How does it work

[Socknickingpixie]

Looking for a childminder 2 days per week think I've found a perfect one and want to make sure I don't offend and I know what to expect.

1. Do I provide disposable nappies as I use reusable at home or can I send child in our normal nappies
2. How do holidays work,am I ok to take mine at the same time she takes hers? Do I pay her when she's on holiday or just if I am?

3.do I pay 4 weeks in advance like nurserys 4.is it ok to ask to pay by bank transfer or is that concidered impolite they may seam like silly questions but I really don't know she's perfect I knew her when I was little and I really really don't want to offend her or bother her with questions that are probally silly

All of these things will depend on the individual childminder's terms - they all differ.

In that case it's not silly for me to ask her then

Not at all silly. I provide all parents with my 'Handbook' when they visit and everything is clearly detailed in that but I still wouldn't mind being asked to double check. We are all different and so the only way to know her terms is to ask her :)

Yup - ask her. All these are perfectly normal questions and we're all used to being asked them. My answers, for example, would be:

1. I am happy to use your reuseable nappies and hand you a bag of awfulness at the end of the day.
2. I have two weeks holiday at half rate per year, as do parents. (Some minders charge full rate for parent holidays but nothing for their own so it just depends on how she works it.)
3. I charge a month in advance (so July's fees are payable by end of June) and I calculate each month individually, so your bill will be slightly different each month.
4. I am delighted to be paid by bank transfer.

Thank you I was feeling a bit stupid because I didn't just know what to expect but now I know there different I don't need to feel daft, I've never used a child minded befor and was a bit nervey till I saw the list with this lady on and then thought yes I no and trust her she's gonna be ok.
On a different but smerler note I've also only ever used one nursery (years ago) and had such a bad experance gave notice over phone because of a very sick child stayed in hospital for 3 months to get back to 2 terms worth of bills as I hadn't written despite being told over phone that my notice was accepted then after being told child would be better off if she had died that it put me off nurserys for life so had thought I would end up not going back to work so I'm really gratefull to have the oppertunity to use this lady and glad to be able to check what's ok to ask and get some ideas from you ladys so I don't feel like I'm being daft of asking the wrong thing

All CMs are different so ask as many questions as you like to them.

Just ask. No-one minds these kinds of questions, because there are not standard terms for all CMs. My answers (as an example, like ZuleikaD) would be:

1. You can use your normal reusable nappies at my house, but I will return everything to you at the end of the day, so you might prefer to send your child in a disposable and then I will provide any that are needed throughout the day.
2. You pay for my availability, so if I am on holiday, or off sick you don't pay. If you manage to book your holidays at the same time as mine, then great, otherwise you will pay when you are on holiday, or your DC is off sick. You would not pay me for Bank Holidays, as I do not work them.
3. I will ask for a months deposit when you sign your contract, which will be refunded against your first invoices for childcare. From then on, I will invoice you each month in advance, to be paid on the 1st of the month (ie pay 1st July for all of July).
4. I will provide you with my bank details and request that you pay my invoices by bank transfer, as that saves me trips to the bank.

Hopefully this has helped you see how sensible your questions are and also that some of my answers were the same as ZuleikaD and some different.

Don't forget to ask if she takes childcare vouchers if your works is registered with them. They can save you quite a bit of money a year. I recomend them to most of my parents.