Summer retainer rate

[SylvanianFamily]

What,s a fair summer retainer rate?

I normally pay half rate holidays full rate sickness, but my DH thinks that 7 weeks even at half rate is ridiculously ££££££££.

I'm pretty certain no financial hardship is at stake - either to her or to us.

She has a big family thing going on. Tbh, I feel uncomfortable even mentioning money when I know she's worried about much bigger things.

I'm a teacher so use my CM term time only and I pay half during all holidays. Pretty standard practice I think.

You've already agreed to the contract at this stage. However you could ask for a contract review so that you may be able to pay different rates for next summer.
For example, perhaps a lower summer rate but a higher term-time rate? Perhaps local market forces means that you need to consider lower cost services - thus asking for an overall fee reduction.

It's not in the contract.

I,m supposed to work over summer, but I,m in an area where it's acceptable to WFH over summer - albeit it is a struggle to fit it in

with her family circumstances, she,s not been able to mind for two weeks out of the last four. It,s going to run for a bit longer, hence I thought it might be less awkward for her, me and my work to just define it as a long break.

Retainer is normally half fee - thats standard practice. Some childminders may negotitate a set fee however.

The retainer is keeping that space open for you and should be available for you to use as per your contract. If you want to use the space, its normally subject to adequate notice and the top up remainder fee as per contract.

If you don't want to pay a retainer then you need to talk to your provider, but you then run the risk that the space will not be available if you need it during the holidays. Perhaps you could negotiate a holding fee so that the space is available come September.

You say its not in the contract - I suggest you speak to your minder - urgently and get this rectified for everybodies peace of mind.
I presume you have a contract for the rest of the year though?

I also pay 50% retainer for the school holidays (also a teacher) although CM takes her 5 weeks holiday during school holidays (summer, easter and xmas) and we pay nothing for those times.

Also pay full fee if our DC is ill but nothing if CM is ill (this has never happened as they work together with an assistant and cover each other).

I would query it though if she is unable to look after your DC. Surely, if her family situation means she cannot offer her services then you should not be paying her. I suggest you ask for a suitable time to sit down and discuss what is happening. I also don't like talking money but remind myself, when necessary, that CMs are running a business and offering a service.

So have you been paying her for the 2 weeks in the last 4 that she has been unable to take your DC? If, by taking an extended break, you are actually doing her a favour and giving her time to sort things out, I would suggest you come up with a 'holding fee' so that the space is available come September. But would then suggest that you keep in contact in case she decides to give up CM-ing if she is already finding it hard.

Good Luck but difficult to know exactly what to suggest without knowing why she has been unable to mind you DC.

The holding fee would also give her reassurance that the normal money would be there come the end of the summer when she would have got things sorted.

I paid half rate the first week that she could,t mind.

This week is the second week she,s not working - so not sure yet. I guess the expectation would be half rate again, but it will end up ££££££ if it keeps going , Esp. If I have to get emergency childcare organized, pay for lots of activities and trips to family etc.

It's not quite a holiday or retainer- since she,s not available to mind. However, the relationship is important to me, and I wouldn't want her to think I'm 'turning' on her when she's in trouble, so if MN says half rate, I'll swallow it and try to talk DH round.

Hi guys,

I'm going to ask for this thread to be deleted - just to put my mind at rest that I won't tread on any RL toes. I'm recognisable from some of my other posts, and the family situation involved is pretty upsetting tbh,

Thanks for the advice - I'm feeling a little more solid about the 'norms' now.