should i charge a term time retainer.....URGENT

[Amylouise]

I have a lady coming round tonight with a 4 year old boy.

The normal hours are 9-3.30, 5 days a week but in sept it will just be an hour after school (she may even collect herself so i won;t be needed)

Problem is she needs full day holiday care so should I charge a retainer during the term time to hold this place open?

What are your thoughts?

thanks

But you'll get other kids in the term to look after, no?

yes I have other children during term time.

I just wondered, as you can charge a retainer over the holidays, whether it was the same the other way round.

I charge a higher rate in holidays for under 5's

But he will count as an over 5 won't he? - so normal after school and holiday rates should apply

out of interest what do people charge as a daily rate for holidays as we seem expensive compared to holiday clubs.

You probably will be holioday clubs are a) staffed by volunteers or b) funded by surestart or local councils

my local one charges £10 for a 10 hr day....I charge £35 for a school age child

I certainly wouldn't charge anything during term-time if he is at school, as I assume that this is just a normal school pick-up?? Even if he only needs holiday care, I just do a contract for holiday care only, although I guess other minders might not be happy with that.

Katymac - why do you charge more for under fives during the school holidays? (Not trying to be rude, just interested!!)

i have 12 before and after children term time but hoilday time i only have 2 of these children as they come before and after school each day i am able in the hoildays to offer them a full time place
i do not charge for a full time place while they are at school but benifit from the full time wage in the hols

Thanks for all your opinions.
The boy is signed up until sept but when he starts full time school the mum will take and collect him so I won't be needed.
Not sure what her plans are for hols but she said she only needs me til sept so just a short term contract for now

If a child is at nursery termtime and I am not used - but the mum needs holiday only care, I need to price this carefully as it might prevent me from having a F/T child (as I currently don't have any teachers children)

OK, I get it - I had this idea that your rates suddenly jumped up for everyone just because it was the school holidays!

I keep my rates the same for everyone, be they full-time, part-time, whatever age (I'd get myself into a pickle otherwise!)

I had to stop charging the same for everyone as I was being used as a luch club

ie pay for 11-2 get a cooked meal - only have to do a snack later, leaving me with a wasted day

I have a very complicated pricing structure now

Katymac - don't bother feeding them, that would save you loads of money!

Amylouise - well done for getting some work, albeit only short-term. You never know, the mum may have lots of friends who need a childminder too!!