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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

CM fees seem high.

25 replies

nightfall · 13/02/2011 10:25

More of a question rather than a statement. But also maybe I was very lucky with my last CM. I am looking for a CM for a few months as my usualy CM husband is sick and is not minding at the moment.

What I paid her, I felt was very resonable and she was an excellent CM. Now I am looking again and am surprised at how much some are charging in my area.

I know there are 'pockets' of well off people where I live and assume this is why they seem to be charing a lot more than I would expect.

I am not living in inner London but some of the prices are the same as what I would expect from places in certain inner London areas.

I looked at the site which gives you an idea what you should pay and are expected to pay ( in the area you live in )and the CM's I have viewed are asking well above this.

Am I out of the loop or did I just have a fantastic CM who did the job more for the love of it rather than the money?

Can I negotiate? Just worried that as I have to find someone to take both my children I may run the risk of not finding someone at all.

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minderjinx · 13/02/2011 10:55

If you are talking about the NCMA site, you may well be misled as it is based on survey information and obviously a lot of people will choose not to respond. Also it only allowed a single rate to be entered, and I think most will put in a "from" rate which is what they would charge for a long term customer taking childcare for full weeks, year round etc. Part time/short term rates are often higher.

It may also be the case that your CM has not increased rates (to you) over the years out of loyalty to your children, especially if she thinks you would struggle to pay more, but that doesn't mean that other CMs don't love their job too; maybe they just have to charge a rate which will cover rising costs.

nannynick · 13/02/2011 12:01

Some childminders include everything in the fee. Others have a lower fee then add on things - food, outings etc.

How much were you paying, how much are childminder now wanting?

Original poster

nightfall · 13/02/2011 12:03

Not saying that other CM don't love their job, sorry if it sounded like that. Was trying to say that for her it was not an income. We would not struggle to pay if she did increase either, just surprised at the difference.

I have been quoted mainly £6:50- £7:00 per hour/per child and was just surprised at how much they were asking for.

I didn't expect living outside London to be paying that much to be honest.

OP posts:

underpaidandoverworked · 13/02/2011 12:55

Wow - that is high!!! I charge £4ph and £4.50 for before and after schoolies and I am at the top end charges wise for my area (notheast).

You could try to negotiate but a lot of it will depend on the hours you need, age of the children etc. Good luck

nannynick · 13/02/2011 13:08

That is high, £4.50 is typical here on the Surrey/Berkshire border. Prime commuter land.

Tanith · 13/02/2011 13:20

Actually, I think £4.50 is pretty low for some areas of Surrey, Nick. I thought I was high, but I've heard £7 being quoted by some of the local childminders and realised that I'm actually at the lower end of the market!
I know some of the Guildford childminders are struggling to fill places. Round here, places are hard to find. I suspect the charges are affected by that.

Booh · 13/02/2011 13:23

I think it depends, is that for full time care, part time, all inclusive of food / outings etc?

My fees are £5.50 per hour fill time, and anything upto £9.00 per hour part time.

apotomak · 13/02/2011 13:33

Maybe you should widen the search area if you want lower price. I charge £5p/h and I'm in Surrey just outside London border but I know that childminders 5 miles closer to London(actually in Greater London) charge £7p/h. It depends if you want to travel a bit to get the lower price ... if you just need a few hours a day it may not be worthwhile.

balijay · 13/02/2011 16:31

Gosh I really need to move.. my fees are only £3.50 per hour!

onimolap · 13/02/2011 16:36

Could I suggest that it may well only prove worthwhile to negotiate if you have an alternative place to take up should your negotiations fail? Otherwise you risk being left high and dry.

cece · 13/02/2011 16:40

I use 2 different childminders. One is £5.50 an hour and the other £7 per hour. The more expensive doesn't charge me extra for trips. The other big difference is experience. The cheaper one has only been minding for a few months whereas the other one is very experienced and generally has a waiting list for places. Oh and I am out of London but in the SE.

dobby2001 · 13/02/2011 16:56

Nightfall, hereabouts are you in outer london? Perhaps we can help in terms of average costs? For example I am in SE20/BR3 postcode area and average charges here range from £4.50- £6.00 Ph most being around £50 a day. Hope tht helps.

leeloo1 · 13/02/2011 20:58

I'm in North London and the prices you've been quoted are pretty accurate for this area.

