do any CMs offer an Ad Hoc service if they aren't full?

[BooyFuckingHoo]

like if someone is let down by their childcare could they ring you and see if you have spaces for the day? or are there rules against it?

No rules against it as far as I know, but the CM would still have to do all the usual paperwork for the child - contract, child information, medical consent etc.

ah right yes that would take up time i suppose and if the parent was already late it wouldn't be very workable.

We have a back-up childminder - so if our CM isn't available, say if she's sick, I get in touch with the back-up and she usually has space. She covers our normal CMs holidays as well.

how does that work with all the paperwork? do you have to fill in a new contract each time you use her?

No, we have a contract that defines rates (we just pay the same as our normal CM, but that's top end), and she has consent forms and contact details - we set this up the first time she had ds, but not since.

We found her through our existing CM, as she knows and recommends her, but they're not in a network or anything.

thank you. when i was using a CM the contract specified the days and times that she had my DCs. is there a different type of contract that doesn't specify these?

I think those bits are just left blank.

If parents only need me on an ad hoc basis I just write "as and when required" in the hours section of the contract. But it is dependent on my availability, and/or parents providing me with the notice agreed.

I've acted as a back up minder for friends, plus I'm also registered on a website endorsed by the NCMA, EmergencyChildcare.co.uk (I think!)

thank you, that is great. i am not registered yet, just thinking ahead.