Childminders Club: What do you do when you get a enquiry for far in advance???

[HellyBelly]

Hello, it's me again!!

I've just had a lovely sounding lady on the phone who is due to have a baby in February and wants a childminder from around August time next year. I explained I was fully booked at the moment and that I don't know what my vacancy situation will be that time next year. I told her the only thing I could do was let her know nearer the time. We spoke for about 20 mins as I really wanted to help this lady out - I mentioned the retainers that some may charge if they have a vacancy now but I couldn't help as don't have any.

Is this just what you say when you are full??? Don't know what else I could have said but I really wanted to help more.

Will watch with interest as I have an enquiry for a baby to start in September (an existing mindees sibling). The only problem is that a mum of somebody who is starting next month has just found out she is expecting too and would like me to have the new baby as well..

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Kcemum - you charging a retainer? Would also be interested to hear what people do if they DO have a space now as I personally need all the money I can get so have to fill my spaces. I presume a retainer wouldn't be full cost? Having said that, I just wouldn't be able to afford the loss of a full time place if it came up.

What have people done in the past who have been doing this for longer???

Deposit is a good idea although the parent wanting the space still has no guarantee do they? I explained to my lady that it's really hard to say in advance as we have such a small number of under 5's we're allowed. Difficult isn't it.

I don't think I will be charging a retainer unless I have other enquiries for the places. I seem to have 4 mindees waiting for only 1 part-time place, although after xmas my youngest DD starts school so that will free up another place.

As far as I know, you shouldn't be charging a retainer for someone who is still pregnant.

I would happily invite someone round for a chat even if I wasn't sure that I would definitely have a vacancy then. As we all know, there is no guarantee that we will still mind the same children that far ahead, so it is worth "selling yourself" just in case you do have a space. You don't need to guarantee to keep the place for her, but she could be on a sort of "waiting list"!!

I had an enquiry from a pregnant lady to see if I would have a space 12 months later! One of my mindees was starting school, so I knew I would have a vacancy. Most childminders she'd spoken to didn't even want her to visit and didn't really want to discuss whether or not they might have a space. I got brownie points just for discussing it, and more brownie points for inviting her round. Baby has now started with me, and my brownie points are being converted into lots of money.

The Prisoner, you are right, we shouldn't charge a retainer for an umborn baby but as far as i am aware we can charge for the place once baby is here if theres interest in the place from other parents

As far as I am aware you can also only charge a retaining fee if you have a vacancy and you would have to keep that place open in case she wanted to use it at anytime during the retaining period IYSWIM. How much the retainer would be is up to you, I know some childminders who charge half fee for the amount of hours they would want and some who charge a fixed weekly retainer.
Never had to do it myself cos all of my mindees have started within a month.
I would invite her round for a chat and just tell her you will let her know if a vacancy comes up, and if it does you would require a retainer if she wanted you to keep the place open.

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