Charging for meals???

[hanreeoak]

Hi, I'm just setting up as a new child minder, I'm hopefully going to look after a child 3 days a week charging £4 an hour, the child's mother wants me to feed her child breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks. Can I charge her for the meals??

I have not spoken to her yet about the meals, when we first spoke she said that she would send a lunch box, and then on our next meeting asked about a cooked meal and lunch. It did not cross my mind about charging for food as it was busy (lots of children) Do other child minders charge for meals if so how much? Thank you.

I used to charge separately for meals. Now I charge a higher rate and provide them. Think about how breakfast and tea will affect your arrangements for your own family and other children and decide whether you want to do them.

Agree HSSM, what suits your setting? And then get parent to agree terms and put it in your contract...

All money matters need to be understood and agreed without the children distracting you. I was bitten like this once and from then on always insisted parents visited the setting to sign the contract without their children or mindees being present.

Saves a shed load of problems if all know where stand.

I have always charged extra for meals. My hourly rate includes drinks and snacks, and on top of this I charge £1-00 for breakfast, £1-50 for lunch and £2-00 for a cooked tea

My DH is a childminder and like fudge he charges for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks and drinks are free. It can soon add up!

make it easy ...work out a fair fee and make it inclusive of meals.
The more parents are charged the more they will complain childcare is expensive !!!...as if...cleaners earn more in my area to clean toilets!
Remember 50% of your fees are expenses so don't undercharge....be fair and defend your right to earn a decent living

I agree with charging a slightly higher rate that includes meals and also bear in mind the age of your mindee. If you have a baby then £2 for a cooked evening meal would seem steep. My fees include lunch, two snacks and a main meal in the evening. If they're not staying for a meal in the evening then they have a more substantial lunch. I charge £50/day.

Set a rate inclusive of.food. My CM charges £4ph inc all food

I charge £4 an hour and provide all meals and snacks. This works in my area though as others are charging this and not providing food, so I am better value at the moment! It works for me as I am cooking for my DD 1.5 yrs anyway, and I agree, do financial / contractual dealings without children present, either at your house or theirs... I am tending to go to theirs at the moment, one of the main reasons being to meet the fathers who seem to get left out a little. This helps build up a picture for me of the family and ensures I meet everyone.

Hi, also wanted to add that I feel it wouldn't be fair on the other families if I put my hourly rate up when they don't have a dinner. This is the only child who will be staying. I provide afternoon snacks for children who leave me before 5.30, but this mindee needs a dinner as staying untill late. I think it will be until 6.30, not 7 p.m.
£4 per hour is very reasonable in this area. I have kept my prices low as I feel parents really stuggle with child care costs, and on the whole the mindees bring a packed luch.

Hi, just realised I poste this in wrong thread My thread is v similar to this one. Sorry!