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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Panic Panic - im starting tomorrow ! help advice needed!

27 replies

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 19:27

ok i have had a glass of champagne - then i get a text from someone asking if i can cm her ds (aged 4) as from tomorrow. i got the impression he had been booted out of nursery (when asked if he would be coming to me on a temp basis - she replied depends if i can get him back into nursery) but as i havent got any mindees yet i agreed on a months trial basis starting tomorrow!

what have i done, am scared about agreeing to this before i have met him but i can back out of it if i really need to cant i?

must point out im not scared of childminding but i just wish i could have met him and his mum first before agreeing to have him thats all.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 19:42

Good luck, i hope things go well for you. Make sure you show your certificates etc so she knows you are registered. (i have found that some time they say they trust you but i make them look at all the good stuff i have done too.). Ask when you meet tomorrow what reason they have left because it must be a biggy to be thrown out or something you should be wary about.

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 19:48

ive got my certificates up on the wall, i just dont feel ready, he sounds like a problem child (i hope im completly wrong but you know when you get a gut feeling) and im just panicking that being new i wont be able to cope - any advice is welcome.

OP posts:

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 19:53

Make sure you get money upfront and deposit and a trail period, have you done contracts, forms etc?

goosey · 09/05/2006 19:56

Good Luck!
Only advice I would give is to start as you mean to go on with the little boy. Don't be too sweet to him and don't make any allowances to your house rules. In fact I would make sure you have a written list of your rules stuck on the wall at child height (with 'we have fun!' as the final rule) to go through with him as soon as possible after he's taken his shoes off and had a settling-in drink!

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 20:01

no we havent done contracts or anything and it says on my website to pay evey monday am for the previous week (he is coming wed-fri 9am til 230pm)

i havent met them and was only on the phone a few minutes.

im not even sure exactl what rules i should have any help would be appreciated.

OP posts:

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 20:02

i havent even done my food shopping so i dont know if ive got anything to feed him with, i suppose its ok to take him to asda just to get stuff for lunch?

OP posts:

goosey · 09/05/2006 20:05

Examples of rules: Not picking up babies, Taking off shoes indoors, Eating food sitting at the table, Not hurting people, Telling me if sad or upset, rules for outside eg Not climbing on fences, picking flowers/plants or putting things in mouth.

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 20:12

Jus to Clarify are you taking the money when you have done the work or in advacne?

Katymac · 09/05/2006 20:16

LMG - don't take money in arrears - it's dangerous - no money...no childcare (at least that's the way I do it)

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 20:20

That was what i was getting at, you shouldnt work in arrears particulary as you know this could be a hrsd family. Change your rules very quickly or you might not be in business for long.

Have you thought about late payment fees? Do you have policies in place that you need to be checked over.

Katymac · 09/05/2006 20:23

LMG - can you find my website?...if so phone me or CAT me or email me or something - please don't charge in arrears

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 20:32

ok i hear ya - i've changed the rules on my website and am just reading through the fine details of contracts (ncma)

im going to put something like (you can help me with the wording i wont mind)

if childcare is required for times outside the specified hours then you must pay for hours used (want to say rounded up - or something? like if the contracted hours are til 3pm and she turns up at 5.450pm - i wont mind but i will want to be asked and paid til 6pm.)

OP posts:

Katymac · 09/05/2006 20:38

The charges for additional hours will be £xxxx, per hour or part hour. For hours after 6pm my charges are £xxx2, per hour or part hour

That sort of thing?

Isyhan · 09/05/2006 20:39

Good luck LMGs thinking of ya. Definately get them to pay in advance though. Im sure there will be things you wont have prepared for but everyone whos cming must have gone through that.

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 20:54

We all learn from our first contracts.

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 21:17

ok thanks for that, you've all been really helpful (as always) i was panicking but i have calmed down abit now. just off to write the rules (keep them coming just incase i run out of ideas - pleasseee) and any ideas on activities that will stop him being bored........i would have done more of my own research if id had more time to prepare.

OP posts:

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 21:32

Get out some paints but he will prob be happy just with new toys

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 21:49

thats just it - i dont have many toys for his age group because i only have 2 girls myself (one aged 7mths and one aged 6yrs) so havent got most of the stuff she had from that age plus also she has always had mainly girls stuff (pink - dolls etc)

i do have a playhouse with kitchen etc and swings slide, puzzles, books and creative materials but dont have any cars, tool boxes etc (i will get some but this has taken me by suprise and didnt want to buy stuff i wouldnt use)

OP posts:

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 09/05/2006 21:53

and the forecast is rain oh fab! [head in hands]

ok i will have to think.........

OP posts:

jellyjelly · 09/05/2006 22:14

Go to early learning and pick up penny racers for about a quid and remember we get a discount there.

Isyhan · 10/05/2006 12:44

LMGs your girls are the same age as my girls and were both just starting off childminding. What a coincedence!

Original poster

LoveMyGirls · 10/05/2006 20:09

yes it is isnt it

well i must say i had a lovely but knackering day - child was an angel (short attention span but havent they all?)

we did ......
the school run
the park
he washed up in the garden (plastic cups/ bowls)
painting and drawing
had a snack (apple but didnt eat it)
play dough
played in the kitchen (in the playhouse)
had lunch
more play dough
played with the array of toys (books, balamory stuff, blocks, jigsaws etc)
and we went on the cbeebies website and printed off some pictures to colour in.

so any ideas for tomorrow?
im taking him to bounce and rhyme (i know he's probably too old for it but i really wanna take baby and its only for half an hour and if he's bored we'll jsut go home - what do you think?)

OP posts:

zoeuk1 · 10/05/2006 20:43

sounds like you're doing a brill job!

jellyjelly · 10/05/2006 21:45

Glad you had a fab day, you dont have to cancel your plans for the sake of him because you think he will get bored if you think he will get take a book along and let him look if he is.

chezbabe101 · 10/05/2006 22:24

excellent, glad you have some work finally :) things are looking up

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