CM questions. Term time contracts Q and averaged out fees Q.

[boredandrestless]

So I have 2 questions really.

1). I am about to start a course and need before and after school care for my son who's 9 during term time. Is it normal to have to also pay full price in the holidays? He won't be going for the before and after school hours obviously!

2). CM works out her fees for the year and averages them out so you get a weekly fee. Is that usual practice? I am quite an anxious person and know I will be worrying about if I am really ahead or behind on payments. Also what would happen on weeks when one of us is away? Would the fees be calculated for that week based on the average cost or the actual cost?

I think it will depend on how each childminder chooses to work - so probably best asking her if you have already chosen one.

But to answer your questions:

1. I have had a term time only contract with the two childminders I have used. If I want extra hours in the holiday my curent childminder will charge me the hourly rate for full time children (which is less than the hourly rate she charges for before/after school only)

2. My last childminder I paid weekly in advance, this one I pay monthly in advance. I also have nursery fees which I pay one month in advance - these have all been for the correct hours in the week/month. My friends nursery worked on the averaging system. Are you sure the CM will still apply an average feessystem for a term time only contract? At least you would know exactly how much your childcare would be each month, whereas mine varies.

What happens on weeks when one of you is away?
Will depend on your contract.

My options in school hols are:

• not send him but still pay for the slots he would do if it were a school day. But I can't actually use those slots as they are out and about during the holidays.

• send him for a full day (and obviously pay for a full day instead of a few hours).

I think I will be paying for one day like it's a school day, and the other sending him for a day so I can get jobs and coursework done.

Yes I have chosen a child minder, I like her, ds knows and likes her. I just wondered if this was how things usually worked. I can see the reasons behind the average amount if people struggle to budget but I would have preferred to just pay for each week as it is I think rather than averaged out.

Speak to your CM we are all different.