Original poster

nightfall · 13/02/2011 21:29

I was paying £4 a hour for breakfast, lunch, dinner for a whole day with son. All trips etc were included in this. This was East London.

Live just outside Barnet area in Hertfordshire.

OP posts:

dobby2001 · 13/02/2011 21:37

I have to say nightfall that sounds very good value for money. I was paying that six years ago when I used childcare. I think perhaps your former childminder might have kept your fees low as you were a trusted "customer" so to speak.

minderjinx · 14/02/2011 07:05

I was paying that ten years ago (South East, commuter belt). I think you may also find that you may struggle to find a CM with two places - so maybe it will be the dearer ones who have space?

Original poster

nightfall · 14/02/2011 09:35

I guess I have been lucky and as this was the first CM I saw ( friends highly recommended) I have never had to look around until now. I'm beginning to think that if they are asking roughly £6 an hour it might be worthwhile getting a nanny instead? Would it work out roughly the same cost for a 9 hour (ish) day?

OP posts:

Tanith · 14/02/2011 10:20

I would imagine that the cost of childminders in your area will be competitive with other forms of childcare.

minderjinx · 14/02/2011 10:38

I believe as a rule of thumb you would need to have three children to make a nanny less expensive than childminder or nursery. I would agree with Tanith that if you are in a relatively expensive area for childminders, nurseries and nannies would probably be higher cost than average too. But it would be worth looking on Gumtree to see what local families are offering (though obviously disregarding any that have been advertising for ages)

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 14/02/2011 11:36

I have been looking at childminders here in east midlands rates are from £2.50 to £4.50 an hr this seems to reflect what ofsted rating they have as its the ones rated outstanding charging the higher rates (which I think is fair).

Some include meals others charge £1-2 per meal on top, all have asked that we provide nappies,wipes,creams etc etc

I have to be honest and havent asked how much they charge per hr til I have been to visit them and ask towards the end as I dont want their hrly rate to reflect my choice of childminder if I am happy with them thats more important to me - also I know nurseries are £42 a day roughly here and a childminder is only going to cost me that or less.

If you have 2 children would a nanny not be more cost effective for you?

Original poster

nightfall · 14/02/2011 13:10

I am beginning to wonder this with the prices I have been quoted. Some nannies are asking £10 per hours so roughly the same as some on the minders.

Funny you mention the ofsted rating, as none of them have been given an outstanding. One that wanted to charge £6:50 was given a 'satisfactory' grade

OP posts:

leeloo1 · 14/02/2011 15:25

Mmmm, I'd have thought it'd be cheaper out there too, do you have any children's centres nearby, they seem to be the only 'cheap' childcare option near here.

The £10 ph for nannies would probably be net, so you'd need to factor in tax and NI on top of that (extra £4 - £6 I'd guess - sorry tried to find calculator for the figures, but couldn't), plus give money for food, activities, kitty etc. Also you'd be their employer so need to pay sick pay, holiday pay etc - although you'd need to pay this with some childminders too...

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 15/02/2011 21:47

I think you should try advertising for a nanny and offer £7-£10 gross an hr depending on nannies qualifications and experience and whether you are happy to have a nanny with own child.

You could potenitally find a nanny with own child who is fairly experienced and qualified for £7-8 an hr gross.

Original poster

nightfall · 16/02/2011 11:55

Thanks for that, I might just try that as I only want someone for 2 months. Just becoming more of a headache as the time gets closer.
Saw one CM the other day but just didn't feel right and tried two more with out any luck.

OP posts:

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 16/02/2011 15:49

Good luck I have been lucky and visited two childminders and like them both one unfortunately is now pregnant so can not have him but husband is going to see the other at the weekend just becuase he would like to meet them also.

I think if you want someone temp for 2mths just go with a nanny - you will more than likely find someone with own child more than happy to work for £8 gross an hr for 2mths.

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