cm fees query

[PebblePots]

Hi, is it usual that you have to pay your childminder for holidays, so 4 weeks a year when they don't look after the child but get paid as normal?

And also on bank holidays, if they normally had the child on a Monday, but it was a bank holiday, the child would not go to the cm but the cm would still be paid.

Thanks

There is no 'normal' really as all childminders are self employed and as so write their own terms and conditions. I am a childminder and don't charge for my holidays or bank holidays which is fairly standard in our area but I know especially in the London area where demand is high, these things are dramatically different. Hth

Some childminders do charge for their holidays and Bank Holidays, and some don't. It depends on the individual CM's terms and conditions and what you are able to negotiate.

It all depends on that particular cm and what is written on the contract that you both agree to.

We've sadly had to use a few cm's. One didn't charge for her holiday and charged full for ours, two charged half for theirs and half for ours, me didn't charge for holidays regardless of who it was taking them.

"We've sadly had to use a few cm's."

IwishIwasmoreorganised, why are you sad about that?

We have used two childminders. First one charged for our holidays and bank holidays, didn't charge for her holidays. The one we have now doesn't charge for her holidays or bank holidays and charges half for our holidays. I gather this is unusual though and we are very lucky. Shes lovely too. I'm in north west btw.

Because we thought each time that we'd found a great one that we'd be able to keep our ds's with for a good amount of time.

Each time we've been let down as the cm has changed their mind about schools that they would pick up from, the number of children that they wanted to mind at a time (this apparently was following an inspection but we could never find any evidence of an inspection having taken place, think she just wanted us out!) one retired and gave us 2 weeks notice!!!

While I love the idea of our dc being with a cm, the reality has been rather different to the ideal that is often talked about.

Glad we're out of it all now.

I as a CM don't charge for anything than the hours we work. I think that is why we are now full. Well as full as we want to be anyway.

IwishIwasmoreorganised I'm sorry about your experience of cm's hasn't been good. I hate it when cm's look out for themselves before their parents. After all if you don't treat your parents well it's bound to affect reputation.

Yes, I would never recommend any of them and have told other parents of our experiences when they have been looking for a cm.

I would not recommend a cm to anyone based on the experiences that we have had.

When our dc were in nursery we didn't have a single problem (6 1/2 years between the 2 of them). Compare that to being given notice by 4 cm's in the space of 3 years and I hope you'll understand why.

Op- sorry for the high jack!

I am a CM and if i don't work i don't charge so my parents don't pay for my holidays or bank holidays but if i am available to work then i charge so that's half fees for their holidays (as long as i get minimum 2 weeks notice) and i charge full for their sick days.
Most CM in the group i belong to work on a similar basis but I know a couple of them charge half for their hols and half for parents hols and another who charges nothing for her hols but full pay for parents hols so these terms vary a lot even in a small area.
If you like her but you feel this is something you don't feel is right then see if its negotiable and maybe you can come to something mutually agreeable, if its not then you either have to look elsewhere or accept her terms and sign up to them. Its complicated when we all work so differently.

I charge when I'm available. Some CMs charge all year, but may charge a bit less, so it works out the same over the year.

(Have not had to let anyone down yet and currently have a 9 yr old mindee who has been with me since she was 5 months old)

I charge full fee for my ( 4 weeks) holiday although for any term time only contracts it's half fee as I take them in the school holidays when I charge half fee. Full fee for their holiday & bank holidays (I'm still open) and their sickness but no fee if I'm off sick or take over 4 weeks.

This is normal in my area where demand is very high.

I do not charge for holidays, if I do not provide my parents with my services. Each cm differs.

I do not charge for bank hols if not worked either.

Thanks all