Where do i start?

[Kidstrack2]

hi all,i'm setting up as a childminder and i'm in the middle of making up my contract and parent handbook but, i don't know what to do regarding charging parents for holidays or when i'm off on holiday, my rate is £3 per hour, i have been on a training course for childminders and they said everyone is an individual about charging when a child is sick or on holiday, but i'm stuck, do i charge only when they are off/i'm off and when they are sick, oh god i'm getting myself in a muddle, i just don't know?

It's really an individual minders thing. Personally I charge half fees for mindees if they don't come due to illness or their holidays, for illness to me or my family which closes business I don't charge- the same applies for my holidays. HTH

Charge for when they are off sick as you could end up really out of pocket, What is the competition like in your area? Can you afford to charge for your holidays and still get the business(not many can). I charge for their holidays otherwise i would end up out of pocket for theirs jollies and mine, i charge for b/h but not for my sickness which would come in handy at the moment as i am long term sick and i dont charge for holidays.

personally I charge for all holidays, their sickness but not mine.

If your not going to charge for holidays specify how many weeks the children can have away from you at no charge. If there are 2 parents, 2 sets of granparents and they all get 4 weeks off from work a year then they could end up having a few months off where you would be out of pocket. does that make sense?

Alot of minders I know charge full price whenever they are available to work and half price when not, it seems to be the norm around here and is accepted.

there was athread about this a while ago and katymac showed a way of not charging for holidays but adding it on over the year, I'll try and find it and bump it up for you

here it is \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2300&threadid=151036&stamp=060303130305\thread about holiday pay}

Kidstrack - if you are able to find out what minders do locally, that may help you to make up your mind.

If they don't charge for holidays/sickness and you do, then you may not get the work - especially if there isn't much available in your area in the first place.

I charge full fee for their sickness, half-fee when they are on holiday. I don't charge anything for my sickness or holidays. Many of my parents have to pay someone else if I'm on holiday (only 4 weeks/year).

I charge for their holiday and sickness but not for mine. I charge half fees if i or my ds are sick but available to work if they choose not to have me - most would still come.

thanks all, that was what i was generally thinking, the childminders in my area charge full for their mindee being sick and full if mindee is on holiday, i think i will charge full when mindee is sick and half when they are on holiday, thanks again