holiday pay

[2colliedogs]

I pay my cm a retainer for school holidays (half pay) which I don't use. (Haven't used since my dd started with her 2 years ago) Never really been bothered about this as the work I do has allowed me to be flexible and take enough time off during school holidays to cover childcare using family - but now I think I probably will need to use at least some of these hours as my work hours are changing. How does this work? Is this seen simply as a retainer, or am I entitled to use the hours I pay for? Sounds a bit silly but I've never had this discussion with my cm and feel awkward about raising it!

Check your contract.

NCMA/PACEY contracts state that you can use time for which you are paying a retainer as long as you give two weeks notice; you will obviously have to pay the difference.

Yes you have to pay full rather than half rate for the time you actually use. The "retainer" fee is a fee for the CM to be available if needed (given notice) so you aren't paying for any actual hours of childcare without paying a bit more.

You pay a retainer every half term? I have a termtime contract with my CM where I pay her normal hourly rate whenever school is in session. Inset days, school hols, etc. are just out outside the contract. She isn't expected to offer a service, and I am not expected to pay.

I would certainly expect to apply the retainer to any hours I used her service in that half term week if I were in your position.

I agree that she should say yes, but will probably top the days you use up to full fees. Unless there's something in the contract about the days not being available and you are just retaining the space to have it available in term time.

I teach and pay half price in school holidays, have never used cm in holidays, but she has said that I can if needed (obvs not for more than half the time unless I paid the extra). Might be worth just talking to her, will you need to use a lot, or just the odd day here and there as that might make a difference.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I plucked up the courage and called her in the end - it will just be a few hours extra each week (not nearly as much as the retainer I pay). Anyway, she was fine that what I pay will already cover those hours, she just needs to have enough notice.

Great news, it's so lovely having a lovely cm I always think!