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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

Do you charge while mindees are in pre school?

23 replies

childminder90210 · 15/01/2011 10:45

DO you charge while your mindees are in pre school sessions if you take them and drop them off yourself? All replies gratefully received TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RealityIsKnockedUp · 15/01/2011 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

compo · 15/01/2011 11:06

Yes they charge round here
at the end of the day if the child needs collecting early or there is an inset day or closed for snow, they'll be needing you to look after the child

Tanith · 15/01/2011 11:11

Not just that, but the charge includes the extra work of liasing with the pre-school and the travelling time and expenses.
Don't let anyone try to tell you that it's money for nothing.

Original poster

childminder90210 · 15/01/2011 11:59

Thanks for the replies x just a battle to get parents to understand why, and have taken note of adding it into the contract and will do from now on !!!

OP posts:

ChildrenAtHeart · 15/01/2011 12:51

Yes cos I would't be able to fill the space so they are taking it even though not physically present

looneytune · 15/01/2011 12:56

Yes, normal to charge :)

HSMM · 15/01/2011 21:11

Yes

chitchatinsantasear · 15/01/2011 23:32

I'm charged by my CM. I don't think it's a problem because my DS's nursery hours are free for me, so it's not like I'm paying double the fee. It also means that those hours are available during holidays etc.

I would find it a bit harder if I had to pay for nursery as well though, but that would be my problem, not the CM's. Am going to face that next January when DS2 starts nursery and I have to pay fees until he turns 3 yrs!

thebody · 16/01/2011 15:41

yes.. loco parentis and all that .. also couldnt fill that space so be out of pocket..

minderjinx · 16/01/2011 17:56

I don't specifically, but I do charge a minimum of 6 hours for any child effectively taking a full time place, so if going to pre-school means they are only here for say five hours, I would still charge for six.

Original poster

childminder90210 · 16/01/2011 19:00

thanks I ve realised I need to get tough, and add stuff into my contract thanks for your answers, can I just ask has anyone had issues with getting parents to pay for this time and if so how you dealt with it?

OP posts:

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 16/01/2011 19:07

I think you just point out that you're expected to be available - if preschool is closed presumably you'd have the child - and you're paid for your contracted availability. Possibly draw the parallel of holidays if you charge for when mindees don't come but you're open.

You can't fill that space, the other option is termination.

(not a CM but a nanny and the same question often arises)

Dysgu · 16/01/2011 19:26

My CM does not charge for when DD1 is at pre-school but then, DD1 does full days at pre-school and if she is ill, the pre-school is closed or DD1 can't go for any other reason, then CM is not the contact person.

I also do not need the space during the holidays.

So this is probably an unusual situation.

looneytune · 16/01/2011 19:38

Dysgu - I'd not expect you to be charged in that situation.

I did once decide not to charge for a mindee at preschool but that was because they ONLY needed me to pickup from preschool at 2.45 and keep them until 6, term time only. I was granted a variation for this child so it was fine. Had I only had 1 space for an under 5 then I'd have had to turn them away or insist they pay for a full day anyway unless I could have filled the morning part of the day.

shoshe · 17/01/2011 09:09

I have posted this before, it is in my policies.

UNDER 5?S IN OTHER SETTINGS

A child is counted as an under 5 by Ofsted until they are in full time education i.e. at school for 10 sessions a week.

A child who is at pre school is a under 5 and if they are with a childminder before and after pre school, and require a fulltime space during the holidays they therefore are taking a childminders full time space. As such you are required to pay Full fee for the time that they are at preschool, as the childminder cannot then fill the part time that they are at pre school.

Does it help?

Tanith · 17/01/2011 09:59

Yes, I've had problems in the dim and distant past.
I pointed out to the parent that it was their choice to book their child in for two childcare places - one with me and one at the nursery. They needed to pay for both places and couldn't expect me to subsidise their choice.
An analogy I've used to explain it is if you're booked into a hotel room and you decide to go elsewhere for dinner or entertainment. You don't demand a refund for the time that you're not actually in the hotel, do you?

All my current parents fully understand and support my charging them.

Original poster

childminder90210 · 17/01/2011 15:51

Ooh thanks shoshe thats great, I m now gonna conduct a big review of everything I do as this was the first time someone had questionned it, so not had this problem before its also nice to be reassured by you all that I am correct in charging for that time

OP posts:

StarExpat · 17/01/2011 20:41

Following on this... I'm considering next year having DS go to preschool for 2 full days per week, starting when he's nearly 3... 2 days I'll need to pay preschool for. I would drop him off and collect him and wouldn't need the space during holidays with my cm (I'm a teacher myself). So, those 2 full days, she wouldn't be the contact or needed to fill in or have any contact with DS at all... would I still need to pay for those days?

I'm not even sure I will do this because we do adore her and he learns so much with her... just wasn't sure if by then he'd need another school like setting to prepare him for school.

I'd feel awful doing this as it would mean cutting down her income, but would it be impossible for a cm to fill 2 days like that? or would I be charged for the 5 days anyway or possibly dropped altogether since no longer full time?

As I said, this is thinking far into the future and I'm doubtful that I"ll even do it, but just considering....

Berryred · 17/01/2011 20:52

I charge 1/2 fee for when child at pre-school. everyone else charges full, but for me I have always charged 1/2 fee! It works out well for me and the parents know they have a childcare space if needed!

StarExpat · 17/01/2011 20:55

Ok, it looks like if I want him to do preschool, then I'll have to use it for every day, then. I can't afford to pay preschool and cm. That would be so sad to leave cm so I'll have to think really hard about it :(

looneytune · 17/01/2011 21:03

Star - if you'd spoken to me about it and given enough notice to change, I'd be happy to reduce care with me by 2 days. I could fill those days with someone else as it's a full day and you don't need care in the holidays. It's basically a matter of whether your CM is happy to change the contracted days but I can't see it being a problem :)

StarExpat · 17/01/2011 21:04

HSMM · 17/01/2011 21:51

Star - I wouldn't charge you for those days, because you would not be contracted for them any more.

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