from full day at childminder to just before and after school - what can I expect to pay?

[janie2]

Hi

I'm having a wobble about when my dd goes to school. She currently is at a childminder two days. I pay full days even though she's at nursery in the morning. (seems fair as it stops CM being able to have more children). However do childminders tend to want to be paid for the full day or only the hours they have the children when they are at school and doing just before and after? I haven't spoken to my CM yet and I'm sure she'll let me know I just don't want to look like I have been punched in the stomach when she announces I won't be saving any money now DD will be at school

the other bit is that I'll need her to have them over the holidays as well, all day.

Thanks, xx

My cm does school drop off and pick up and i pay a daily term time rate for just those times, I dont use her in school holidays. If I wanted her all year round i would pay hourly for just the hours the children are with her, not whilst they are at school

I have known childminders to ask for a retainer fee (normally half price) for the hours a child is at school & then parents pay full price for the hours child is in CM's care. I think they do it so that the parents can have holiday care

Thanks for that, am pleased it's not a definite full rate!

I am trying to work out how it would work in terms of ratios. I think she can only have 3 children under 5. So I am guessing my over 5 wouldn't really impede on her earnings so I'm not sure why I'd need a retainer for when dd is at school and it would then be a bonus for her over the holidays? Does that make sense? She's a 48 weeks a year service so I don't think she'll be expecting me not to need her in the holidays, she also knows I will need holiday care.

cheers!

I think it's max 6 children under 8, of those only 3 can be under 5. So your daughter would still need to be in her numbers

I charge completely differently for schoolers as like you say they don't impact on the under 5 ratios. As a guide I charge £40 a day for little ones, £6 for before school and £12 for after school. It's then also. £40 for holiday care for schoolers.

Hope this helps.

Thanks NickNacks, that was what I was thinking would be more reasonable.

Of course she would be part of the ratios, but all over 5's will be at school or about to go so I was thinking charging for them all day would be a bit weird!

I feel a bit more prepared now!

Thanks :)

Once children start full time school with me, they get a new contract which states what hours they need before and/or after school and in the holidays. They pay for what they've booked so no, wouldn't charge whilst at school and never knew people did as they move into a new age bracket. I guess one reason for charging something may be if the childminder wouldn't be within her overall numbers (6 under 8s) once yours is at school if she keeps her and replaces her full time space. I have this problem at the moment, have my son and a long term mindee going to school in September and if I replace them both and keep everyone on, I'd have a total of 10 children on some days. Although legal as some are over 8, I don't want to have that many plus I can't fit them all in the car. So I guess if everyone was desperate to continue the after school care then I'd have no choice but to charge a small fee to honour that. But I just couldn't do it as doesn't seem right. We're all different though so best ask your CM. I'd like to think you'll be saving a lot from September! :) (but if they start shorter days, your DD won't count as a school aged child until her first FULL day at school).

Thanks looneytune!

Yes, totally happy to pay the first 2 weeks full as she'll just be half day at school. she's also not 5 til January which might cause us some pain (we're in Scotland hence the 5 in january thing). CM might feel we are taking up a space for her under 5 ratio which I can understand - I might negotiate a retainer instead

CM is a friend and I'm sure wouldn't do us out of anything!

thanks everyone!