CM club: quickly question about charging for extra activities

[sweetestB]

Hi, I signed up the only child I look after to do a 2 day activity in a further away centre. The charge will be £1 for both days however my public transport cost will be £5.60 for both days. I'm yet to talk to parents about this but the child will benefit immensely for the activity. Should I ask parents for the whole costs and if they don't agree cancel the booking, or should I pay for the travel.?

ummm trying to be tactful here; why have you unilaterally signed a child up for an activity without consulting parents first?

Anyway. Can you put the costs through your books as an expense?

Because as I said, the centre is further away and as I was there, I put child's name down to secure a place. This couldn't be done over the phone. There is an activity near my house on the same day and time, so I would be going to the other activity solely to benefit the child on his specific 'problem'. Plus to put such an small amount of money through my books seems a faff to me. Anyway, if parents don't agree I can always phone up and cancel, it's up to them.

I include charges for groups, soft play and the like in my fees, and also transport costs. I do think it's my choice when and where we go (within reason obviously) and don't think it would be appropriate to consult about every single outing, but that's because I have to take into account the different needs and interests of a number of children and it would not be fair or practical to have parents opting in and out on a daily basis.

But I probably would consult if I was proposing doing something specific with only one child for two whole days, and I would certainly ask first if I expected parents to contribute financially.

Cross posted there. If it's only a provisional booking and you can cancel if the parents aren't keen then I don't think you have a problem.

All the activities I do are free and whitin walking distance, I don't drive. As I said I couldn't ask first, I needed to secure a place and I can cancel. It hasn't being paid for yet.

I can always stick to my normal routine if the parents decide child won't benefit for the proposed activity. It is a 2, 5 hour activity on two days over two following weeks. I can't see why I should pay for it, but maybe this is me being tight?

I'm a cm and only ask parents if we're going in a big trip, if we go to toddlers etc I pay, and put it through my books. Each childminder is different though.

Put it through your books whether the parent pays or not - if they pay then you need to include it in your income so you would pay tax on it if you didn't. The bonus is you get to include it in your calculation for 10% wear and tear.

As this appears to be something to benefit this particular child, rather than just part of your normal activity programme then yes of course you should ask the parents if they want you to do it, and if so then they should pay your travel costs as long as you let them know how much they are.

Mr Anchovy, the dilemma is should I charge or not?

I would only charge if the parents had asked me to do it. (but I don't charge for any outings and would have asked them first - in which case they could pay)

That didn't make much sense!

My fee structure includes all outings I choose to take the children on.

Parents agree to pay for any regular organised activities, which they have signed up for.

"Mr Anchovy, the dilemma is should I charge or not?"

Yes, but only if the parents agree.

The key point here is this: "I would be going to the other activity solely to benefit the child on his specific 'problem'." - so presumably this is not just a regular outing.

But it should be up to the parents whether he goes, and they pay, or not. How you present this to them is important, you want them to feel pleased that you have shown initiative in finding an appropriate activity, not that they are being railroaded into something or guilty for not organising it themselves.

I'm such a wimpy I will end up paying the transport fee myself. Dealing with the businesses side of CMinding is hard for me because we get to know the families jn such a perpersonal level. Also I feel I will benefit from the outing too in a sense of going out of the routine, meeting new people, doing something different, even though it is an activity totally directed to the child and the issue....

same as twinkle-I only ask parents to pay if its a 'bigger' activity; if I want a child to take part in an activity then I pay and then put it through the books as there's always the danger that parents could refuse to pay if they didn't specifically ask for a child to do an activity.We're all different though x

surprised you arranged an activity for the child without talking to the parents first - does the child have special needs?
i wouldn't pay for a twice weekly activity that I was taking my mindees to for the benefit of only one child (if it was an extra cost than say a toddler group) but at the same time, I would expect parents to pay for something and/or my travel costs for something they didn't have a say in me booking!!

sorry,that should say wouldn't expect....

'parents to pay for something and/or my travel costs for something they didn't have a say in me booking!!'

They do have a say in whether or not the child goes. The OP has said that twice. It's a provisional booking and can be cancelled!