Found the perfect childminder - but don't need her for another four months. Help!

[FiveSugarsPlease]

I start uni full time in mid-September and have been looking at childcare options. Right now, i'm able to fit work around dd's school, or do it when she's in bed, so don't need childcare. My mum helps me out on the few times i need to work outwith these hours though.

DD's school doesn't have a breakfast/after school club, so i'd need to use a private one. There are two nearby. I've used one before and hated it. The staff were too laidback, and it was a bit of a free for all, kids getting accidentally left out at snack time etc. My dd (who has ASD/HFA) seemed a bit overwhelmed by the volume of children and the noise.

This time round, i've decided to try a childminder for the first time.

I've found a wife/husband childminding service that i love! They are opening for business in a month's time, and are keeping their ratios very small to start with (or maybe it's just normal ratios?). one under 1yo baby, one toddler, one preschooler and one school aged child. No mindees as of yet.

Their house/play room looks perfect for my daughter, and it's the ideal location too. Right next to school, and only five minutes from the train station i'll be using to get to and from uni.

But i don't need her until September! I want to book her just now, but she'll want a fee to keep dd's place, won't she? I won't be able to afford it as my student childcare grant thingy won't be awarded to me until i start the course.

Any advice?

Also, she says she takes partime and full time children. I will need her 8-9am, then 3-6 pm mon-fri. Do you think she'd let me just use term-time care? Will i have to pay a reservation fee?

I know these are all questions i should be asking her, but i don't want to talk to her until i know a bit more about how these types of things work from other childminders.

I've looked at other local CMs and i've not been impressed. They either only offer odd days/hours or they don't live next to dd's school.

I can't explain it, but i feel this is the perfect arrangement for dd. As soon as i saw her advert and website. I could just imagine my dd going there, and being happy there.

Sorry for the epic ramble! Any advice how i should approach this? Should i just contact her with my interest and then try her again in Spetember to see if she still has a place, rather than start paying just now to hold a place (which i can't afford to do!)?

Each childminder does things differently so you do really need to talk to them. Definitely tell them that you want the place and see what their response is. If they are only opening for business in a months time then I doubt that they would be wanting to charge you for the month of June as the place isn't actually available yet. So they would probably either want a retainer (usually about 50%) for July and August, or a deposit (usually 4 weeks fees). The difference is that the retainer pays for holding the space open so you won't get it back, the deposit on the other hand can be used towards your dd's fees.

Some childminders like doing term time only and will only charge for those hours, other prefer to work all year round and will charge a retainer during school holidays. You won't know until you ask.

A lot will depend on how much demand there is in your area and how easily they can fill their places. As the are just starting out they may be more negotiable as it can be hard to secure the first few mindees.

Thanks, mamamaisie!

You're right, i think the only way i can properly plan ahead is to talk to her. I definitely don't think i could afford a holding fee before my childcare grant comes in Sepetember though. Hopefully if anything, it'll be a deposit she asks for.

Are those ratios normal for a childminder? (Scotland). I'm just wondering if they might increase in future, allowing more room for another school aged child playmate for dd

Have they got their own children too? In England you can have 6 under 8 but take off any of your own children.

If they haven't got any mindees how do they know it'll be a 1 year old, a toddler etc? They could get all 3 year olds?

There is talk here of upping ratios but most childminders are against it.

I'm a cm and took on a sept start and didn't take a retainer but I'm having a baby between now and then so won't be working anyway, if they're not starting for a month they couldn't really justify charging you for June, I'd just give them a ring and see what they say.

As a husband and wife team they may be able to have 12 children under 8. They will each have their own ratio if they are both registered.

The low ratios may be tactical move. As they are both starting out a new business it is very risky to put all the eggs in one basket and give up the jobs they have in hope they get enough business from childminding. The ratios are low for two people but if you think at times only one of them may be present the numbers are still manageable. So they may well both (or one of them) still keep working in their other jobs. With only three mindees present (as their only source of income) they won't be able to pay the bills.
With reservation etc you have to go to the childminder and ask as we're all different. If the grant doesn't cover holidays and they still ask you to pay just ask them to recalculate and charge you for holidays but in a condensed way so you only pay in term time. So for example work out the cost over 52 weeks and divide it by 38 weeks. You end up with a higher fee in term time and no fee in holidays but over the year you'd pay the same either way. If that makes sense.

Definitely chat to them. I'd be happy with the arrangement you've mentioned but with an interim of 4 months I'd want an assurance that you would actually start the contract. I'd possibly ask you for 50% of the first month's fees to be used against the first invoice.

My CM asked for a deposit and used it against the first months fee. She will need some form of monetary assurance that you will use the place.

As an aside I have a husband and wife team and it is awesome. Lovely balance of input. I know how you feel about just knowing that its right!