Is this a lot of holiday?

[PseudoBadger]

First off, let me state that DS and I love our childminder. However I keep getting questions from my parents and friends about the amount of holiday that she takes.

She takes 24 paid days a year (and every year charges for 5 paid sick days just in case). The holidays are the week between Christmas and New Year, week at Easter, may half term, 2 weeks in summer, and October half term. And obviously Bank holidays.

Is this a lot? I pay full rate for any holiday that we take and any of ds's sick days.

I take all half terms, Christmas, Easter and three weeks in the summer BUT I don't charge for any of my holidays or when I'm ill.

My parents all know this and I tend to have clients who only want term time cover. I wouldn't dream of having all that time off and charging for it.

Actually, MrAnchovy, one of my parents thinks exactly that! I accommodate her, but she pays an enhanced rate.

You refer to customers: who do you mean? Some customers want that style of charging because they can work with it: it suits them very well. A bit unfair to change our business models to accommodate those that don't want it. There are plenty of childminders who don't charge for their holidays and parents should be able to choose the package that suits them best.

You refer to customers: who do you mean? Some customers want that style of charging because they can work with it: it suits them very well.

I accept that I am only guessing that the majority would prefer to only pay for childcare when it is available.

There are plenty of childminders who don't charge for their holidays and parents should be able to choose the package that suits them best.

I think (although I am only guessing again) most parents quite rightly choose the childminder who they believe is the best suited to care for their chid - they then end up with whatever terms that childminder uses.

MrAnchovy - why are you referring to me as though I am a CM?

I am not going through 101 MN threads to find you people who think that. You post/lurk on enough threads to know that is true.

If parents can't compare apples with oranges to work out which is the best overall deal then it's a bit of a worry isn't it?

CMs can charge how it suits them or how it suits the majority of their customers and if people are too thick to work out what that means in net terms then that's their lookout.

MrAnchovy - why are you referring to me as though I am a CM?

Sorry, my mistake.