CMs: any advice on how to word hours in a contract please

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

I have two brothers who will be with me before or after school during the week, depending on the hours the mum works (dad is out of the picture completely). So maybe two days a week I will have them before school and the other 3 after school. Sometimes it might only be 3 or 4 days a week.

I don't want to shoot myself in the foot as I have done before by leaving it open ended: I think I should have a minimum retainer per week to make it worth my while and to guarantee the place for the children.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can word it? Does my post even make sense??

I'm not a cm but i am in similar circumstances re my childcare needs and fully expect to pay for the full five days of hours that I need.
Eg. I know I need my childcare between 9am and 1pm but in one week I may only need to use childcare 3 days out the 5 but know that next week I may need all 5 so I have to pay for 5 every week to guarantee that I have the days I need every week.

Yes - it totally makes sense and I think you are right to have a retainer.

Why not just say something like 'Fees: £x amount per week minimum which covers x amount of hours (before or after school, used or unused) & any hours over that at £x per hour.

Would that do?

Ineedacleaner - if only all parents were like you :)

Chippingetc, I second what you say about Ineedacleaneretc !!

Thanks for the help. The mum is lovely and would be understanding of the retainer. I have all the hours for January so far, so could work out a minimum based on that, I suppose!

Thanks for your help!

thanks. Now all I need is lovely childcare.

I think that although it would be helpful to know what it works out at over the hours she has given you for January, the retainer also has to be right for you. so that you don't resent turning away other children. If it isn't, you will get fed up of it or you will give her notice to have 'full time' wrap around children which will be disruptive to her children - so you owe it to her and yourself to come up with a retainer you are happy with. Does that make sense?

Ineeda - are you struggling to find a CM?

Yes a bit. But my requirements have changed a bit now so can look a bit further afield than I was doing previously.

Chipping, you have made a very good point with respect to the retainer being enough so that I don't feel resentful in having to turn away other children. Thanks for raising that.

Ineeda, have you contacted your local authority? Also, I have found that childcare.co.uk is a very useful website.

Ineeda - good luck! It's not easy to find part time childcare, but the perfect CM is out there waiting for you!!

Alliwant - No worries - I'll PM you my fee

Chipping - help and a sense of humour!

Of I could find full time I'd work full time tbh. There really isn't much to choose from around here.

I'm in the same position as Ineeda. I do consultancy work so some weeks I could work every day, on others not at all. I expect to pay for all the hours that DS isn't at the CMs as I'm using a space that otherwise she could fill with someone else's DC. My CM is happy to charge me 1/2 the normal hourly rate for the days that DS isn't with her so is this a compromise for you Alliwant?

I have a mindee before and after school but maybe only 1 or 2 days sometimes 5 I never know til that day so mum pays for 8-9 and 3.30 til 5 regardless.