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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Term Time retainer

40 replies

kkey21 · 10/08/2010 15:07

Hi just after some advice please.

Background is i only have two childminding spaces that are taken up by siblings.

One of which is starting school soon and won't be coming to me term time as my child goes to a different school. The child will need her space kept open for holidays so i will be unable to offer this place to another child.
I know a general retainer is 50% but the parents have made it clear that is not an option and i do appreciate that this is alot but equally i can't afford to hold it for free?
What is a fair retainer in this circumstance?

Thank You x

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KatyMac · 10/08/2010 15:36

Can they pay for the next holiday on the last day of the previous holiday so in September pay for Oct halfterm and at the end of Oct half term pay for Christmas?

Or does that not help?

Original poster

kkey21 · 10/08/2010 15:43

Its only 18 hours a week, i definately need a retainer for the empty days as i can't take on anyone else.
Never had a term time enquiry in my many years :-(

I'm thinking more of a % to work out whether its worth my while?

OP posts:

montmartre · 10/08/2010 15:59

Why won't they be using their term-time childcare for holidays? I am assuming they have to go elsewhere as you can't dot the school run...

I wouldn't pay a 50% retainer either... would cost a fortune! (though obviously I wouldn't expect someone to keep a place open for my child either)

Original poster

kkey21 · 10/08/2010 16:23

Why won't they be using their term-time childcare for holidays?-Because they want to keep both children with me as they have been happy for 3.5yrs and love the one to one.

Not expecting 50% but as i can't afford to loose 50% of income either by keeping space for holidays, so its a make or break situation.

OP posts:

zebedeethezebra · 10/08/2010 17:36

You're running a business not a charity. Tell them to pay it or they must find someone else in my opinion.

minderjinx · 10/08/2010 17:39

Might the parents know someone who might want to share the place? I'm surprised at the lack of term time enquiries, but maybe they could put the word around for you, and a term time place with no need to pay a holiday retainer might look quite attractive if parents have been assuming they would need to pay year round.

Failing that, you could give them notice and take your chances on getting a variation for siblings for the holidays if you take on a new year-round mindee.

KatyMac · 10/08/2010 17:56

Hang on - termtime for a school age child??

The child won't be in your under 5 numbers will they?

Original poster

kkey21 · 10/08/2010 18:22

That's the reason i only have two spaces as my children are young and i already have a variation for the sibling on continuity of care...

I couldn't take on anymore as where we live we can't walk far and i wouldn't be able to use the car.

I have been offered a daily rate by the parents already which isn't even what i charge them for an hour :-(

Not looking too hopeful.

I was thinking about 20% is fair to hold the place. or like you said 'zeb' it's not going to work.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 10/08/2010 22:34

Sorry I still don't get it

If they are starting school they are moving age band, surely?

Am I missing something?

Original poster

kkey21 · 10/08/2010 23:12

I have to think about the child's occasional days off school as i need to drive to get my son as he goes to a school outside of the area (not by choice), and not walkable. So if i did get variation for this it's not an option on these days as i couldn't fit all the children in the car.

I just need to work out a fair retainer so the child's place is there and free for her when needed but equally not me loosing the whole days payment. I'm happy to take a cut but can't afford to drop down to equivlant of less than one hour as a retainer!

Sorry if your lost, i'm trying!

OP posts:

KatyMac · 10/08/2010 23:17

I'm just confused on your ratios sorry to be silly/nosy

OK so you have:

Your DS at school so over 5
This child at school so over 5
Another child at school so over 5 (yours or childminded?)

Sibling at home so under 5 (?)
Presumably 2 other children under 5 (are these both yours?)

Is that right? Where is the variation?

KatyMac · 10/08/2010 23:18

But if this child is just starting school he must have been in the other age band

Unless you are in Scotland or somewhere as I never understand their ratios

Original poster

kkey21 · 11/08/2010 08:12

I had to have variation as when the sibling joined us age under 1 the 3 others (2 mine, 1 minded) they were at home and the oldest age 3, so I had 4 age 3 and under...

Now the variation doesn't apply your right as my son is in school and the mindee due to start but taking on another is not an option as I need to use the car.

