Increase in childminding fees

[Tilly54]

Hi

I have recently increased my fees for all new parents (first time in eight years!). I have a parent who's been here for a year and contract review is due. I would like to bring parent in-line with other parents and increase parent's fees accordingly.

Sounds ridiculous but how would you structure the letter to include these details???

When my childminder increased her fees she sent a letter home but unfortunately I've chucked it out now. It was very matter of fact and she just explained that due to rising costs and the amount of time she had to spend on admin, she was obliged to increase her fees and that she had endeavoured to keep the increase as low as possible, and hoped that we would agree that this was reasonable, etc.

This is why I have always had a (small) review each year, so it does not come as a shock. You might want to do it from now on.

All my contracts say review is due 1st January (I know I picked a bad time of year).

In November, I send out a standard letter saying rates from 1st Jan and a tick list to update all permissions (photos, outings, etc). The parents sign it and return it.

This works for me, because everything is updated at once.

I started to word a letter the first year about why the rates were increasing, but it is much easier to just keep it businesslike and matter of fact (a bit like BT and British Gas, when they tell you they have increased their rates).

Thanks FetchezLaVache, I just couldn't think how to structure it but that helps, thanks.

Thanks HSMMaCM

I also used to do an annual review when I was childminding. My T & Cs stated that I would review my fees in the Sept/Oct, notify them by the end of Oct and the change would be from 1st Feb (used to be Jan but realised bad timing). I have a sample letter I'm happy to send you if you give me your email address

Same as HSMMaCM - annual review an annual increase so no big shocks. I send out letters in February and apply from 1st April (to tie in with tax year & my accounts). My T&Cs state that I do this plus include a clause to say I reserve the right to do this any time with the correct notice. When I send out the letter it includes a personalised breakdown of the new fees to sign that is then attached to their contract

I expained to parents that the cost of everything has gone up - from utilities to food - my heating bill last winter was nearly 20% higher than the year before, and it's expected to rise again. I alsomatched this with my financial year and gave parents 2 months notice.

my contract states that my fees rise every step by £2 a day