If I need a childminder this October............................................

[puff]

......and find someone with spaces, how to I "guarantee" the places - do I pay a deposit?

If someone will have a space in Oct it could be a deposit (which might be against the first months payment or might not be) - this would be returned if she didn't have a space

If they have a space now, you might be asked to pay a retainer (a proportion of the monthly fee) to "hold" the place until Oct (this prob wouldn't give you the right to use this space until then)

hope that makes sense & that it helps
KMc

Thanks Km - that makes sense

As children often start school in sept - you may have to pay from the start of sept.....but if so I'd suggest you use that time as a settling in period

Yes, I thought that might be a good idea