Apparently all the local CMs get together and agree to set their prices ... isn't that a bit ... you know ...

[doricpatter]

I'm sure that's Not Right.

Minderjinx, I agree with your feeling about the hostility towards childminders, its such a shame, but I still think there is a lot of ignorance regarding the kind of people we are as childminders and the huge amount of services we provide, I see myself as a bridge between parents and the professionals due to the mistrust and lack of confidence some parents have towards health visitors, doctors, schools etc. I am available 24 hours a day should the need arise to my families. How many parents could say that about the nursery staff they use, do they give out their personal details to be contacted when parents want them for support and advise? I work very much on my own as I don't agree with the way the whole system is working now, I'm a Grandmother of 4 children under the age

BALD it was a newly registered minder when I made an enquiry. She was charging a lower rate presumably to fill her spaces, but I didn't ask for her reasons so I can't say for sure.

I really don't mean to come across as hostile - my experiences of the profession have generally been very good as i mentioned before. It's just the pricing issue - it's illegal and it would be no different if it was local shops fixing bread prices or filling stations fixing fuel prices. I have no issues with the service itself and I'm sort if that was unclear.

The rate itself is IMO high but that's subjective I guess.certainly it's the highest rate I've heard of. But if i want to work I have to pay it as there are no alternatives here.

Minderjinx, I agree with your feeling about the hostility towards childminders, its such a shame, but I still think there is a lot of ignorance regarding the kind of people we are as childminders and the huge amount of services we provide, I see myself as a bridge between parents and the professionals due to the mistrust and lack of confidence some parents have towards health visitors, doctors, schools etc. I am available 24 hours a day should the need arise to my families. How many parents could say that about the nursery staff they use, do they give out their personal details to be contacted when parents want them for support and advise? I work very much on my own as I don't agree with the way the whole system is working now, I'm a Grandmother of 4 children under the age

Sorry about the multiple replies on my behalf, not intended, screen keeps going blank!

Sorry the "we" is the local childminders - there are about 6 or 7 and i know the new one is friendly with them as they're a circle of mates. It's great that they work together but it does sound to me like they're informally agreeing the rates to charge.

Majority of my parents have their childcare paid for them, or most of it anyway as I'm in a disadvantaged area, my own daughter has to pay me the most as she's a professional and earning enough to pay me, I have charged £3.50per hour for the last 5 years. I consider that to be really cheap considering the experience I have. Childminders generally look at the information on the internet for their area to see how much every one else is charging. In my experience some parents just go for the cheapest while others pick who they feel their children are suited to.

it does sound a bit odd, thank you for explaining

I agree that it is at the moment 'just hearsay'

Ofsted don't get involved in issues surrounding payment, so no point chatting to them

I am sorry that you have had a bad introduction to the CMs in your area, I can see that it makes you feel and I do too, tbh

In my area we charge different rates, as others have stated - CM #1 might charge £4 phr including food but not hols, CM#2 might charge £3.50 phr but expect nappies wipes and food to be supplied, CM#3 might charge £5 phr but keep numbers deliberately low so that the ratio is 1 to 2 ; swings and roundabouts

here, have some

None of them have websites and the childcare listings are either out-of-date or prices aren't given so the only way they could check out each others' prices would be by getting together - which I know they do.

I certainly don't intend to do anything about it. I wouldn't contact Ofsted or anything, because much as it's wrong I'm sure that there's no bad intent behind it - I don't think they can realise that it's illegal because otherwise surely she wouldn't have been so open about telling me?!

Hey ho, suck it up I think.

But if they don't have update prices on the childcare listings and they don't have websites, how do you know that they're all charging exactly the same rate?
Surely if the only way they can know what everyone else is charging is by getting together, the only way you could know the same information is to be present while it was being discussed?

Sorry, but I think you're making huge assumptions to accuse them of price fixing.

"all the local CMs get together" - I have to laugh.

As our local CM coordinator, LA Early Years and SureStart coordinator would say, "we wish!"

Our delightful LA Early Years Officer, bless her, tries her very best to get us together. So far - well at least since I have been a registered childminder - we have yet to all attend the same meeting together!

I think what may give you that idea; one organisation in particular, publishes 'typical' or 'average' prices for the area. As a result, childminders like myself read this, and think OK then I will charge a basic rate £3.50 per hour. If all the childminders in that area do the same, it would give the impression that the prices are set.

What I would be suspicious of, is if all the childminders charged the same rates for other situations, for example, bank holiday rates, holiday rates, give the same discounts for siblings, all charge the same price for lunch etc IYSWIM.

If they are fixing prices - as doricpatter says, this is against competition law and can have serious consequences