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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Childminder rates Waltham Forest

8 replies

diamond2101 · 06/07/2012 14:30

Hi mumsnetters!

I'm in the process of becoming a childminder and have no idea what rates to charge. Have spoken to my local FIS who said that £3.50ph is the going rate in my area but a friend of mine who uses a childminder locally pays £10ph for her school aged son and £6ph for her 2yr old.
I don't want to charge too low as I have to make sure I meet my living costs (£400pw) but I don't want to charge too much so potential customers think I'm being greedy and I lose business. I'm very close to market, shops, train, tube, buses and library, children centres and 4 local schools.
Ofsted have allowed me to have 5 children (2x under 3yrs and 3x over 3yrs) including my own 3yr old and I will offer before and after school pick up as well as full time care for younger children.

So if anyone childminding or using a childminder in Waltham Forest (E17 in particular) please can you give me a rough idea of:

  1. Hourly, sessional or daily/weekly rate
  2. If you charge for bank holidays and childminder's own holidays and how much
  3. If you charge a retainer for half term care and/or term time care for when mindees are at school/nursery.
  4. How much deposit you request if you do charge!

Hope it all makes sense and thanks for reading

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BlueberryPancake · 06/07/2012 16:21

I'm in Wanstead and here the rate is £5.50 - £6 an hour, or £45-£55 a day. But in Ilford it's £2.50 an hour. I do know one childminder who charges £10 an hour but she can't find children to look after so it's not worth over-charging.

In Waltham Forest, depending on where you are, Walthamstow is a bit higher than Leytonstone I think. E17, is that Leytonstone? I rekon it's more around £3.50 - £4. When I started childminding I priced myself too high, because of what other people told me. But our best nursery here (Outstanding ofsted, really popular) charges £55 a day and I cannot see myself as a newly qualified childminder, with no previous childcare experience apart from my own two children, charging more than they do as they have so, so much more experience than I have.

I charge £50 a day, from 8 to 6.30, and I charge for what people use me for. I charge a little bit more than other childminders in my area but don't ask for holiday pay. Deposit is £50. I don't charge more for bank holidays. I haven't had to charge a retainer so far and I don't know what I will charge in that circumstance.

Don't forget practicalities - will you do any of the school runs in your car? Is your car large enough to carry all the children safely? If you walk for the school runs, will you be able to safely walk with 6 children, how many of those will be in a buggy? All the schools in our area start and finish at the same time, so if it's the same for you, you will only be able to cover one school.

You might be tempted to do a school run at lunch time, to cover for children in the nursery, but the problem with that is, especially if you are looking after babies, it is very disruptive. The babies will be spending a lot of time in a buggy during the school runs (one at 9 am, another one at 12, and then at 3:15) it disrupts their sleep, their food, their milk. I have always said no to lunch time pickups it's just too complicated and disruptive for the little ones I look after.

BlueberryPancake · 06/07/2012 16:29

Are you close to Aldersbrook Primary School?

Forresitters · 06/07/2012 22:11

Thanks for ur reply blueberrypancake.
I'm in Walthamstow near Blackhorse Road. Not sure where Aldersbrook school is?
I've been in childcare for 10yrs now and currently working in a nannyshare with 4 children (2 babies, 3yr old and 6 yr old) so I know exactly what you mean about the nursery and school pick up - it was difficult at first but now I have them in a routine and asking as I make sure we're organised and on time, it works well.

I was thinking of the same hours and price per day as what you currently charge so hopefully I'm not way off the mark!!

BlueberryPancake · 07/07/2012 06:55

Aldersbrook is in between Wanstead and Forest Gate, so not at all in your area. I just know that a popular Childminder there is closing down and many families are looking for someone to pick the kids up from that school. It's too far for you.

Forresitters · 07/07/2012 16:11

Thanks for ur reply blueberrypancake.
I'm in Walthamstow near Blackhorse Road. Not sure where Aldersbrook school is?
I've been in childcare for 10yrs now and currently working in a nannyshare with 4 children (2 babies, 3yr old and 6 yr old) so I know exactly what you mean about the nursery and school pick up - it was difficult at first but now I have them in a routine and asking as I make sure we're organised and on time, it works well.

I was thinking of the same hours and price per day as what you currently charge so hopefully I'm not way off the mark!!

Forresitters · 07/07/2012 16:12

Oh okay thanks.

Sorry ignore previous post!

pandypops · 07/07/2012 19:24

I live in Leytonstone and I charge £5 per hour which includes all meals etc.. and I only charge for hours used and 50% for all holidays (bank holidays are no charge if not worked). I only charge a deposit if I need to hold a place for a couple of months and this is then the equivalent months fees. This is the higher end of the scale for E11 but I feel that I provide a really good service and my parents and children seem happy so that makes me happy.

I really wouldn't price yourself too low as it hard to then raise your fees. If you don't get any children because of high fees, then you can lower them. Remember you have to pay for food, utilities, activities, toys, outings, petrol, taxes etc... all out of your wages and if you are not full then you wont earn as much.

Good luck with it all :)

Forresitters · 07/07/2012 22:52

Cheers pandypops

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