Term time only! How do I charge?

[CrazyBabies]

Hi, I may be taking on a child term time only.
Shall I charge my normal rate during term time and perhaps a small retainer in the holidays. Would I charge this for all holidays or just the summer one.
Would love to know your thoughts.
What retainer should I charge. Was thinking of a set rate per week I am available, say £15 per week.

ok this is what i do:

children aged 0-5 (pre-school) who attend term time only i charge 1/4 fees in the holidays (all holidays) and they must be my schools term time (as all schools are different)

children aged 5+ who attend term time only i charge £0 in the holidays but again must be my childrens school term time

i

I charge 50% retainer in holidays.

Think it is entirely upto you what you do as it seems to vary from charging nothing to 75% of fee - I know many of my friends with babies who are term time only workers have chosen nurseries over childminders as they have managed to find some that charge term time only and then charge for ad-hoc days in hols to keep child used to the nursery.

I suppose one option is charge a higher hrly rate during term time and then nothing in hols or charge normal hrly rate and then charge a retainer for place in the hols that they can use if they top up to full amount and if for whatever reason (you take on a holiday only child) the space is unavailable you dont charge them.

hmm i'm also having this dilemma - when i took kids on it was presumed i'd be wanted most holidays so i charged standard hourly rate but several months down the line and i still haven't been needed in holidays and haven't been charging a retainer so i'm kind of stuck - i don't feel i can now bring in retainer or charge highwer rate without looking grabby but if i'd known this would be the case perhaps i'd of given the place to all year rounders. I wish there was a standard practice for childminders as i often worry parents think they are being ripped off - especially when reading mumsnet!

I have a term time only contract with a childminder. I pay her usual hourly rate, which is not cheapest around, but not the most expensive either. I do not pay a retainer or deposit. I do pay her monthly in advance. We have also agreed that the school dictates which days are term time. I also don't pay her hols, but do pay full for mine.

I'm a CM and it does vary from one CM to another. It all depends on the requirements of the parents etc and if you're willing to take on work that is term time only, and you can afford to work this way. I have a term time only mindee (parent is a teacher). I'm raising my young family and have chosen to work with only 1 other child. I didn't intend to work term time only as I need my space filled and paid for 48 weeks a year (- my 4 week hols). Parent was aware of this from the start and actually was not surprised that she would be charged even when the space was not being used.

I'm a p.time teacher (as well as night nanny, babysitter, ad-hoc nanny) and have a term time only contract with my CM. I dont pay for any school hols and dont pay her for her holidays if she goes in term time. I dont pay a retainer and am really grateful to have found someone who can do this for me. She usually fills up in school hols so I dont think she loses out. I will probably book my DS in for the odd session during the summer hols but it will be very much as and when she can fit him in and obviously I totally understand that. (as far as I know I also pay same hourly rate as the other parents using my CM).

Depends what you want to do. If you want to work all year, you could charge for all year. If you are happy to work term time only, then you might charge nothing for holidays. You might be somewhere in between. I have children on holiday only contracts (school children), but no-one on term time only contracts, as I could not full their space in the holiday and would lose money. Some of my colleagues love to spend their holidays with their own children and look for term time only contracts.