contracts but the daily rate is higher than a full year place to partly offset the loss but it sounds like you do something similar with the £15 retainer. The thing that might be trickier for you is if you’ve attracted lots of teachers because of term-time only provision. If they all left would it be hard for you to find new children?

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 28/05/2023 13:07

Quite a few childminders round here have stopped offering term time only.

The ones that do are ones that have their own children and only want to work term time mostly.

You do need to let people know soon if you’re changing your t’s & c’s from September.

Unless you really really have to I wouldn’t change if for this summer - that short notice would have a real impact on your reputation I think.

Conkersinautumn · 28/05/2023 13:07

Could one of you go into another job over the summer? With your experience of caring for children perhaps as a young person's carer? A lot of people struggle with the summer holidays to find/ get any childcare - can you advertise differently? Promote that you have summer vacancies?

NuffSaidSam · 28/05/2023 13:08

If you can fill your spaces with new children (assuming that the current set will leave) then of course do this.

You've no need to change jobs if you don't want to! Ignore those people.

Jk987 · 28/05/2023 13:09

With the shortage in childcare I'd suggest prioritising babies and pre school children. You'll get a higher daily rate year round.

I use a childminder who co-minds with her friend. It's a fantastic set up. The children get the same two caters and have built a fantastic bond. The childminders both have each other to help and for a bit of adult conversation.

lostat · 28/05/2023 13:09

Whatabouteverything · 28/05/2023 13:03

It's unusual you're both childminders.. it's an incredibly low paid job. I'd say stick as you are with a general fee increase and one of you gets a better paid 'normal' job

It's not that low paid if you have your maximum numbers. Most I've ever earned!

PickledPurplePickle · 28/05/2023 13:19

It's your business, so of course you can do this, however, what do your Ts and Cs say?

Also, what will you do if a lot of your current children leave due to the change?

I don't think it's realistic to do it this side of the summer holidays, so you will need to find income for the summer

  • 1 or both of you could get different jobs that are better paid
  • Offer day rates for other kids in the holidays, there must be loads whose parents have to work and need help
dottiedodah · 28/05/2023 13:30

Usually CM are Mums at home with partner at work. 2 incomes CM wont match a FT wage and CM work! Maybe one or other of you may have to do something else .

PurpleBugz · 28/05/2023 13:35

I'm a CM not working currently but I can relate.

Expect your current kids to leave if you do this.

One opposite you stop all little ones in the holidays and just do the school age kids (where I am there is big demand). What I did was hire an assistant to help cover the holidays so I wasn't torn between the older and younger kids like you have experienced. But the Covid hit and I was left massively out of pocket.

Is one of you getting a job at somewhere like Amazon over the summer and reducing the number of kids down so you stay in ratio with just one of you CM? It's upsetting when you realise the money is better working in a warehouse than it is CM.

Also look into school holiday nanny work. As you are ofsted registered you may find that pays well enough

crazeekat · 28/05/2023 13:37

hun u need to stop the term time only, it's not working. then you need to look at who u are looking after and not give urself only teachers etc who don't work. this is the downfall as far as i can see. plenty of other professionals need all year round childcare such as nurses doctors etc.
explain to everyone what's happened and that u can no longer sustain your business this way.
i know this won't help u in ur current finiancial position but u really need to change how u are operating so that by the next lot of holidays u will know where u stand. if people leave cos of the money then they will know how u feel not able to pay ur bills and u can refill the positions with the new contracts.

PurpleBugz · 28/05/2023 13:38

dottiedodah · 28/05/2023 13:30

Usually CM are Mums at home with partner at work. 2 incomes CM wont match a FT wage and CM work! Maybe one or other of you may have to do something else .

I was a CM before I was a mum.

CM is not 'at home' it's a skilled and responsible job that is grossly undervalued in our society.

HewasH20 · 28/05/2023 13:43

I'm very surprised that you don't have enough demand for FT places as surely most parents work throughout the school holidays as well. There is such a shortage of decent quality childcare that any places you lose must be able to be filled. Are you advertising in the right places?

RebeccaCloud9 · 28/05/2023 13:43

Can you run a holiday club? Offer one off activity days (could be arts/crafts, nature exploration, sports etc, wouldn't have to be much extra cost to you), or discounts for a whole week of booking.

Jaberwockky · 28/05/2023 13:45

Conkersinautumn · 28/05/2023 13:07

Could one of you go into another job over the summer? With your experience of caring for children perhaps as a young person's carer? A lot of people struggle with the summer holidays to find/ get any childcare - can you advertise differently? Promote that you have summer vacancies?

I second this OP. My eldest has ‘complex’ medical needs and we’re already dreading the school holidays as a traditional childminder or holiday club just can’t meet his needs. It could be a really viable option.

HatchetJob · 28/05/2023 13:45

You need to advertise. CM are usually rare and full up!
you should be in a position to change in September.

RebeccaCloud9 · 28/05/2023 13:45

Maybe give your regular families an early booking window or discount then open up to anyone.

HewasH20 · 28/05/2023 13:46

When do you actually get time off yourselves? I'm wondering if a good compromise would be to shut for certain weeks and then charge your proper rates for the rest of the time.

Iceicebabytoocold · 28/05/2023 13:59

Sounds like it is not sustainable for the business to employ 2 people the whole year round and to be fair you would need a big income to support this.

i guess this would depend on how many kids you have on your books?

StrawberryPavlova · 28/05/2023 14:07

How do you do your invoicing? My two children go to a childminder. The youngest is all year round, including holidays, but the eldest is term time only. Our CM does her bills for the year from Sept to August, and divides the total by 12, so we pay the same every month. At least that would give you an even cash flow over the year.

CombatBarbie · 28/05/2023 14:10

StrawberryPavlova · 28/05/2023 14:07

How do you do your invoicing? My two children go to a childminder. The youngest is all year round, including holidays, but the eldest is term time only. Our CM does her bills for the year from Sept to August, and divides the total by 12, so we pay the same every month. At least that would give you an even cash flow over the year.

This could be an option or charge a retainer fee during the holidays.