It all comes back to the retainer and what to charge! The family want the space so know they need to hold it so I feel I need to negotiate on what's fair for us both. Thank you for your help. X

OP posts:

KatyMac · 11/08/2010 09:18

So currently you have 3 under 5 and 2 over 5 & you want to over 5 to pay a retainer as you can't have another under 5 - is that right?

Or have I completely mis-understood?

apotomak · 11/08/2010 10:45

I wish I could have a holiday only child ... so many people in my area want term time only and do not want to pay retainer for their holidays.
To be fair I think charging a retainer in term time for a holiday only child is a bit pushing it. I would look for a different way of accommodating everybody. If the only problem is a transport maybe you can see if there's a good public transport that goes to that school. I know taking kids on public transport is not ideal but we're not talking about every day or even week but about an odd occasion that will come up when the holidays don't overlap or when there is an inset day at one school but not the other. You could also take a taxi and then put the cost in your expenses. That way you could take on another child anyway as the problem with transport would not be a problem anymore.

Original poster

kkey21 · 11/08/2010 13:20

It's not about transport-the family have term time sorted within their own family and are choosing to keep their space vacant so their child has it for holidays-so I was asking advice on the retainer......obviously they are choosing to do this therefore I'll charge a retainer as I cannot give that space away....

Katymac I have 4 children and 4 spaces in the car

OP posts:

KatyMac · 11/08/2010 13:51

I'm not sure (I could well be wrong) that you can charge a retainer for a child you couldn't fit in (iyswim)

I always thought that a retainer was for when you had a space & the family didn't want to use it (but as I say I could well be wrong)

Original poster

kkey21 · 11/08/2010 15:14

That's exactly my point. I do have a space and the family want it, they don't want me to give it away hence my need for a retainer as I'd be loosing my daily rate.

OP posts:

KatyMac · 11/08/2010 16:55

But if the child was there 5 days a week how would you transport them?

Surely if you only have 4 seats in the car there isn't space for the child?

Original poster

kkey21 · 11/08/2010 18:23

I have 2 childminded children twice a week and this child is one of them! So as one only wants to come holidays but needs the place kept free I need to charge something...not taking on other children as it would never work with the family I have already.

I have two children of my own-4 spaces in car...

OP posts:

tokengirl · 11/08/2010 19:01

could they change days, leaving you a gap you could fill?

llllll · 11/08/2010 19:35

I personally dont think I could afford to keep a space open for parents just for hols. That would mean you would only earn money for say 13 weeks a year. If you are available all year round then you need to earn money all year round. What about chraging them a higher rate during the hols to cover when they dont need you.

Original poster

kkey21 · 11/08/2010 20:41

No change in days as i have another business to run...

I can afford to drop some £ as it personally is easier for me to have one in the day with my baby, but not too loose the whole days wage.

I am aiming for 1/4th so 25% of the daily rate or nothing and i'll concentrate on my other sideline. My fees have been frozen for over 2yrs so hopefully with this factored in, we can discuss. I am very fond of the family and want to come to a reasonable agreement where we are both benefiting.

Thank you for all your views on this and i apologize to Katymac as i seem to have confused you!

OP posts:

PinkCanary · 11/08/2010 22:45

Sorry, I'm confused too. If this child is starting school how are you loosing a 'full days pay'? Surely the amount you'd be loosing equates to the cost of providing out of school care (prob 2 - 3 hours per day).

Re: your variation. Ofsted will remove it as it is becomes invalid once this child starts school.

I too am surprised that you've never had any term time enquiries. Is your own Childs school aware that you're a Childminder?

Original poster

kkey21 · 12/08/2010 20:15

Yes loosing a full days pay as the child is going to a school eleswhere and a family member is doing the hour eitherside of school but family want me to save the space for holidays, so no child these days but retainer to hold space.

Yes my own childs school are aware but as i'm not based in the area where the school is, the local parents choose not to travel across a busy town to get to me when they don't need too as have lots of childminders on their dootstep. Equally i don't have a space, i just want to work out a retainer for the term time for the family that want their space saved.

Only had one enquiry ever into term time which was full time and i have other commitments in the week so only part time suits.

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