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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

Childminders club: Term time care only

22 replies

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 21:31

Hi all again!

The baby I am taking on from next week is only term time care and just had enquiry from someone else who only requires term time. I had decided sometime ago that if I did receive an enquiry for term time only, I would not be able to accommodate due to loss of earnings outside term time. What do others do who do term time only - do you:

ask for a retainer during all the holiday periods with the option to use the space if they wish? if so how much, qtr, half, full fees? and is it reasonable to ask for a retainer?

or do you:

rely on being able to take on other mindees during the hols? I advertised offering holiday care throughout 2005 and had only one response but was for this year which will now not materialise.

Any advice welcomed please

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

hercules · 05/01/2006 21:32

I used to pay full costs during holidays, then later my cm charged me half.

katymac · 05/01/2006 21:33

I charge half

Original poster

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 21:39

So, just so I am clear - reasonable to ask for half but say place can be used up to the amount they have paid for?

OP posts:

katymac · 05/01/2006 21:50

If you charge half you must keep the space for them - I think

hercules · 05/01/2006 21:51

When I paid half I never used my cm for that time. I saw it as a retainer.

Original poster

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 22:02

I would like to charge half as a retainer but would also welcome the parent to use the space but felt fair to ask parent to only use the half paid for until term time begins again. Does that make sense?

OP posts:

katymac · 05/01/2006 22:16

If they use any in the holidays they have to pay the other half for the hrs they used (IYSWIM)

hercules · 05/01/2006 22:17

I honestly would never expect to use any hours if I paid half.

hercules · 05/01/2006 22:17

I honestly would never expect to use any hours if I paid half.

katymac · 05/01/2006 22:22

So if they are contraced for 20 hrs a week
They pay 10
But they use 3 one week - so pay an extra 1.5 hrs

Original poster

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 22:27

I finally see what u mean Katymac takes me a while sometimes - all a bit knew to me!

Hercules, was going to ask you why but have just understood Katymacs reply!

OP posts:

puppy · 05/01/2006 22:50

Hope you don't mind me asking a question on this subject on your thread tan1959 but
I have had a meeting with a parent who needs me term time only and forgot to mention that I charge half fee during half term. normally so good at covering things, so not sure whether to now as we filled in contracts too and I wrote on contract term time only contract. Its for three hours a day, five days a week. She starts next week, should I say something or not charge as its my fault for not mentioning it during the meeting.

Original poster

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 22:55

Not sure about that Puppy as Contracts have been signed but probably someone more experienced than I will be able to help you.

Similar thing happened to me today - couple came the other evening with baby - starting Tues, I asked them to come back tomorrow to sign Contract but as I was preparing Contracts and finishing updating my policies today, realised due to their type of work, maybe term-time only so called and it is - I had to say over the phone that I would usually charge helf fees and will discuss with them tomorrow

OP posts:

Original poster

Tan1959 · 05/01/2006 22:57

And of course I don't mind Puppy - these threads are great arn't they, so helpful and informative

OP posts:

puppy · 05/01/2006 23:00

Thanks tan, the mother is from the childrens information service also

ThePrisoner · 06/01/2006 00:05

I don't charge a retainer during holidays (and I mind for a couple of teachers) for any term-time only children.

I have several before/afterschool children, and they have contracts for term-time only. If I am needed during school holidays, I charge for the hours that they do. I also have some under 5s who need holiday-only care.

It's very much a first-come, first-served basis, but I have never had to say no (some parents can change days to suit). Some of the children are over 8. Most of the families know each other now, so it works out to all our mutual satisfaction.

I think I am very lucky to be in this position, it suits me very well. When I first started out, I didn't operate like this - I didn't want to be financially worse off.

This has only come about as I have been minding for years and have gradually built up my own little empire!! I don't know that it particularly makes good business sense, but I find that I am still very busy for most of the school holidays. If I have an occasional day with no over 5s, I am more than happy. I make up for it the rest of the time.

ThePrisoner · 06/01/2006 00:12

Tan - as parents didn't tell you that it was term-time only, I would think it would be easier for you to say that you charge a retainer during the school holidays.

Puppy - your situation is different because you already knew they wanted term-time only. Not sure how I would deal with this - have you given parents any kind of written information about yourself that might have mentioned how you usually charge?

alibubbles · 06/01/2006 08:29

Message withdrawn

AUBINA · 07/01/2006 14:26

I work term-time only, which suits me as my children are quite young, 7 and 5. I charge a half-fee retainer. Sometimes I am asked for the odd day in the holidays which I then charge a full fee for. In hindsight I wish I had put into the contract that if I was needed, say a weeks notice should be given. Because if I am unavailable I then feel I can't charge for that day at all.

A friend of mine is a single parent and she charges full fee all the time for a teacher. This was agreed at the beginning and they are both happy with this. She cannot afford a drop in earnings as she is the breadwinner in her family. Whereas in my situation I appreciate having free time in the holidays to spend with my own children. My husband is the main breadwinner.

As long as the fees are agreed at the beginning and detailed in the contract,everyone should be happy.

puppy · 08/01/2006 13:51

Well I spoke to the mother this morning and so I thought I would test the waterness to she how she reacted (was obviously willing to let it go as contracts signed if she was unhappy), she was ok about it but with a little change in the tone of her voice. I was apologetic about it and asked if it was ok as we had done contracts she said she just needed to get in touch with tax office re credits and for me to work out how much it would be for. Will be seeing her tomorrow in person so will grovel lol. I am going to say that the first week of holiday she can have free in way of an apology and will amend contract with her.

puppy · 08/01/2006 13:51

waterness? I meant waters lol

Original poster

Tan1959 · 08/01/2006 15:19

I think that your offer of one week free is fair Puppy. It is awful when you forget something at initial interview or signing of Contract stage isn't it. When I first met the lovely couple who came and signed with me today (12 wk old baby), neither of us remembered to mention the 'term-time' only aspect, so I telephoned to let them know we would need to discuss.

OP posts:

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